X264(1) User Commands X264(1)
NAME
x264 - fast h264 encoder
DESCRIPTION
x264 core:123 r2189 35cf912 Syntax: x264 [options] -o outfile infile
Infile can be raw (in which case resolution is required),
or YUV4MPEG (*.y4m), or Avisynth if compiled with support (no). or libav* formats if compiled with lavf support (yes) or ffms sup-
port (yes).
Outfile type is selected by filename:
.264 -> Raw bytestream .mkv -> Matroska .flv -> Flash Video .mp4 -> MP4 if compiled with GPAC support (yes)
Output bit depth: 8 (configured at compile time)
OPTIONS
-h, --help
List basic options
--longhelp
List more options
--fullhelp
List all options
Example usage:
Constant quality mode:
x264 --crf 24 -o <output> <input>
Two-pass with a bitrate of 1000kbps:
x264 --pass 1 --bitrate 1000 -o <output> <input> x264 --pass 2 --bitrate 1000 -o <output> <input>
Lossless:
x264 --qp 0 -o <output> <input>
Maximum PSNR at the cost of speed and visual quality:
x264 --preset placebo --tune psnr -o <output> <input>
Constant bitrate at 1000kbps with a 2 second-buffer:
x264 --vbv-bufsize 2000 --bitrate 1000 -o <output> <input>
Presets:
--profile <string>
Force the limits of an H.264 profile Overrides all settings. - baseline:
--no-8x8dct --bframes 0 --no-cabac --cqm flat --weightp 0 No interlaced. No lossless.
- main:
--no-8x8dct --cqm flat No lossless.
- high:
No lossless.
- high10:
No lossless. Support for bit depth 8-10.
- high422:
No lossless. Support for bit depth 8-10. Support for 4:2:0/4:2:2 chroma subsampling.
- high444:
Support for bit depth 8-10. Support for 4:2:0/4:2:2/4:4:4 chroma subsampling.
--preset <string>
Use a preset to select encoding settings [medium] Overridden by user settings. - ultrafast:
--no-8x8dct --aq-mode 0 --b-adapt 0 --bframes 0 --no-cabac --no-deblock --no-mbtree --me dia --no-mixed-refs --partitions none
--rc-lookahead 0 --ref 1 --scenecut 0 --subme 0 --trellis 0 --no-weightb --weightp 0
- superfast:
--no-mbtree --me dia --no-mixed-refs --partitions i8x8,i4x4 --rc-lookahead 0 --ref 1 --subme 1 --trellis 0 --weightp 1
- veryfast:
--no-mixed-refs --rc-lookahead 10 --ref 1 --subme 2 --trellis 0 --weightp 1
- faster:
--no-mixed-refs --rc-lookahead 20 --ref 2 --subme 4 --weightp 1
- fast:
--rc-lookahead 30 --ref 2 --subme 6 --weightp 1
- medium:
Default settings apply.
