[Poll] Which x264 preset are you using?

-scallywag- · 16th October 2009, 21:12

for dvd backup i am using

slow crf 23

Dark Shikari · 16th October 2009, 21:22

That's a preset

Profiles would be baseline, main, and high

CarlEdman · 16th October 2009, 22:02

For DVD backups on a Q9300 clocked at 3 GHz:

High 3.1, if you are being literal minded.

Slower crf 19, if not.

-scallywag- · 16th October 2009, 22:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dark Shikari

That's a preset

Profiles would be baseline, main, and high

fixed

wyti · 16th October 2009, 23:23

Dvd Backup, core i7 --> placebo 2pass at the bitrate needed to fit in 1/6 DvD (around 747 Mo)

Blue_MiSfit · 16th October 2009, 23:49

BluRay backups, Q6600 @ 3.4GHz

CRF 18-20 depending on source complexity, filter chain, and output resolution (usually mostly untouched 1080p)
Setting profile to High @ 4.1
--preset slower most of the time
--tune film most of the time
50mbps VBV, for DXVA compatibility

<3 the new presets system, and 1 pass VBV. Who the hell needs a GUI anymore?

~MiSfit

Groucho2004 · 17th October 2009, 00:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blue_MiSfit

the new presets system, and 1 pass VBV. Who the hell needs a GUI anymore?

~MiSfit

There are many people who don't know what a console is, not to mention a batch file.

Consequently, they are being spoon-fed with GUIs by people who stumble upon Visual Studio Express, download it and throw some dialogs together in Visual Basic. As a side note, it's quite amusing how these guys anxiously advertise themselves as 'Developers'.

Sorry about this rant but I've been programming in C/C++ for 15 years and it sometimes turns my stomach when I look at the code of some of these 'GUIs'.

thewebchat · 17th October 2009, 01:37

I use preset ultrafast, crf 25.

MatLz · 17th October 2009, 02:22

I don't use presets. I think a brain can become very lazy or clinicly dead with always using presets...too dangerous... I prefer know or try to understand ( a little

) what I do.

So I always use 2 pass with different settings depending the sources complexity or previous filtering.

Warpman · 17th October 2009, 02:56

crf16 preset placebo -tune animation =)

easyfab · 17th October 2009, 08:16

I use the default preset (medium ) and crf (23) and add --tune film or animation depending the source.

julius666 · 17th October 2009, 09:27

I use --preset veryslow with --ref 6 --bframes 3 for DVD backups, and family videos, on a Core2Duo E7400.
The strength of psy-settings and CRF obviously depends on the source.

detmek · 17th October 2009, 13:22

--preset medium --level 3.1 --tune film (or ssim) --crf 21 --me umh --b-adapt 2 --direct auto
For DVD backup and TV capture encoding.

buzzqw · 17th October 2009, 14:24

crf 20 --preset medium --subme 9

BHH

valnar · 17th October 2009, 15:03

Something along these lines for hi-def, into an MKV file:

Code:

--crf 21 --level 4.1 --keyint 250 --bframes 3 --mixed-refs --trellis 1 --ref 3 --deblock -1,-1 --subme 9 --direct auto 
--vbv-bufsize 24000 --vbv-maxrate 20000 --me umh --no-ssim --weightb --b-adapt 2 --partitions p8x8,b8x8,i4x4,i8x8 --8x8dct 
--aud --aq-mode 1 --aq-strength 1.0

DVD is slightly different, maybe crf 22, level 3.1, ref 4 and no deblock. Lower vbv rates too.

I'm very picky so it plays perfectly on my Sage HD200, and for DXVA compatibility.

LoRd_MuldeR · 17th October 2009, 15:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by valnar

Something along these lines for hi-def, into an MKV file:

Code:

--crf 21 --level 4.1 --keyint 250 --bframes 3 --mixed-refs --trellis 1 --ref 3 --deblock -1,-1 --subme 9 --direct auto 
--vbv-bufsize 24000 --vbv-maxrate 20000 --me umh --no-ssim --weightb --b-adapt 2 --partitions p8x8,b8x8,i4x4,i8x8 --8x8dct 
--aud --aq-mode 1 --aq-strength 1.0

DVD is slightly different, maybe crf 22, level 3.1, ref 4 and no deblock. Lower vbv rates too.

