Vita/PS3 encoder
A batch file that utilizes x264 with AviSynth and various other commandline tools to re-encode your Chinese cartoons into Vita/PS3 compatible formats. The benefit of this, compared to your standard video converters (Handbrake, XviD4PSP, etc.), is ease of use. It's literally a single click (and some waiting) to convert a file to a console compatible format.
Software requirements:
1 AviSynth v.2.5.8. ST, 32-bit is the only one from the linked site that has been tested. Others most probably work just fine, especially 2.6.0 ST.
32-/64-bit versions
This batch file (specifically, the tools used) comes in 32- and 64-bit versions. The only difference is 64-bit being slightly faster, due to how x264 works. It's slightly more complex under the hood, so you encounter issues, try the 32-bit version. You need a 64-bit operating system to use the 64-bit version. 32-bit version works on both 32- and 64-bit operating systems.
Usage
Unextract the .rar file(s) for starters.
Drag & drop an mkv file onto one of the batch files. The differences between them:
- Vita/PS3
- This re-encodes the video to H.264, burns the softsubs in and re-encodes the audio to AAC.
- Vita/PS3 – AAC Copy
- This re-encodes the video, burns softsubs in and copies the audio track directly onto the resulting file, without re-encoding it. This is your best option for most fansubs or Crunchyroll rips.2
- Vita/PS3 – NoSubs
- Use this option if your file comes with hardsubs (Funimation rips for example).
- Combination of the previous two
- If the file is hardsubbed and doesn't come with stereo AAC.
2 The reason for this is that the audio format used by Japanese television broadcasts (and Crunchyroll/Funimation) is AAC, and thus is directly compatible with Vita. There's no point in lowering the audio quality by a lossy re-encode.
Possible issues and finetuning
This batch file was 99% intended for personal use and for anime fansubs and stream rips (HorribleSubs). There's a very high possibility that your regular TV or movie rips won't work. Multi-channel audio also does not work.
If the speeds are too slow for you, edit the batch files directly with Notepad (or equivalent text editor). Change --preset slow to any of the ones listed below (e.g. --preset fast). Generally, the faster you go, the worse the compression on the video gets (larger file, looks worse or any combination of the two). You can also set the setting to a slower one if you have a beefy CPU, time to spare or are low on Vita memory card space.
- superfast
- veryfast
- faster
- fast
- medium
- slow (default)
- slower
- veryslow
- placebo (not recommended; obnoxiously slow with very little benefits)
The filesize to image quality ratio is controlled by the --crf xx option. The default is 19. Lower the number to increase the video quality and file size, raise it to reduce file sizes.