- slow:
--b-adapt 2 --direct auto --me umh --rc-lookahead 50 --ref 5 --subme 8
- slower:
--b-adapt 2 --direct auto --me umh --partitions all --rc-lookahead 60 --ref 8 --subme 9 --trellis 2
- veryslow:
--b-adapt 2 --bframes 8 --direct auto --me umh --merange 24 --partitions all --ref 16 --subme 10 --trellis 2 --rc-lookahead 60
- placebo:
--bframes 16 --b-adapt 2 --direct auto --slow-firstpass --no-fast-pskip --me tesa --merange 24 --partitions all --rc-lookahead 60
--ref 16 --subme 11 --trellis 2
--tune <string>
Tune the settings for a particular type of source or situation
Overridden by user settings. Multiple tunings are separated by commas. Only one psy tuning can be used at a time. - film (psy
tuning):
--deblock -1:-1 --psy-rd <unset>:0.15
- animation (psy tuning):
--bframes {+2} --deblock 1:1 --psy-rd 0.4:<unset> --aq-strength 0.6 --ref {Double if >1 else 1}
- grain (psy tuning):
--aq-strength 0.5 --no-dct-decimate --deadzone-inter 6 --deadzone-intra 6 --deblock -2:-2 --ipratio 1.1 --pbratio 1.1 --psy-rd
<unset>:0.25 --qcomp 0.8
- stillimage (psy tuning):
--aq-strength 1.2 --deblock -3:-3 --psy-rd 2.0:0.7
- psnr (psy tuning):
--aq-mode 0 --no-psy
- ssim (psy tuning):
--aq-mode 2 --no-psy
- fastdecode:
--no-cabac --no-deblock --no-weightb --weightp 0
- zerolatency:
--bframes 0 --force-cfr --no-mbtree --sync-lookahead 0 --sliced-threads --rc-lookahead 0
--slow-firstpass
Don't force these faster settings with --pass 1: --no-8x8dct --me dia --partitions none --ref 1 --subme {2 if >2 else unchanged}
--trellis 0 --fast-pskip
Frame-type options:
-I, --keyint <integer or "infinite"> Maximum GOP size [250]
-i, --min-keyint <integer>
Minimum GOP size [auto]
--no-scenecut
Disable adaptive I-frame decision
--scenecut <integer>
How aggressively to insert extra I-frames [40]
--intra-refresh
Use Periodic Intra Refresh instead of IDR frames
-b, --bframes <integer>
Number of B-frames between I and P [3]
--b-adapt <integer>
Adaptive B-frame decision method [1] Higher values may lower threading efficiency. - 0: Disabled - 1: Fast - 2: Optimal (slow with
high --bframes)
--b-bias <integer>
Influences how often B-frames are used [0]
--b-pyramid <string>
Keep some B-frames as references [normal] - none: Disabled - strict: Strictly hierarchical pyramid - normal: Non-strict (not Blu-ray
compatible)
--open-gop
Use recovery points to close GOPs Only available with b-frames
--no-cabac
Disable CABAC
-r, --ref <integer>
Number of reference frames [3]
--no-deblock
Disable loop filter
-f, --deblock <alpha:beta>
Loop filter parameters [0:0]
--slices <integer>
Number of slices per frame; forces rectangular slices and is overridden by other slicing options
--slice-max-size <integer> Limit the size of each slice in bytes
--slice-max-mbs <integer> Limit the size of each slice in macroblocks
--tff Enable interlaced mode (top field first)
--bff Enable interlaced mode (bottom field first)
--constrained-intra
Enable constrained intra prediction.
--pulldown <string>
Use soft pulldown to change frame rate - none, 22, 32, 64, double, triple, euro (requires cfr input)
--fake-interlaced
Flag stream as interlaced but encode progressive. Makes it possible to encode 25p and 30p Blu-Ray streams. Ignored in interlaced
mode.
--frame-packing <integer> For stereoscopic videos define frame arrangement
- 0: checkerboard - pixels are alternatively from L and R - 1: column alternation - L and R are interlaced by column - 2: row alter-
nation - L and R are interlaced by row - 3: side by side - L is on the left, R on the right - 4: top bottom - L is on top, R on bot-
tom - 5: frame alternation - one view per frame
Ratecontrol:
-q, --qp <integer>
Force constant QP (0-69, 0=lossless)
-B, --bitrate <integer>
Set bitrate (kbit/s)
--crf <float>
Quality-based VBR (0-51) [23.0]
--rc-lookahead <integer> Number of frames for frametype lookahead [40]
--vbv-maxrate <integer> Max local bitrate (kbit/s) [0]
--vbv-bufsize <integer> Set size of the VBV buffer (kbit) [0]
--vbv-init <float>
Initial VBV buffer occupancy [0.9]
--crf-max <float>
With CRF+VBV, limit RF to this value May cause VBV underflows!
