The types are bool (Boolean) for true/false, int (Integer) for numbers with no fractional (decimal) portion, and text for text characters. The data type noted for each option tells you what sort of input you need to provide. Below that will be the same option (with the default value specified) as a line of XML for use in a profile:ĭescriptionRead the description for each option to get find out what it does and when to use it. Each option will have a simple explanation, which will include an example of use on the command line, the type of data (true/false, numbers, text) you must supply, and default value (when appropriate) if the option isn't specified. A few, like the input filename, apply only to individual encoding jobs, and are therefore not appropriate for inclusion in a profile. X264 Options Most of the options on this page are equally useful for individual command lines or profiles. The profile will be determined by which encoder options you use. Typically when you're encoding for playback on a particular piece of hardware you'll want to match its restrictions in your encoded video. Levels simply define resolution and bitrate limitations. From Baseline to High 1, each successive profile adds features like B frames, interlaced encoding, and higher compression levels. AVC profiles are more or less designed around particular types of devices, such as mobile phones, HDTV receivers, or high definition DVDs. If you're using a program that supports MeGUI-style profiles you're probably best off at least starting with one that's been written with your playback device in mind.
However, x264 does have a -levels option, which should be chosen based on the hardware or software which will playback Instead, a GUI that uses the x264 CLI may have a list of profiles and levels, allowing it to limit you to settings consistent with your selection. These are not the same as x264 profiles, which are basically just lists of encoder settings. You can find profiles for everything from iPods to game consoles to Blu-ray ĪVC Profiles and Levels Like other MPEG standards, AVC is defined as a system of profiles and levels. You can create your own profiles from scratch, but it's recommended to start with one that's already been written and modify it. That will requre that two (or more) commands will have to be generated and executed with the -pass option on each one. For example, EncodingMode of 4 means multipass ABR (average bitrate) encoding will be used. Profile options don't necessarily correspond directly to x264 command line options, but rather are considerations for an encoder front end like MeGUI to use when writing the command for you. Profile Formatting In case you're not familiar with XML syntax, here's an example of what the top of an x264 profile might look like. Rather than starting building your own profiles from scratch, it's best to start with one that's similar to the settings you intend to use and edit it to make whatever changes are necessary. Either use a text editor like Notepad to open them. Since they're simple text (XML) files you don't even need special software on your computer to view or edit them. The advantage to using profiles is that they can be used to apply the same default settings to repeated encodes and its relatively little effort to keep using them if you switch to another application, such as from AutoMKV to StaxRip or MeGUI. X264 Profiles x264 profiles, perhaps more accurately called MeGUI profiles, are supported by a number of encoding applications that use the x264 CLI encoder. Instead they're the last 2 options on the command line. Notice that the source file options (name and resolution) aren't preceded by. Here's a (oversimplified) command example: x264 -bframes 2 -ref 3 -bitrate 2000 -output "OutputFile.mkv" "SourceVideo.avs" 720x480 Reading the Command You can think of this command as a sentence, which can be read like this: x264 Encode with the x264 encoder -bframes 2 using no more than 2 consecutive B frames at any place in the video stream -ref 3 with prediction for P and B frames based on 3 reference frames (or 3 in each direction for B frames) -bitrate 2000 at an average bitrate of 2000kbps, -o Outputfile.mkv storing the output video in the Matroska file Outputfile.mkv SourceVideo.avs from the video file SourceVideo.avs 720x480 which has a resolution of 720x480. You may even be able to add your own options if they're not presented graphically in the form of a checkbox or list. You may never need to actually use the command line directly, but programs that use the CLI behind the scenes may show you the command iine that will be used for encoding.