Re: Post Your "Best Settings" here and Why.
Posted: Fri Jun 20, 2008 1:12 am
Oh... great! How do I turn that on? decomb=1 or picturedecomb=1 or other?
The open source video transcoder
https://forum.handbrake.fr/
Hi nightstrm,nightstrm wrote:OK, here is what I am currently using. I am currently using post-snapshot code, so some of these features may not be available in .9.2 (and one is only available via a patch currently). Big difference is always using CRF=64 (except for concert DVDs... this high of a value typically results in a very large file), switched to loose anamorphic, no longer use denoise filter, and switched audio settings with support of multiple audio inputs in snapshot.
Format: MP4 File
Video
Encoder: x264
Constant Quality: 64% (I use 64% for everything now... very satisfied with size + quality after the VAQ improvements were committed to SVN)
Picture Settings
Anamorphic: Loose
Crop: Automatic
VFR: Enabled
Decomb: Default (only available via patch against SVN code... this + VFR results in beautiful encodes)
Audio + Subtitles
Track 1: English (AC3) (Dolby Surround) <-- if available, otherwise use English (AC3) (5.1)
- Audio Codec: AAC (faac)
- Mixdown: Stereo (due to a bug, this retains the original dolby surround encoding -- I'd rather keep the studio mix)
- Samplerate (khz): 48
- Bitrate (kbps): 160
- DRC: 1.50
Track 2: English (AC3) (5.1)
- Audio Codec: AC3 Passthru
Subtitles: Autoselect (Forced Subtitles Only - Checked)
Chapters: Enabled (I use chapter names from DVD if available, otherwise leave as default)
Advanced: cabac=0:ref=2:analyse=all:me=umh:subq=6:no-fast-pskip=1:trellis=1:mixed-refs=1:merange=32:level=30
gotcha. thanks.dynaflash wrote:drc makes the soft sounds louder, kind of like a night listening mode that some receivers have.
Here is a bit of light reading on HB's implementation http://forum.handbrake.fr/viewtopic.php ... ion#p21191
Dynaflash hit it right on the head with his post... I find I like the sound output a little better when listening via headphones, or my bedroom TV (no A/V receiver, only built-in speakers). If I watch from my AppleTV in the living room, I'm using the untouched AC3 soundtrack.dynaflash wrote:drc makes the soft sounds louder, kind of like a night listening mode that some receivers have.
Here is a bit of light reading on HB's implementation http://forum.handbrake.fr/viewtopic.php ... ion#p21191
TedJ wrote:Definitely, once jbrjake has finished tweaking and tuning it.megabyteme wrote:Is decomb planned to be included in the Windows GUI for the final release of 0.9.3?TedJ wrote:AFAIK, decomb has only been included in the Mac GUI...
In the meantime, you should be able to pass the decomb option manually by adding it to the advanced options.
^^^^ anyone?megabyteme wrote:Oh... great! How do I turn that on? decomb=1 or picturedecomb=1 or other?
Yes, that is exactly what I said I want to do.... add it to the advanced options under the advanced tab in the Windows GUI.gbdesai wrote:...if you are using WinGui then add it to the box in the Advanced tab... Do a HandBrakeCli.exe --help for all the available options...
Hey nightstrm, are you still using these settings, or have you switched around a bit in the months since?nightstrm wrote:OK, here is what I am currently using. I am currently using post-snapshot code, so some of these features may not be available in .9.2 (and one is only available via a patch currently). Big difference is always using CRF=64 (except for concert DVDs... this high of a value typically results in a very large file), switched to loose anamorphic, no longer use denoise filter, and switched audio settings with support of multiple audio inputs in snapshot.
Format: MP4 File
Video
Encoder: x264
Constant Quality: 64% (I use 64% for everything now... very satisfied with size + quality after the VAQ improvements were committed to SVN)
Picture Settings
Anamorphic: Loose
Crop: Automatic
VFR: Enabled
Decomb: Default (available in SVN code... this + VFR results in beautiful encodes)
Audio + Subtitles
Track 1: English (AC3) (Dolby Surround) <-- if available, otherwise use English (AC3) (5.1)
- Audio Codec: AAC (faac)
- Mixdown: Stereo (due to a bug, this retains the original dolby surround encoding -- I'd rather keep the studio mix)
- Samplerate (khz): 48
- Bitrate (kbps): 160
- DRC: 1.50
Track 2: English (AC3) (5.1)
- Audio Codec: AC3 Passthru
Subtitles: Autoselect (Forced Subtitles Only - Checked)
Chapters: Enabled (I use chapter names from DVD if available, otherwise leave as default)
Advanced: cabac=0:ref=2:analyse=all:me=umh:subq=6:no-fast-pskip=1:trellis=1:mixed-refs=1:merange=32:level=30
nightstrm wrote:Here is the preset I have been using to generate encodes that are compatible with both the AppleTV and the iPhone, while taking advantage of the new features in .9.2 (including AAC+AC3, improved anamorphic support, and VFR to name a few). Using these settings, I have yet to come across an encode that did not work on both devices.
It should be noted that this uses CRF, which means you cannot accurately predict what the output file size is going to be. This has resulted in some files that seem quite large in comparison to the 8GB of space on my iPhone, but have so far been below 2.5GB. I need Steve to announce a 32GB 3G iPhone in the very near future!
EDIT: In case I haven't made it clear enough, this preset is not going to be for everyone. It is slower than some of the stock presets, and the file sizes are larger than normal, especially with the limited drive space of the iPhone. I'd like to help come up with something in-between the iPhone and AppleTV presets that is a little easier to manage, but my main concern was keeping as much video quality as possible while maintaining compatibility with all of my Apple devices.