--qpmin <integer>
Set min QP [0]
--qpmax <integer>
Set max QP [69]
--qpstep <integer>
Set max QP step [4]
--ratetol <float>
Tolerance of ABR ratecontrol and VBV [1.0]
--ipratio <float>
QP factor between I and P [1.40]
--pbratio <float>
QP factor between P and B [1.30]
--chroma-qp-offset <integer>
QP difference between chroma and luma [0]
--aq-mode <integer>
AQ method [1] - 0: Disabled - 1: Variance AQ (complexity mask) - 2: Auto-variance AQ (experimental)
--aq-strength <float>
Reduces blocking and blurring in flat and textured areas. [1.0]
-p, --pass <integer>
Enable multipass ratecontrol - 1: First pass, creates stats file - 2: Last pass, does not overwrite stats file - 3: Nth pass, over-
writes stats file
--stats <string>
Filename for 2 pass stats ["x264_2pass.log"]
--no-mbtree
Disable mb-tree ratecontrol.
--qcomp <float>
QP curve compression [0.60]
--cplxblur <float>
Reduce fluctuations in QP (before curve compression) [20.0]
--qblur <float>
Reduce fluctuations in QP (after curve compression) [0.5]
--zones <zone0>/<zone1>/...
Tweak the bitrate of regions of the video Each zone is of the form
<start frame>,<end frame>,<option> where <option> is either
q=<integer> (force QP)
or b=<float> (bitrate multiplier)
--qpfile <string>
Force frametypes and QPs for some or all frames Format of each line: framenumber frametype QP QP is optional (none lets x264
choose). Frametypes: I,i,K,P,B,b.
K=<I or i> depending on open-gop setting
QPs are restricted by qpmin/qpmax.
Analysis:
-A, --partitions <string>
Partitions to consider ["p8x8,b8x8,i8x8,i4x4"] - p8x8, p4x4, b8x8, i8x8, i4x4 - none, all (p4x4 requires p8x8. i8x8 requires
--8x8dct.)
--direct <string>
Direct MV prediction mode ["spatial"] - none, spatial, temporal, auto
--no-weightb
Disable weighted prediction for B-frames
--weightp <integer>
Weighted prediction for P-frames [2] - 0: Disabled - 1: Weighted refs - 2: Weighted refs + Duplicates
--me <string>
Integer pixel motion estimation method ["hex"] - dia: diamond search, radius 1 (fast) - hex: hexagonal search, radius 2 - umh:
uneven multi-hexagon search - esa: exhaustive search - tesa: hadamard exhaustive search (slow)
--merange <integer>
Maximum motion vector search range [16]
--mvrange <integer>
Maximum motion vector length [-1 (auto)]
--mvrange-thread <int>
Minimum buffer between threads [-1 (auto)]
-m, --subme <integer>
Subpixel motion estimation and mode decision [7] - 0: fullpel only (not recommended) - 1: SAD mode decision, one qpel iteration - 2:
SATD mode decision - 3-5: Progressively more qpel - 6: RD mode decision for I/P-frames - 7: RD mode decision for all frames - 8: RD
refinement for I/P-frames - 9: RD refinement for all frames - 10: QP-RD - requires trellis=2, aq-mode>0 - 11: Full RD: disable all
early terminations
--psy-rd <float:float>
Strength of psychovisual optimization ["1.0:0.0"] #1: RD (requires subme>=6) #2: Trellis (requires trellis, experimental)
--no-psy
Disable all visual optimizations that worsen both PSNR and SSIM.
--no-mixed-refs
Don't decide references on a per partition basis
--no-chroma-me
Ignore chroma in motion estimation
--no-8x8dct
Disable adaptive spatial transform size
-t, --trellis <integer>
Trellis RD quantization. [1] - 0: disabled - 1: enabled only on the final encode of a MB - 2: enabled on all mode decisions
--no-fast-pskip
Disables early SKIP detection on P-frames
--no-dct-decimate
Disables coefficient thresholding on P-frames
--nr <integer>
Noise reduction [0]
--deadzone-inter <int>
Set the size of the inter luma quantization deadzone [21]
--deadzone-intra <int>
Set the size of the intra luma quantization deadzone [11] Deadzones should be in the range 0 - 32.
