Last updated: 2004/04/22 22:22:07
The latest version of this FAQ can be found here.

## HandBrake FAQ

#### 1. Troubleshooting

1.1. Encoding seemed to work fine, but I don't get any sound

1.2. Not every title of the DVD shows up in HandBrake

1.3. Rip exits after a while with a AC3 error. What does that mean?

#### 2. Features

2.1 I want to convert a movie so I can burn it on a VCD or a DVD-R. Is HandBrake the right application to do this?

2.2. I want to to convert a movie so I can edit it in iMovie. Is HandBrake the right application to do this?

2.3. I wish HandBrake could support subtitles, rip a 30 seconds sample, [...]

2.4. Any plan to include 3ivx / DivX 5 encoding?

#### 3. Technical

3.1 What's the difference between Ffmpeg and XviD?

3.2 What is 2-pass encoding?

#### 4. Misc

4.1. How do I donate for HandBrake?

4.2. Where does this stupid name / icon come from?

### 1. Troubleshooting

#### 1.1 Encoding seemed to work fine, but I don't get any sound

I guess you are trying to read an AVI file with OS X / Quicktime. Try installing the latest DivX codec from DivX.com, or use VLC.

#### 1.2. Not every title of the DVD shows up in HandBrake

There are 3 reasons why HandBrake might not show a title: it is a menu, it has no audio track HandBrake can handle (only AC3 is supported) or there was a problem when trying to decode data from it (e.g. a decryption problem). There is no way to workaround this, these titles don't show up just because you can't rip them. You might check HandBrake logs in a terminal to know what's happening on your particular DVD.

#### 1.3. Rip exits after a while with a AC3 error. What does that mean?

It means HandBrake had to deal with corrupted data. It usually happens when your DVD drive is over-heating after a X-hours long rip. Though it is handy to directly rip from the DVD, I recommend that you copy it first to the hard drive whenever possible (for example with MacTheRipper, using "Extract Complete Disc") then you can open the folder with HandBrake. You have to keep the DVD folder organization (multiple VOB and IFO files), HandBrake won't open single VOB files.

### 2. Features

#### 2.1 I want to convert a movie so I can burn it on a VCD or a DVD-R. Is HandBrake the right application to do this?

No. HandBrake only outputs MPEG-4, no MPEG-1 or MPEG-2. If you are using OS X, have a look at forty-two, ffmpegX, DVDRemaster or DVD2oneX. This will save you time and quality.

#### 2.2 I want to to convert a movie so I can edit it in iMovie. Is HandBrake the right application to do this?

No. MPEG-4 isn't a good format for editing, you'd better find a way to extract it as MJPEG or something, or edit the MPEG-2 directly.

#### 2.3. I wish HandBrake could support subtitles, rip a 30 seconds sample, [...]

Check the TODO list to see what's on the roadmap. If you wish to see a feature which isn't already in it, mail me and, if I think I can do it someday, I'll add it to the list.

#### 2.4 Any plan to include 3ivx / DivX 5 encoding?

No. 3ivx/DivX aren't free software and have no multi-platform API. Moreover, they don't bring any noticeable quality improvement to XviD or FFmpeg. Though, you might consider using the 3ivX decoder to play the created files as its post-processing engine is known to be pretty good.

### 3. Technical

#### 3.1 What's the difference between Ffmpeg and XviD?

Both are MPEG-4 compliant encoders, so you may choose whichever you want. However, I would recommend Ffmpeg as it is pretty faster on BeOS and OS X.

#### 3.2 What is 2-pass encoding?

It performs a slower but better compression - basically it makes sure you'll get a constant quality so you won't see blocks in fast motion scenes. Though it's disabled by default, I would strongly recommend to use it except if you really care about time.

### 4. Misc

#### 4.1. How do I donate for HandBrake?

I'm working on HandBrake for fun, therefore I haven't set up a paypal account or anything (and I won't). Thanks anyway to people who wanted to give me money ;p
There are still two ways to make me happy:

- Send me a friendly email
- You may send me a DVD (for example, a DVD HandBrake has problems with so I can work it out). Sending a DVD through the world isn't really handy though (the cheapest way is probably to order it online in a french store with my address for shipping), so if it's a problem, you can just fall back on the friendly mail ;)
  Here's the address:
  Eric Petit
  Résidence ECP - H211
  2 avenue Sully Prudhomme
  92290 Chatenay Malabry
  France

#### 4.2 Where does this stupid name / icon come from?

Don't ask.