Hey everyone,
I could use some advice from the experts here.
I’ve been ripping my Blu-rays and converting them to MP4, but I’m struggling to find the right balance between file size and visual quality. I want to shrink the files down without that heavy compression look — blockiness, banding, or loss of fine detail.
Here’s what I’m working with:
- Source: Full 1080p Blu-ray rip (~8–12 GB, MP4 format)
- Goal: Reduce file size to around 4–6 GB
- Primary software: Apple Compressor (but open to using DVDFab, HandBrake, or anything else that does a better job)
- Desired output: MP4 (H.264 or HEVC), keeping quality close to the original Blu-ray
- Audio: Prefer AAC, stereo or 5.1
I’ve tried a few different approaches — adjusting average bitrate, switching presets, and enabling multi-pass — but results vary a lot depending on the software.
I’d love to hear from anyone who’s dialed in a solid workflow for this:
- What bitrate range works best for keeping Blu-ray-level quality?
- Do you prefer H.264 or H.265/HEVC for this kind of project?
- Any recommended software or encoder settings for keeping grain and detail intact?
- How do you handle audio compression and downmixing?
Basically, I’m looking for the best “set-and-forget” method to shrink Blu-ray rips to smaller MP4s without visible quality loss.
Thanks in advance — really appreciate any tips, settings, or workflows that have worked for you!
— Tom