--cqm <string>
Preset quant matrices ["flat"] - jvt, flat
--cqmfile <string>
Read custom quant matrices from a JM-compatible file Overrides any other --cqm* options.
--cqm4 <list>
Set all 4x4 quant matrices Takes a comma-separated list of 16 integers.
--cqm8 <list>
Set all 8x8 quant matrices Takes a comma-separated list of 64 integers.
--cqm4i, --cqm4p, --cqm8i, --cqm8p <list>
Set both luma and chroma quant matrices
--cqm4iy, --cqm4ic, --cqm4py, --cqm4pc <list>
Set individual quant matrices
Video Usability Info (Annex E): The VUI settings are not used by the encoder but are merely suggestions to the playback equipment. See
doc/vui.txt for details. Use at your own risk.
--overscan <string>
Specify crop overscan setting ["undef"] - undef, show, crop
--videoformat <string>
Specify video format ["undef"] - component, pal, ntsc, secam, mac, undef
--range <string>
Specify color range ["auto"] - auto, tv, pc
--colorprim <string>
Specify color primaries ["undef"] - undef, bt709, bt470m, bt470bg
smpte170m, smpte240m, film
--transfer <string>
Specify transfer characteristics ["undef"] - undef, bt709, bt470m, bt470bg, linear,
log100, log316, smpte170m, smpte240m
--colormatrix <string>
Specify color matrix setting ["???"] - undef, bt709, fcc, bt470bg
smpte170m, smpte240m, GBR, YCgCo
--chromaloc <integer>
Specify chroma sample location (0 to 5) [0]
--nal-hrd <string>
Signal HRD information (requires vbv-bufsize) - none, vbr, cbr (cbr not allowed in .mp4)
--pic-struct
Force pic_struct in Picture Timing SEI
--crop-rect <string>
Add 'left,top,right,bottom' to the bitstream-level cropping rectangle
Input/Output:
-o, --output <string>
Specify output file
--muxer <string>
Specify output container format ["auto"] - auto, raw, mkv, flv, mp4
--demuxer <string>
Specify input container format ["auto"] - auto, raw, y4m, lavf, ffms
--input-fmt <string>
Specify input file format (requires lavf support)
--input-csp <string>
Specify input colorspace format for raw input - valid csps for `raw' demuxer:
i420, yv12, nv12, i422, yv16, nv16, i444, yv24, bgr, bgra, rgb
- valid csps for `lavf' demuxer:
yuv420p, yuyv422, rgb24, bgr24, yuv422p, yuv444p, yuv410p, yuv411p, gray, monow, monob, pal8, yuvj420p, yuvj422p, yuvj444p, xvmcmc,
xvmcidct, uyvy422, uyyvyy411, bgr8, bgr4, bgr4_byte, rgb8, rgb4, rgb4_byte, nv12, nv21, argb, rgba, abgr, bgra, gray16be, gray16le,
yuv440p, yuvj440p, yuva420p, vdpau_h264, vdpau_mpeg1, vdpau_mpeg2, vdpau_wmv3, vdpau_vc1, rgb48be, rgb48le, rgb565be, rgb565le,
rgb555be, rgb555le, bgr565be, bgr565le, bgr555be, bgr555le, vaapi_moco, vaapi_idct, vaapi_vld, yuv420p16le, yuv420p16be,
yuv422p16le, yuv422p16be, yuv444p16le, yuv444p16be, vdpau_mpeg4, dxva2_vld, rgb444le, rgb444be, bgr444le, bgr444be, y400a, bgr48be,
bgr48le, yuv420p9be, yuv420p9le, yuv420p10be, yuv420p10le, yuv422p10be, yuv422p10le, yuv444p9be, yuv444p9le, yuv444p10be,
yuv444p10le, yuv422p9be, yuv422p9le, vda_vld, gbrp, gbrp9be, gbrp9le, gbrp10be, gbrp10le, gbrp16be, gbrp16le
--output-csp <string>
Specify output colorspace ["i420"] - i420, i422, i444, rgb
--input-depth <integer> Specify input bit depth for raw input
--input-range <string>
Specify input color range ["auto"] - auto, tv, pc
--input-res <intxint>
Specify input resolution (width x height)
--index <string>
Filename for input index file
