Posted by Chris Ellison - Mar 4, 2021 | Contact Author
2 Ways to Convert ISO Image to HEVC/H.265 With Optimal Quality & Smaller Size
DVD ISO image file is a sector-by-sector copy of the source DVD by specific disk imaging software, and it contains all written contents from an optical disc. An ISO image can keep the original quality of a DVD, but the file is often large (almost the same file size as original DVD disc) and can't be played directly on most mobile devices. So converting ISO to MP4 with H.264 codec is the need and the trend. However, with the emergence of more-efficient HEVC (aka. H.265) and its increasingly broadened compatibility, it's time for you to make a change - converting ISO to HEVC/H.265.
Why Do You Need to Convert ISO to HEVC/H.265?
HEVC, short for High Efficiency Video Coding, is the successor to H.264. What makes HEVC superior to H.264 is that it can deliver the same quality with half the size, or higher quality in identical size. Let me show you an example. When I encode an ISO image of 7.26 GB, I get a 1.24 GB file if I choose H.264 preset, but only 634 MB with equivalent quality if I pick H.265. That saves quite much storage, right? Do you want to have a try? Here're two ways to empower you to convert DVD ISO to HEVC MP4.
Contents
Method 1. Free Convert ISO to H.265 (x265) MP4 with Handbrake
HandBrake is probably the most well-received DVD ripping software for Windows, Mac, etc. It can convert ISO image/unencrypted DVDs/Video_TS folder to MP4 and MKV formats, encoded in H.265, H.264, MPEG-4 and MPEG-2.
Despite being embedded with only two output formats, it's favored by Mac and Windows users for being free. But you have to download install libdvdcss for HandBrake to bypass copy protections. Libdvdcss has been removed since HandBrake 0.9.2, which requires you to download libdvdcss by yourself for ripping copy protected DVDs.
Before executing the steps below, you should download and install HandBrake on your Windows, Mac or Linux based computer. Once done, open HandBrake and follow our instruction (based on HandBrake 1.3.3 for Windows) to convert your ISO image to HEVC .mp4.
Step 1. Run HandBrake and a Source Selection interface will pop up.
Step 2. Click File (Open a single video file) on the left to import your ISO image file or you can drag and drop the ISO file directly to the interface. HandBrake will scan the DVD ISO titles and load the contents.
Important Note: HandBrake CANNOT circumvent copy protection of any kind, it only works with DRM-free discs and ISO files. If you encounter the "No valid source or titles found." prompt when importing an ISO file, this means that the ISO file contains copy protection encryption. In this situation, you're recommended to follow the sencond method to encode ISO to HEVC with DumboFab DVD Ripper.
Step 3. Then, select the title, preset format or devices as you wish. In the Summary tab below, select MP4 or MKV as the output format and click Video tab and choose H.265 (x265) as the video codec.
Step 4. Select the output directory at the bottom by click Browse button.
Step 5. Finally, click on the green Start Encode button to start the conversion of ISO to MP4 using Handbrake.
Method 2. Convert ISO to HEVC/H.265 MP4 with More Powerful, Faster DumboFab DVD Ripper(★ Recommended)
DumboFab DVD Ripper is a totally clean, fast and user-friendly DVD ripper that you're looking for. With it, you can convert any DVD ISO image file to HEVC/h.265 encoded MP4 and MKV files with with 98% quality reserved and incomparably fast speed (powerful GPU hardware acceleration tech). No matter your ISO image from homemade disc or commercial DVD, it can accept whatever you feed it without "the disc image file has been corrupted" error (caused by DVD DRM protections).
Furthermore, it owns 350+ profiles for converting ISO image to H.264 MP4/AVI/MOV for playback on devices easily and is built with powerful decryption technology for (DVD region code, UOPs, CSS encryption, Disney's fake etc.) copy protected ISO images and encrypted movie DVDs, even those Disney DVD movies with X-project DRM. Follow the detailed steps below to finish the job within just several clicks.
[Tutorial] How to Convert ISO to HEVC/H.265 with High Quality and Smaller Size
First of all, you need to download DumboFab DVD Ripper Windows or Mac version on your PC. The guide below takes the Windows version for example. The ISO to HEVC conversion process on Mac (Big Sur incl.) is the same.
※ For macOS 10.14 or lower, you're recommended to download 32-bit installer here.
Step 1: Install and launch DumboFab DVD Ripper, click "Load disc" button and then click "Load ISO/ISO" button to load ISO image files you want to convert to HEVC/H.265.
Step 2: Click "Format" bar and then select "H.265 Video(*.mp4)" from "Common Video" category as the output format. Optionally, you can select desired subtitle, audio track, etc. for your HEVC outputs.
If you need to convert ISO image file to MP4 file for iPhone, Android device, YouTube, web services, you can also find a profile.
The default setting works well. Of course, if you want to customize video and audio encoding settings, just click the "Settings" button to customize these settings. Below are some tips on recommended settings:
1. You're not suggested to adjust frame rate, if not necessary.
2. Lower the resolution. Typical DVD videos are 720×480 (NTSC) and 720×540 (PAL). Adjust the resolution to 640×480 won't make any quality difference.
3. Lower the bitrate to a lower level. For example, adjusting the original 2500 to bitrates of around 1800-2000 is acceptable without noticeable pixellation.
Please note: Adjusting these variables have some effect on the re-encoded video quality. Remember the file size and video quality is based more on bitrate than resolution which means bitrate higher results in big file size, and lower visible quality loss.
Step 3: Click the "Browse" button to select a destination folder in the dialog box that opens, and click OK. Then click the big "Convert" button to start converting.
Which ISO to HEVC Converter to Go: Handbrake vs DumboFab DVD Ripper
To help you quickly figure out which way suits you better, we've made a comparison table below.
DumboFab DVD Ripper |
Handbrake |
|
Compatible platform |
Windows, Mac |
Windows, Mac, Linux |
UI |
Clean and concise |
Clean, but complex for beginners |
Support DVDs |
• Home-made DVDs • Copy-protected music, movie (incl. new Disney 99-title), workout, Japanese adult DVDs • Old/damaged DVDs |
Unencrypted DVDs only |
Other supported inputs |
ISO image, DVD VIDEO_TS Folder |
ISO image, DVD VIDEO_TS Folder |
DVD/ISO to HEVC MP4 |
Yes |
Yes |
DVD/ISO to HEVC MKV |
No |
Yes |
Other supported output formats |
MOV, AVI, WMV, FLV, 3GP, ISO image, DVD folder, MPEG2, MP3, AC3/DTS, PNG, etc. |
No |
1:1 DVD Copy |
• Clone the Whole DVD to DVD folder • Backup DVD main movie to a Single VOB File |
No |
Edit features |
• Trim, crop, merge, subtitle, add/remove audio, add watermark, apply effects, deinterlace • Edit video audio bitrate, frame rate, resolution, etc. |
• Crop, subtitle, deinterlace, rotate • Edit video audio bitrate, frame rate, resolution, etc. |
Intel QSV to accelerate HEVC encoding |
Yes |
No |
NVIDIA CUDA/NVENC to accelerate HEVC encoding |
Yes |
No |
