Can I set videolan to compress a folder full of files

[petermidi]

HI there,
I've just found this wonderful program and have found it great for reducing VOB files down.
However, I cannot see how to make it work through a folder full of files rather than one at a time. Can somebody help me please?

Thank you

P

[DJ]

Try dvdsimple

[petermidi]

..but having spent some time playing with this beauty, I'd love to keep going!
I can see you are a moderator - does that mean that you cannot do compressions of everything in a folder...or perhaps use a 'control' to save a number of jobs that can all then be RUN together.

Thanks again
P

[DJ]

It means that it is not necessary to make VOB files with a third party program to transcode using VLC.

[petermidi]

...but please can you point me to the faq that explain how...I just can't find it or work it out!
Thanks so much,
P

[DJ]

When you open a file, disk, Capture device or Network stream within VLC there is a menu that pops up. On this Menu are "Advanced options", check the box marked "Stream/Save" and press the highlighted button marked "Settings". This brings up menu called "Stream output"

All of the options for transcoding are on this page. However you will need to know what formats (for audio & video) are compatible with what containers (encapsulation method) and what formats and containers are compatible with what ever other programs you have installed on your computer.

Please note: At the top of the screen there is a long white strip that is marked "Destination Target:" When you are entering information this is changing. This is the internal command line for VLC. For example:

:sout=#transcode{acodec=mp3,ab=128,channels=2}:duplicate{dst=std{access=file,mux=raw,url="C:\Documents and Settings\Owner (this is you)\My Documents\My Music\My.mp3"}}

Will make a compatible mp3 file from a wav file.

I can not in this space tell you what is ideal in every situation, that is why there are options. At the same time I can not tell you which ones don't work together as some of these were never finished (they do work but perhaps not as expected), so that all the accepted variations for all the various formats and containers would work together.

While I believe that any format should be compatible with any container and all containers should be capable of streaming, that's not how it is in the real world.

For most people this is a learning process.

The key issue is:

1. Know your compatible formats and containers.

2. Know your source file types and the containers so you can make intelligent decisions for quality with relatively low overhead when transcoding files or streaming.

3. Know what the programs installed on your machine will accept for both container and format.

http://wiki.videolan.org/index.php/Main_Page
Tons of information on formats, containers, streaming and how to

[petermidi]

I'll keep at it!
P

[DJ]

While you keep at it, please note: There is NO way to do batch encoding with VLC.

DVDs are the exception because the file name remains the same.

[petermidi]

I am making progress - I can see that opening DVDs in videolan works around the region code which is very helpful when you're on the move all the time.

And I can see how to open streams...

And I can see how to save to file...

But I'm still bamboozled by the containers/contents stuff - but I won't repeat that other post here

Bye for now

P

[DJ]

VLC doesn't manipulate Region codes. Your Drive does or you have a region free drive or utility that does this for you!

As far as transcoding more than 1 file at a time, there is no way to automatically take care of the file naming convention. However if you are content to name all the files in your batch file then I suppose it would work.

[plasticpool]

DJ, thanks for the info that VLC can't batch encode. I've been trying to get it to do so for days. :-X I *would* be content to name all the files in my batch file -- anything to avoid clicking through the GUI again and again to transcode all my files.

If you could provide some pointers on how to write a bash script that names all the source files, it would be really helpful. I'm on Mac OS X, btw.

[DJ]

The Batch file is more associated with Windows or Linux and the syntax varies a bit between operating systems to accommodate that system. So I will move this post to the Mac forum with the hope you will gain some help there.