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Handbrake🔗

A free GUI tool for encoding video files.
Here is a guide on how I configure HandBrake with different codecs to achieve the best file size and quality efficiency I can manage.

If you want to do a bit more than just encoding, try Shutter Encoder. If you want to join a couple of video files and trim them, try LosslessCut.

Summary🔗

There is not much to change under the Summary tab, as the defaults are the most suitable.

  • Format:
    • MP4
  • ✓ Web Optimized
  • ✓ Align A/V Start
  • X iPod 5G Support
  • X Passthru Common Metadata

Dimensions🔗

Disable all. Only change the resolution here if you want to lower it to save space.
Cropping is also an option, use the Preview feature at the same time to check if the crop looks correct.

Filters🔗

Disable all, unless you need a specific function for a certain video.
Regular screen recordings do not require any filters.

Video🔗

  • Video:
    • Video Encoder: Either H.264 or H.265, depending on the hardware/software support you have and the target device/platform you are sharing to.
      AV1 is even better than H.265, but I do not have the hardware support to test it sufficiently.
      AV1 configuration works differently than H.264 / H.265. For example, a CQ/RF of 25 is nowhere near the same between H.265 and AV1; AV1 requires a much lower number.
    • FPS: Source (Constant most of the time, Variable if you want to save an extra ~1% of space)
    • Color Range: Source
  • Encoder Options:
    • Encoder Preset: Depends, see the Quality: RF / CQ recommendations below.
    • Encoder Tune: None (most of the time)
    • Encoder Profile: Auto
    • Encoder Level: Auto
  • Quality:
    • Constant Quality: Depends, see the Quality: RF / CQ recommendations below.
      What is the difference between standard H.26* and NVENC? NVENC uses the Nvidia GPU to encode much faster, but the compression and quality are worse.
    • Advanced Options: Depends on the codec used, see - Encoder Options: Advanced Options recommendations.

Quality: RF / CQ recommendations🔗

H.264 / AVC H.264 (NVENC)
1080p / 4K		 H.265 / HEVC H.265 (NVENC)
1080p / 4K		 AV1
Archival / Near-Lossless 16-18 / 18-20 18-20 / 20-22 18-20 / 20-22 20-22 / 22-24 14-16
Excellent Quality 19-22 / 21-23 21-23 / 23-25 21-24 / 23-25 23-25 / 25-27 16-18
Good / Web Sharing 23-25 / 24-26 24-26 / 26-28 25-27 / 26-28 26-28 / 28-30 18-20
High Compression 26-28 / 27-29 27-29 / 29-31 28-30 / 29-32 29-32 / 31-34 20-24
Encoder Preset: Very Slow Slowest Slow Slowest 24-30

Encoder Options: Advanced Options recommendations🔗

H.264 ref=8:bframes=8:b-adapt=2:rc-lookahead=50:me=umh:subme=10:merange=32:trellis=2:aq-mode=3:aq-strength=1.0:psy-rd=1.0,0.15:deblock=-1,-1:partitions=all:direct=auto:keyint=300:min-keyint=25:no-fast-pskip=1:chroma-qp-offset=-2
H.265 aq-mode=3:rd=5:psy-rd=2.0:psy-rdoq=4.0:deblock=-1,-1:no-strong-intra-smoothing:bframes=16:ref=5:limit-sao:limit-modes
H.264 (NVENC) preset=p7:rc-lookahead=32:spatial-aq=1:aq-strength=8:temporal-aq=1:bframes=4:refs=5
H.265 (NVENC) preset=p7:rc-lookahead=46:temporal_aq=1:spatial_aq=1:aq-strength=12:bframes=4:refs=5:b_ref_mode=middle
AV1 10-bit (SVT) Standard:
keyint=300:tune=0:enable-tf=0:sharpness=1
Mega compression:
keyint=10s:scm=1:aq-mode=2:enable-variance-boost=1:enable-qm=1:qm-min=0:qm-max=15