“Handrabke crashes every time when encoding a larger MKV to a smaller one - I am trying to convert my physical DVD and Blu-ray collection to MKV file to use on my home server. DVDs are converted directly using Handbrake to MKV with no problems. For Blu-rays, I first convert them to MKV using MakeMKV. Most Blu-rays are large at this point (18-44 GB), and I then use Handbrake to decrease their size to a smaller MKV file for final use on my server.

However, Handbrake started crashing when converting the larger sized MKV files to smaller. The converting gets through a few minutes or even 30-40 min of encoding before Handbrake stops/crashes (sometimes with an error message stating "Handbrake stopped working"). Please show me how to fix the HandBrake crashes issue. Thank you.”

As an open-source, GPL-licensed, multiplatform, multithreaded free video transcoder, HandBrake could help you easily convert videos from supported source formats to MP4 or MKV format, crop and resize video, rip and convert non-commercial DVD movies, preserve existing subtitles, and add or remove soft subtitles (subtitles stored as text), etc. It’s been one of the most popular video transcoder tools in the world. However, sometimes HandBrake crashes and stops working. If you are noticed with an error message saying HandBrake crashed, this guide would be perfect for you. We here would like to show you how to fix HandBrake crashes issue and recommend you with 5 best HandBrake alternative tools to let you smoothly and fluently enjoy your DVD movies.

Part 1: How to Fix HandBrake Crashes During Encode?

What would you do when HandBrake crashes down during encoding? It’s necessary for us to firstly figure out the reasons of these crashes. And according to these causes, we have brought out the solutions or fixes for HandBrake crash during encoding.
Solution 1: Downgrade the video codec
HandBrake makes use of x265 encoder allowing users to encode disc or videos to HEVC MP4/MKV with compressed file size but high quality. However, if you are using an underpowered computer, HandBrake probably crashes or freezes during encoding to HEVC. You could then try to switch the video codec from H.265 (x265) to H.264 (x264) or H.264 (Intel QSV) for getting HandBrake run again. Try MPEG4 codec if HandBrake still crashes down.

Solution 2: Lower down the video resolution
We all know that the higher the video resolution is, the more CPU usage HandBrake will take up. HandBrake provides lots of presets on output profile parameters to let users conveniently get a specific profiles for different purposes at a particular resolution/frame rate. Therefore you could try to lower down the pressure HandBrake is taking by switching the resolution from Super HQ 1080p30 to HQ 720p30 or even lower level.

Solution 3: Improve computer hardware
HandBrake will swallow as much CPU space as it is given to ensure smooth working. Therefore, you could monitor the CPU usage and try to improve the computer hardware like switching to a better CPU to make sure that HandBrake works smoothly. Your computer hardware performance plays a very important role in the normal work of HandBrake. Of course, you could also end other tasks running on your computer to provide enough resources for HandBrake running.
Solution 4: Switch to another HandBrake version
Updating your HandBrake to the latest version or installing the HandBrake Nightly build on your computer might get the “HandBrake crashes” issue fixed. HandBrake releases Nightly builds on the basis of the latest development code. You could experience it and provide your own feedback to the HandBrake team.
Solution 5: Turn to HandBrake alternative
We know that HandBrake is a wonderful and free video encoder tool that enables us to freely get videos from video, DVD and other supported media files. Actually, there are quite a great number of HandBrake alternatives that could help you convert DVD and videos, some of which perform even better. For example, most HandBrake alternatives support decrypting encrypted DVD discs, while HandBrake requires extra add-on like libdvdcss to do this. In the below part, you could get 5 best HandBrake alternatives for your choice.

Part 2: 5 Best HandBrake Alternatives to Rip DVD with Ease

As mentioned above, we can turn to HandBrake alternatives to rip DVD ease. Why should we turn to HandBrake alternatives? Firstly, HandBrake doesn’t decrypt encrypted DVD discs, while most DVD discs in the market are commercial and copy protected. Secondly, HandBrake only outputs MKV or MP4 files, but users sometimes want other files like WMV files for specific devices or uses. Thirdly, HandBrake crashes frequently on some computers that bother users a lot. These are the 3 main causes. Of course, there are other reasons such as ripping speed, program stability, and other special needs like DVD movie editing or 3D movie creating.
Here, we would like to share 5 best HandBrake alternatives below with you, with the aim of making DVD ripping easier and stabler on your computer.

