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I am running Ubuntu 14.04 LTS 32 bit. I have installed HandBrake rev5474 (i686), which I believe is the latest, and the Ubuntu Restricted Extras. I am able to play DVDs via VLC but when it comes to ripping them, so that I can back them up to my Twonky media server, I have issues.

I launch HandBrake and find that the only format available for me to select is MKV.

When I used to run Handbrake on this machine while I was running Ubuntu 13.10 and lower I had no issues and **lots of formats (including MP4 which is what I'm really after) but since reformating and installing 14.04 I've had this issue.

Any help would be much appreciated.

Glutanimate
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Mitty
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1 Answers1

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This is Debian bug #695225 - No support for mp4 container in Handbrake. There is a PPA with a fixed version of Handbrake, see Handbrake Releases PPA. To enable it do:

sudo apt-get purge handbrake # remove any old versions
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:stebbins/handbrake-releases
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install handbrake-gtk

To get the mp4 format to work you must go into preferences and disable the "ipod friendly mkv format" checkbox.

handbrake-gtk also available in apps.ubuntu

Nicholas DiPiazza
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bain
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  • Partially successful. With the necessary "sudo" I followed the code above but still only had MPV. – Mitty May 28 '14 at 19:57
  • I then removed all additional ppa:stebbins/handbrake-snapshot repositories (I had 3) via the Software & Updates GUI. I re-ran the last three commands but still on had MPV. – Mitty May 28 '14 at 20:01
  • Finally, did all the above again but used Synaptic Package Manager to make absolutely sure it installed Handbrake from ppa:stebbins/handbrake-snapshots. SUCCESS!!!! – Mitty May 28 '14 at 20:04
  • Thank you. My way wasn't elegant and wouldn't have worked without your initial direction. I'm a bit worried that the code above didn't work cleanly and that this suggests that there are other underlying issues with my machine. Nevertheless I am extremely greatful. Thanks – Mitty May 28 '14 at 20:07
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    I needed to add the repo, as given by bain, but needed to install "handbrake-gtk" instead of "handbrake". – Joachim Jun 06 '14 at 16:31
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    handbrake-gtk also available in apps.ubuntu –  Oct 17 '14 at 10:53
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    Using this answer I am only able to convert to mkv or m4v. Not mp4. – Jonathan Rogiest Jul 25 '15 at 14:15
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    @JonathanRogiest Disable Preferences -> "Use iPod/iTunes friendly .m4v file extension for MP4" – jmiserez Aug 08 '15 at 19:45
  • Astonishing that this workaround is still necessary. – T.J. Crowder Jun 13 '17 at 09:10
  • I found simply renaming .m4v to mp4 and it works ok usually – kerry Oct 31 '17 at 04:31
  • m4v is the same thing as mp4, just different name. – sudo May 09 '18 at 19:46
  • This workaround is still necessary and still works in 2018. BTW, this seems to be a newer version of Handbrake, and you run with gbh instead of handbrake. Man I hate mkv. Has issues even in VLC sometimes, and nothing else supports it really. – sudo May 09 '18 at 19:49