CLI Equivalent (untested): -i <source> -o <destination> -U -F -m -e x264 -q .63 -8 weak -p -E aac+ac3 -B 160 -R 48 -D 1.51 -v -x cabac=0:ref=2:analyse=all:me=umh:subq=6:no-fast-pskip=1:trellis=1:mixed-refs=1:merange=32:level=30
GUI settings -
Format: MP4 File
Codec: AVC/H.264 Video/AAC + AC3 Audio
Insert iPod Atom: Checked (not really necessary)
Video -
Encoder: x264
Constant Quality: 63% (will bump up to 64-65% for select titles) <-- ensure CRF is still checked in preferences
Picture Settings -
Anamorphic: Strict (can use loose if you want)
Crop: Automatic
VFR: Enabled (thank you jbrjake... I have finally encoded Futurama to my liking after numerous attempts before!)
Denoise: Weak (usually set, but this is really a personal preference)
Audio + Subtitles -
Track 1: English AC3 5.1 (Track 1 Mix: DPL2 + AC3)
Bitrate: 160kbps (only affects AAC)
Sample Rate: 48khz
Dynamic Range Compression: 1.51 (only affects AAC, and is really a personal preference)
Subtitles: Autoselect (Forced Subtitles Only - Checked)
Chapters: Enabled
Advanced: cabac=0:ref=2:analyse=all:me=umh:subq=6:no-fast-pskip=1:trellis=1:mixed-refs=1:merange=32:level=30
For older television shows, I've stuck with using pretty much the same settings as above, except using an average bitrate of 1750kbps (Quicktime reports ~1500kbps final bitrate) and AAC audio only.
Those settings are all *about* sacrifices. Otherwise they wouldn't work on all those devices. It sacrifices high profile for the AppleTV, and cabac and b-frames for the iPhone. You're sacrificing storage space as a result. That means sacrificing choice because you can have fewer video at any given time on any of those devices. In return you're spared the time of encoding and cost of storing copies for each device. But as a result you're getting bloated files everywhere you go. It's a compromise, like everything in video encoding, and you are quite definitely ripping for the lowest common denominator.qantaqa wrote:Thanks for these amazing settings, I am ripping piles of dvd9's with this now. The quality is straight out amazing and it works on everything... my XBOX360, my iPhone, my PC and my APPLE TV... this got to be the best possible rip settings ever.
No crap like 'rip for the lowest denominator', no sacrifices here.
Yes, but that same resolution could be conveyed to an AppleTV or a computer or a 360 with far fewer bits than are needed for the iPhone, and the same quality could be conveyed to an iPhone with far fewer bits than are needed on the other devices. That's what I mean about them not being the "best possible rip settings" and that you are still encoding to the lowest common denominator. I never said NightStorm's settings lowered quality, I said they made sacrifices.qantaqa wrote:oc I am ripping for whats possible on the most limited device. However it doesnt feel like that as the resulting quality is just as high as the APPLETV rip setting.
I take issue with that. I crafted the iPhone setting so that its quality is exceedingly high. It gets top-notch quality *for an iPhone screen*. It reduces resolution, in order to squeeze the same quality into a much smaller footprint. After all, an iPhone screen just scales down larger video anyway, so the bits are wasted there. I'd like to see some actual metrics to back up an extraordinary claim like "the suggested rip settings for the iPhone are complete crap."Ussually the suggested rip settings for the iphone are complete crap, based on the official specs, rather then finding a way to get the top notch quality by finding something that does work. This setting does this.
Of course I have. But I don't use them regularly because it's a massive waste of space, for the same reason NightStorm gave himself: "The reality of it is, if you want encodes that look good on both devices, you're going to have to come to the realization that the encodes are going to be big... much bigger than most people want for their 8GB iPhones (including me)."You tried these settings jbrbrake?
Counterpoint: If you have all this storage space on your computer, you can back up a copy for each device. Then you can fit way more on each device, and choose less. When I went on a trip last month, I carried around a day's worth of video on my 8GB iPhone:Cause size seems like the least important factor imo with harddisks going TB and beyond (and there is no way an entire movie collection is gonna fit my iphone, it will always be choosing some).
qantaqa,qantaqa wrote:Brian,
I noticed my rips dont work if they exceed 4gb, if you have the same problem, try reducing the quality a bit.
Nghtstrm,
Thanks for these amazing settings, I am ripping piles of dvd9's with this now. The quality is straight out amazing and it works on everything... my XBOX360, my iPhone, my PC and my APPLE TV... this got to be the best possible rip settings ever.
No crap like 'rip for the lowest denominator', no sacrifices here.
Super!
I had the same problem with Ratatouille, and turning off VFR did allow me to encode the first chapter properly, as you said. I am encoding the rest of the movie as a test run. So, here are my tentative default settings for my iPhone 3G and Xbox 360:btm wrote:My gut feeling is that it has to do with the copy protection on the first chapter of a track. If I just encode that one chapter using nightstrms settings it gives me the error in the resulting mp4. Turning off VFR seemed to have resolved the problem but I really have no idea why. Has anyone run into this? Or am I taking crazy pills?
Yes. I will do this when I get home. I haven't started the bug thread yet because I don't have the activity log with me. However, the settings above are indeed now my default "best settings" for general usage (for the iPhone and Xbox 360), not just for Ratatouille.jbrjake wrote:If you guys have a reproducible issue with VFR please start a new thread or a bug report for it instead of clogging up the Best Settings thread. And please. Include activity logs.
I don't have this particular DVD so unfortunately I can't test.
I am aware of one minor issue with VFR that I'm working on, but I can't think of any way it could affect something like this. VFR only touches frames long after the DVD reading code does, so it's not immediately clear how they even could interact....