encoding video Software recommendations

[330t]

I've got a ton of video, some from Old Home movies, some downloaded from the internet, some from DVDs I own. I'd like to load them all onto a media server in a standard format. I use Media Centers at my two TVs so all formats should be compatible with Media Center (on windows vista or 7)

I use handbreak for encoding video for my iphone and would like something like that to do the work for Windows. Being able to queue is a huge bonus. And I'm not afraid to pay IF the software works and works well.

Thanks

[jiggamanjb]

Why not use handbreak to encode those as well? It has the options to encode in a Windows friendly format.

[bbognerks]

Yes I would agree, keep using handbrake. You can get just about any codec working in Windows Media Center. Check out this link to do it in just 10 minutes or less.

http://www.hack7mc.com/2009/02/mkvs-for-minimalists-on-windows-7.html

Currently this plays everything I need it to, MKV, AVI, DIVX. It's fast and easy.

[mic]

MKV is overrated.

[nextgenxbox]

Handbrake is all you need if you already have the footage on the drive. And handbrake support Queues too. I do it all time. Just queue up a bunch of videos and leave it running overnight, or during the day while you're away.

[bbognerks]

MKV is overrated.

Maybe so, but everyone uses it, so not much you can do about it.

[mic]

Thankfully, where it matters they don't use it.