I'm very picky so it plays perfectly on my Sage HD200, and for DXVA compatibility.

In current x264 there's no need for "--mixed-refs" anymore, as it's on by default. Also "--keyint 250", "--aq-mode 1", "--aq-strength 1.0", "--8x8dct " and "--no-ssim" are redundant.

You should simply your commandline to:

Code:

--preset [slow|slower] --crf 21 --level 4.1 --vbv-bufsize 24000 --vbv-maxrate 20000

valnar · 17th October 2009, 15:39

Unless those commands throw an error in new builds, I like knowing what my encodes are doing. Besides, those presets don't line up with my options anyway.

Edit: CRF 19-20 for hi-def. CRF 21-23 for SD/DVD. Made a mistake above in my first post.

LoRd_MuldeR · 17th October 2009, 15:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by valnar

Unless those commands throw an error in new builds, I like knowing what my encodes are doing.

If you pass options that just set the default, your encodes do exactly the same what they would without those redundant options

Quote:

Originally Posted by valnar

Besides, those presets don't line up with my options anyway.

Then you should probably take this as a chance to change your options. Pick a suitable preset and that's it.

For 99% of all encodes there should be no need to manually overwrite any options now. VBV parameters must still be passed, of course.

And if you really need to, you can still overwrite single options after picking the most suitable preset...

valnar · 17th October 2009, 15:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by LoRd_MuldeR

If you pass options that just set the default, your encodes do exactly the same what they would without those redundant options

True, but then if I needed to edit the command line for a special encode, it's there for me to see.

Quote:

Then you should probably take this as a chance to change your options. Pick a suitable preset and that's it.

Why would I do that? My parameters are better than the presets for my needs.

Preset Slow uses subme 8 and ref 5. Preset Slower uses ref 8 and all partitions. Sigma based hardware and DXVA are very picky about what they support, especially for 1080p. Sure, I could use a preset and cancel out the options I don't like with another parameter, but what if the presets change in the future? I still prefer to know what I'm doing. It helps me remember. Although I may take your advice and remove the redundant defaults.

LoRd_MuldeR · 17th October 2009, 16:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by valnar

Why would I do that? My parameters are better than the presets for my needs.

Because the presets have been defined like that for a reason and they should be well-balanced, e.g. they don't combine super-fast and super-slow options.

Quote:

Originally Posted by valnar

Preset Slow uses subme 8 and ref 5. Preset Slower uses ref 8 and all partitions. Sigma based hardware and DXVA are very picky about what they support, especially for 1080p.

Sube-Me doesn't effect hardware compatibility at all. And you still can append "--ref 3" after the preset. Would still make your commandline much cleaner.

And if you really want Sub-Me 9, you should simply consider using the "slower" preset

Quote:

Originally Posted by valnar

Sure, I could use a preset and cancel out the options I don't like with another parameter, but what if the presets change in the future? I still prefer to know what I'm doing. It helps me remember. Although I may take your advice and remove the redundant defaults.

If a preset changes in future, that will be for good reason. If you still use your "explicit" options then, they may have become obsolete and you won't notice...

16th October 2009, 21:12	#1 \| Link
-scallywag- Registered User Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 3	[Poll] Which x264 preset are you using? for dvd backup i am using slow crf 23 Last edited by -scallywag-; 16th October 2009 at 22:16.

16th October 2009, 21:22	#2 \| Link
Dark Shikari x264 developer Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 8,666	That's a preset Profiles would be baseline, main, and high __________________ Follow x264 development progress \| akupenguin quotes \| x264 git status ffmpeg and x264-related consulting/coding contracts \| Doom10

16th October 2009, 23:23	#5 \| Link
wyti Insane Encoder Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Lausanne (Switzerland) Posts: 142	Dvd Backup, core i7 --> placebo 2pass at the bitrate needed to fit in 1/6 DvD (around 747 Mo) __________________ Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I’m not sure about the former.

