Best HandBreak Encoding Settings?

[David Martin 24]

I encode all of my media before it goes onto the server so I'm wondering if there are any recommended settings for smooth playback on Emby both inside and out of network?

 

Currently I'm using the settings below. Please excuse the format it's copied and pasted from my (plist) file.

 

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>

<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">

<plist>

  <array>

    <dict>

      <key>AudioList</key>

      <array>

        <dict>

          <key>AudioBitrate</key>

          <string>320</string>

          <key>AudioEncoder</key>

          <string>MP3</string>

          <key>AudioMixdown</key>

          <string>Stereo</string>

          <key>AudioSamplerate</key>

          <string>Auto</string>

          <key>AudioTrack</key>

          <integer>1</integer>

          <key>AudioTrackDRCSlider</key>

          <real>0</real>

          <key>AudioTrackDescription</key>

          <string>Unknown</string>

          <key>AudioTrackGainSlider</key>

          <real>0</real>

        </dict>

      </array>

      <key>AudioAllowAACPass</key>

      <true />

      <key>AudioAllowAC3Pass</key>

      <true />

      <key>AudioAllowDTSHDPass</key>

      <true />

      <key>AudioAllowDTSPass</key>

      <true />

      <key>AudioAllowMP3Pass</key>

      <true />

      <key>AudioEncoderFallback</key>

      <string>AC3</string>

      <key>ChapterMarkers</key>

      <true />

      <key>Default</key>

      <integer>0</integer>

      <key>FileFormat</key>

      <string>MKV file</string>

      <key>Folder</key>

      <false />

      <key>Mp4HttpOptimize</key>

      <integer>0</integer>

      <key>Mp4iPodCompatible</key>

      <integer>0</integer>

      <key>PictureAutoCrop</key>

      <integer>1</integer>

      <key>PictureDeblock</key>

      <integer>0</integer>

      <key>PictureDecombDeinterlace</key>

      <false />

      <key>PictureDecombCustom</key>

      <string />

      <key>PictureDecomb</key>

      <integer>0</integer>

      <key>PictureDeinterlaceCustom</key>

      <string />

      <key>PictureDeinterlace</key>

      <integer>0</integer>

      <key>PictureDenoiseFilter</key>

      <string>off</string>

      <key>PictureDenoiseCustom</key>

      <string />

      <key>PictureDenoisePreset</key>

      <string>ultralight</string>

      <key>PictureDetelecine</key>

      <integer>0</integer>

      <key>PictureDetelecineCustom</key>

      <string />

      <key>PictureHeight</key>

      <integer>804</integer>

      <key>PictureKeepRatio</key>

      <integer>0</integer>

      <key>PictureModulus</key>

      <integer>2</integer>

      <key>PicturePAR</key>

      <integer>2</integer>

      <key>PictureLeftCrop</key>

      <integer>0</integer>

      <key>PictureRightCrop</key>

      <integer>0</integer>

      <key>PictureTopCrop</key>

      <integer>0</integer>

      <key>PictureBottomCrop</key>

      <integer>0</integer>

      <key>PictureWidth</key>

      <integer>1920</integer>

      <key>PresetBuildNumber</key>

      <string>2016021100</string>

      <key>PresetDescription</key>

      <string>No Description</string>

      <key>PresetName</key>

      <string>Movies Dual</string>

      <key>Type</key>

      <integer>1</integer>

      <key>UsesMaxPictureSettings</key>

      <integer>1</integer>

      <key>UsesPictureFilters</key>

      <integer>1</integer>

      <key>UsesPictureSettings</key>

      <integer>1</integer>

      <key>VideoAvgBitrate</key>

      <string />

      <key>VideoEncoder</key>

      <string>H.264 (x264)</string>

      <key>VideoFramerate</key>

      <string>Same as source</string>

      <key>VideoFramerateMode</key>

      <string>vfr</string>

      <key>VideoGrayScale</key>

      <false />

      <key>VideoQualitySlider</key>

      <real>20</real>

      <key>h264Level</key>

      <string>Auto</string>

      <key>x264OptionExtra</key>

      <string>rc-lookahead=30:ref=4</string>

      <key>x264Preset</key>

      <string>medium</string>

      <key>h264Profile</key>

      <string>none</string>

      <key>x264Tune</key>

      <string>none</string>

      <key>x264UseAdvancedOptions</key>

      <integer>1</integer>

      <key>h265Profile</key>

      <string>none</string>

      <key>x265Preset</key>

      <string>veryfast</string>

      <key>x265Tune</key>

      <string>none</string>

      <key>VideoQualityType</key>

      <integer>2</integer>

      <key>VideoTargetSize</key>

      <string />

      <key>VideoTurboTwoPass</key>

      <integer>0</integer>

      <key>VideoTwoPass</key>

      <integer>0</integer>

      <key>x264Option</key>

      <string>rc-lookahead=30:ref=4</string>

    </dict>

  </array>

</plist>

 

Thanks.

[Guest plexman]

I usually use ffmpeg with these settings for avi videos:

• x264 in medium preset always
• Audio in AAC at 128 kbps
• I also use the web optimized flag to move the moov atom to the beginning of the file so it loads faster in web players.

For mkv movies as they are already in h264 I only convert the audio to AAC (192kbps if the movie is in HD). Web Optimized of course.

[Luke 39636]

What about the defaults?

[legallink 187]

I create an mp4 (because our main interface is an apple tv 4) with h.264 codec (and same variable framerate as source) with video at 21 rf with constant quality (we usually start with Blu-ray's that have been ripped to mkv's with makemkv.).

 

I use 3 audio tracks (aac as the first, ac3 passthru as the 2nd, and if available HD audio track as the last (whether True HD or DTS).  That way the Apple tv doesn't transcode, but other interfaces that can handle better audio can grab it.

[trifleneurotic 54]

Just my two cents:

 

I usually start with the High Profile preset in Handbrake.

 

Then since I usually play back on media players and not portable devices, and since we have a lot of Blu-Rays, most of my library is MKV and it seems to work great. I usually use 18 Constant Quality H.264, with subtitles, chapters, passthru and surround audio tracks AAC, decomb (and change Blu-Ray resolution width to 1280/720p to cut down file size).

 

My really general, non-scientific sense is people tend to go MKV for quality and MP4 for compatibility/space. That being said, I have nothing empirical to back that up (:

Edited December 3, 2016 by landgazr