No. 1 Leawo DVD Ripper

leawo-dvd-ripper

Leawo DVD Ripper could be the best alternative to HandBrake since it not only decrypts and rips DVD discs with protection and region restriction, but also converts DVD to video in various formats like DVD to MP4, MOV, MKV, WMV, AVI, and 180+ other video formats for various devices and players. Compared to HandBrake, Leawo DVD Ripper is much more perfect since it offers more features and stabler performance, like internal DVD movie editor, 2D DVD to 3D video converter, audio extractor, DVD player, etc. It doesn’t require extra add-on tool for decrypting copy protected DVD discs, and it supports more output profiles other than MP4 and MKV only by HandBrake.

No. 2 MakeMKV

MakeMKV is a one-click solution to convert video into a free and patents-unencumbered format that can be played everywhere. It converts the video clips from the proprietary (and usually encrypted) disc into a set of MKV files, preserving most information but not changing it in any way. The MKV format can store multiple video/audio tracks with all meta-information and preserve chapters. Additionally, MakeMKV can instantly stream decrypted video without intermediate conversion to a wide range of players, so you may watch Blu-ray and DVD discs with your favorite player on your favorite OS or on your favorite device. Compared to HandBrake, MakeMKV even allows you to rip Blu-ray movies without losing any quality.

No. 3 VidCoder

VidCoder is a very easy to use DVD, Blu-ray and any video file to MP4/MKV video converter. It uses HandBrake as its encoding engine. Easily batch convert your video/DVDs/ISO/VIDEO_TS and Blu-ray to MP4 or MKV or WEBM. Burn-in/Hardcode srt subtitles. Multi-threaded, H.264/AVC encoding with x264 and H.265/HEVC with x265, the world's best video encoder. Completely integrated encoding: everything is in one process and no huge intermediate temporary files. It requires .NET 4 client installed on your computer.

No. 4 Format Factory

Format Factory is possibly one of the best programs to convert the format of all sorts of multimedia files. It could convert videos, audios, images, DVDs, and documents to MP3, 3GP, MP4, AVI, MKV, WMA, JPG, etc. for mobile devices such as Android smartphones and iPhones.

No. 5 Free DVD Video Converter

Free DVD Video Converter could help you convert video DVDs and Blu-ray discs to video files on your computer in AVI, MP4, MKV for iPod and iPhone, PSP, BlackBerry, AppleTV, PS3 and Xbox, and extract MP3 or WAV audio from video DVDs. Free DVD Video Converter supports title selection, language and subtitle selection (mounted into the picture). This program contains no spyware or adware. It's clearly free and absolutely safe to install and run on Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista, XP SP3. However, you need to know that this program converts only unprotected files.

Part 3: Comparison between 5 HandBrake Alternative Tools

To let you know the differences between these 5 HandBrake alternative tools, we have made a comparison table with detailed features available. You could check the table below to get more details.

 

Leawo DVD Ripper

MakeMKV

VidCoder

Format Factory

Free DVD Video Converter

Decrypt protected DVD discs

Yes

No

No

No

No

Convert DVD to video

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Extract audio off DVD

Yes

No

No

Yes

Yes

Supported video output formats

180+

MKV only

MKV, MP4, WEBM

3GP, AVI, MP4, MKV, etc.

AVI, MP4, and MKV

Supported output formats

Nearly all audio file formats

No

No

MP3, WMA, etc.

MP3 and WAV

Adjust output profile parameters

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Play back DVD movies

Yes

No

No

No

No

Edit DVD movies

Trim, crop, add watermark, adjust effect

No

No

No

No

Convert 2D DVD to 3D video

Yes

No

No

No

No

Select subtitles, audio tracks and language

Yes

No

Yes

No

Yes

Availability

Windows & Mac

Windows & Mac

Windows

Windows

Windows

Conclusion

Obviously, Leawo DVD Ripper provides much more practical and useful features than other HandBrake alternatives have. It has features other alternatives and even HandBrake don’t, especially the disc decrypting ability since nowadays most DVD discs have been released with either disc protection or region restrictions. Leawo DVD Ripper breaks these disc protections and removes region restrictions so as to let you enjoy DVD movies more conveniently.