16th October 2009, 23:49	#6 \| Link
Blue_MiSfit Derek Prestegard IRL Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 5,990	BluRay backups, Q6600 @ 3.4GHz CRF 18-20 depending on source complexity, filter chain, and output resolution (usually mostly untouched 1080p) Setting profile to High @ 4.1 --preset slower most of the time --tune film most of the time 50mbps VBV, for DXVA compatibility <3 the new presets system, and 1 pass VBV. Who the hell needs a GUI anymore? ~MiSfit __________________ These are all my personal statements, not those of my employer :)

17th October 2009, 02:22	#9 \| Link
MatLz I often say "maybe"... Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: France Posts: 583	I don't use presets. I think a brain can become very lazy or clinicly dead with always using presets...too dangerous... I prefer know or try to understand ( a little ) what I do. So I always use 2 pass with different settings depending the sources complexity or previous filtering. __________________ We are spitting food to these hungry eyes. You see they ask, we know they are greedy of our rot. Better than to give jam to pigs. x264 r2146 MOD

16th October 2009, 22:02	#3 \| Link
CarlEdman Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 185	For DVD backups on a Q9300 clocked at 3 GHz: High 3.1, if you are being literal minded. Slower crf 19, if not.

17th October 2009, 01:37	#8 \| Link
thewebchat Advanced Blogging Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 480	I use preset ultrafast, crf 25.

17th October 2009, 02:56	#10 \| Link
Warpman Registered User Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 131	crf16 preset placebo -tune animation =)

17th October 2009, 08:16	#11 \| Link
easyfab Registered User Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 332	I use the default preset (medium ) and crf (23) and add --tune film or animation depending the source.

17th October 2009, 09:27	#12 \| Link
julius666 Registered User Join Date: May 2009 Location: Hungary Posts: 79	I use --preset veryslow with --ref 6 --bframes 3 for DVD backups, and family videos, on a Core2Duo E7400. The strength of psy-settings and CRF obviously depends on the source.

17th October 2009, 13:22	#13 \| Link
detmek Registered User Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 463	--preset medium --level 3.1 --tune film (or ssim) --crf 21 --me umh --b-adapt 2 --direct auto For DVD backup and TV capture encoding.

17th October 2009, 14:24	#14 \| Link
buzzqw HDConvertToX author Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Cesena,Italy Posts: 6,552	crf 20 --preset medium --subme 9 BHH __________________ HDConvertToX: your tool for BD backup MultiX264: The quick gui for x264 AutoMen: The Mencoder GUI AutoWebM: supporting WebM/VP8

17th October 2009, 15:03	#15 \| Link
valnar Registered User Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Cleveland Posts: 519	Something along these lines for hi-def, into an MKV file: Code: --crf 21 --level 4.1 --keyint 250 --bframes 3 --mixed-refs --trellis 1 --ref 3 --deblock -1,-1 --subme 9 --direct auto --vbv-bufsize 24000 --vbv-maxrate 20000 --me umh --no-ssim --weightb --b-adapt 2 --partitions p8x8,b8x8,i4x4,i8x8 --8x8dct --aud --aq-mode 1 --aq-strength 1.0 DVD is slightly different, maybe crf 22, level 3.1, ref 4 and no deblock. Lower vbv rates too. I'm very picky so it plays perfectly on my Sage HD200, and for DXVA compatibility.

17th October 2009, 15:39	#17 \| Link
valnar Registered User Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Cleveland Posts: 519	Unless those commands throw an error in new builds, I like knowing what my encodes are doing. Besides, those presets don't line up with my options anyway. Edit: CRF 19-20 for hi-def. CRF 21-23 for SD/DVD. Made a mistake above in my first post. Last edited by valnar; 17th October 2009 at 15:47.