--sar width:height
Specify Sample Aspect Ratio
--fps <float|rational>
Specify framerate
--seek <integer>
First frame to encode
--frames <integer>
Maximum number of frames to encode
--level <string>
Specify level (as defined by Annex A)
--bluray-compat
Enable compatibility hacks for Blu-ray support
-v, --verbose
Print stats for each frame
--no-progress
Don't show the progress indicator while encoding
--quiet
Quiet Mode
--log-level <string>
Specify the maximum level of logging ["info"] - none, error, warning, info, debug
--psnr Enable PSNR computation
--ssim Enable SSIM computation
--threads <integer>
Force a specific number of threads
--sliced-threads
Low-latency but lower-efficiency threading
--thread-input
Run Avisynth in its own thread
--sync-lookahead <integer> Number of buffer frames for threaded lookahead
--non-deterministic
Slightly improve quality of SMP, at the cost of repeatability
--cpu-independent
Ensure exact reproducibility across different cpus, as opposed to letting them select different algorithms
--asm <integer>
Override CPU detection
--no-asm
Disable all CPU optimizations
--visualize
Show MB types overlayed on the encoded video
--dump-yuv <string>
Save reconstructed frames
--sps-id <integer>
Set SPS and PPS id numbers [0]
--aud Use access unit delimiters
--force-cfr
Force constant framerate timestamp generation
--tcfile-in <string>
Force timestamp generation with timecode file
--tcfile-out <string>
Output timecode v2 file from input timestamps
--timebase <int/int>
Specify timebase numerator and denominator
<integer>
Specify timebase numerator for input timecode file or specify timebase denominator for other input
--dts-compress
Eliminate initial delay with container DTS hack
Filtering:
--vf, --video-filter <filter0>/<filter1>/... Apply video filtering to the input file
Filter options may be specified in <filter>:<option>=<value> format.
Available filters: crop:left,top,right,bottom
removes pixels from the edges of the frame
resize:[width,height][,sar][,fittobox][,csp][,method]
resizes frames based on the given criteria: - resolution only: resizes and adapts sar to avoid stretching - sar only: sets the sar
and resizes to avoid stretching - resolution and sar: resizes to given resolution and sets the sar - fittobox: resizes the video
based on the desired constraints
- width, height, both
- fittobox and sar: same as above except with specified sar - csp: convert to the given csp. syntax: [name][:depth]
- valid csp names [keep current]: i420, yv12, nv12, i422, yv16, nv16, i444, yv24, bgr, bgra, rgb - depth: 8 or 16 bits per pixel
[keep current]
note: not all depths are supported by all csps. - method: use resizer method ["bicubic"]
- fastbilinear, bilinear, bicubic, experimental, point, - area, bicublin, gauss, sinc, lanczos, spline
select_every:step,offset1[,...]
apply a selection pattern to input frames step: the number of frames in the pattern offsets: the offset into the step to select a
frame see: http://avisynth.org/mediawiki/Select#SelectEvery
(libswscale 2.1.0) (libavformat 53.21.0) (ffmpegsource 2.17.0.0) built on Apr 29 2012, gcc: 4.7.0 configuration: --bit-depth=8
--chroma-format=all x264 license: GPL version 2 or later libswscale/libavformat/ffmpegsource license: GPL version 2 or later
Videolan project April 2012 X264(1)