Choosing an x264 Preset

Jan Ozer October 14, 2019 Codecs, Encoding, FFmpeg, Metrics Leave a comment 3,542 Views

All codecs and encoding tools have a configuration option that controls the quality/encoding time tradeoff. With x264 (and x265) the preset controls that tradeoff.

When choosing a preset you should consider 3 criteria:

  • Overall quality – the overall quality produced by that preset
  • Low frame quality – the quality of the lowest frame produced by that preset, which indicates the potential for transient quality issues
  • Encoding time – this determines the throughput and cost of your encodings

This presentation goes through that analysis for choosing an x264 preset. It’s excerpted from my upcoming pre-conference session at Streaming Media West entitled Introduction to ABR Technologies.

Click Choosing an x264 Preset to download the presentation.

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About Jan Ozer

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I help streaming and video technology companies solve complex technical and market-facing problems in practical business terms. Engagements range from fixed-scope audits and codec strategy reviews to product testing and technical content that helps customers, prospects, and internal teams connect technical performance to business outcomes. I am a contributing editor to Streaming Media Magazine, writing about codecs and encoding tools. I have written multiple authoritative books on video encoding, including Video Encoding by the Numbers: Eliminate the Guesswork from your Streaming Video (https://amzn.to/3kV6R1j) and Learn to Produce Video with FFmpeg: In Thirty Minutes or Less (https://amzn.to/3ZJih7e). I have multiple courses relating to streaming media production, all available at https://bit.ly/slc_courses.

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