1 >x264 --fullhelp
2 x264 core:142
3 Syntax: x264 [options] -o outfile infile
4
5 Infile can be raw (in which case resolution is required),
6 or YUV4MPEG (*.y4m),
7 or Avisynth if compiled with support (yes).
8 or libav* formats if compiled with lavf support (no) or ffms support (no).
9 Outfile type is selected by filename:
10 .264 -> Raw bytestream
11 .mkv -> Matroska
12 .flv -> Flash Video
13 .mp4 -> MP4 if compiled with GPAC or L-SMASH support (no)
14 Output bit depth: 8 (configured at compile time)
15
16 Options:
17
18 -h, --help List basic options
19 --longhelp List more options
20 --fullhelp List all options
21
22 Example usage:
23
24 Constant quality mode:
25 x264 --crf 24 -o <output> <input>
26
27 Two-pass with a bitrate of 1000kbps:
28 x264 --pass 1 --bitrate 1000 -o <output> <input>
29 x264 --pass 2 --bitrate 1000 -o <output> <input>
30
31 Lossless:
32 x264 --qp 0 -o <output> <input>
33
34 Maximum PSNR at the cost of speed and visual quality:
35 x264 --preset placebo --tune psnr -o <output> <input>
36
37 Constant bitrate at 1000kbps with a 2 second-buffer:
38 x264 --vbv-bufsize 2000 --bitrate 1000 -o <output> <input>
39
40 Presets:
41
42 --profile <string> Force the limits of an H.264 profile
43 Overrides all settings.
44 - baseline:
45 --no-8x8dct --bframes 0 --no-cabac
46 --cqm flat --weightp 0
47 No interlaced.
48 No lossless.
49 - main:
50 --no-8x8dct --cqm flat
51 No lossless.
52 - high:
53 No lossless.
54 - high10:
55 No lossless.
56 Support for bit depth 8-10.
57 - high422:
58 No lossless.
59 Support for bit depth 8-10.
60 Support for 4:2:0/4:2:2 chroma subsampling.
61 - high444:
62 Support for bit depth 8-10.
63 Support for 4:2:0/4:2:2/4:4:4 chroma subsamp
64 ling.
65 --preset <string> Use a preset to select encoding settings [medium]
66 Overridden by user settings.
67 - ultrafast:
68 --no-8x8dct --aq-mode 0 --b-adapt 0
69 --bframes 0 --no-cabac --no-deblock
70 --no-mbtree --me dia --no-mixed-refs
71 --partitions none --rc-lookahead 0 --ref 1
72 --scenecut 0 --subme 0 --trellis 0
73 --no-weightb --weightp 0
74 - superfast:
75 --no-mbtree --me dia --no-mixed-refs
76 --partitions i8x8,i4x4 --rc-lookahead 0
77 --ref 1 --subme 1 --trellis 0 --weightp 1
78 - veryfast:
79 --no-mixed-refs --rc-lookahead 10
80 --ref 1 --subme 2 --trellis 0 --weightp 1
81 - faster:
82 --no-mixed-refs --rc-lookahead 20
83 --ref 2 --subme 4 --weightp 1
84 - fast:
85 --rc-lookahead 30 --ref 2 --subme 6
86 --weightp 1
87 - medium:
88 Default settings apply.
89 - slow:
90 --b-adapt 2 --direct auto --me umh
91 --rc-lookahead 50 --ref 5 --subme 8
92 - slower:
93 --b-adapt 2 --direct auto --me umh
94 --partitions all --rc-lookahead 60
95 --ref 8 --subme 9 --trellis 2
96 - veryslow:
97 --b-adapt 2 --bframes 8 --direct auto
98 --me umh --merange 24 --partitions all
99 --ref 16 --subme 10 --trellis 2
100 --rc-lookahead 60
101 - placebo:
102 --bframes 16 --b-adapt 2 --direct auto
103 --slow-firstpass --no-fast-pskip
104 --me tesa --merange 24 --partitions all
105 --rc-lookahead 60 --ref 16 --subme 11
106 --trellis 2
107 --tune <string> Tune the settings for a particular type of source
108 or situation
109 Overridden by user settings.
110 Multiple tunings are separated by commas.
111 Only one psy tuning can be used at a time.
112 - film (psy tuning):
113 --deblock -1:-1 --psy-rd <unset>:0.15
114 - animation (psy tuning):
115 --bframes {+2} --deblock 1:1
116 --psy-rd 0.4:<unset> --aq-strength 0.6
117 --ref {Double if >1 else 1}
118 - grain (psy tuning):
119 --aq-strength 0.5 --no-dct-decimate
120 --deadzone-inter 6 --deadzone-intra 6
121 --deblock -2:-2 --ipratio 1.1
122 --pbratio 1.1 --psy-rd <unset>:0.25
123 --qcomp 0.8
124 - stillimage (psy tuning):
125 --aq-strength 1.2 --deblock -3:-3
126 --psy-rd 2.0:0.7
127 - psnr (psy tuning):
128 --aq-mode 0 --no-psy
129 - ssim (psy tuning):
130 --aq-mode 2 --no-psy
131 - fastdecode:
132 --no-cabac --no-deblock --no-weightb
133 --weightp 0
134 - zerolatency:
135 --bframes 0 --force-cfr --no-mbtree
136 --sync-lookahead 0 --sliced-threads
137 --rc-lookahead 0
138 --slow-firstpass Don't force these faster settings with --pass 1:
139 --no-8x8dct --me dia --partitions none
140 --ref 1 --subme {2 if >2 else unchanged}
141 --trellis 0 --fast-pskip
142
143 Frame-type options:
144
145 -I, --keyint <integer or "infinite"> Maximum GOP size [250]
146 -i, --min-keyint <integer> Minimum GOP size [auto]
147 --no-scenecut Disable adaptive I-frame decision
148 --scenecut <integer> How aggressively to insert extra I-frames [40]
149 --intra-refresh Use Periodic Intra Refresh instead of IDR frames
150 -b, --bframes <integer> Number of B-frames between I and P [3]
151 --b-adapt <integer> Adaptive B-frame decision method [1]
152 Higher values may lower threading efficiency.
153 - 0: Disabled
154 - 1: Fast
155 - 2: Optimal (slow with high --bframes)
156 --b-bias <integer> Influences how often B-frames are used [0]
157 --b-pyramid <string> Keep some B-frames as references [normal]
158 - none: Disabled
159 - strict: Strictly hierarchical pyramid
160 - normal: Non-strict (not Blu-ray compatible)
161 --open-gop Use recovery points to close GOPs
162 Only available with b-frames
163 --no-cabac Disable CABAC
164 -r, --ref <integer> Number of reference frames [3]
165 --no-deblock Disable loop filter
166 -f, --deblock <alpha:beta> Loop filter parameters [0:0]
167 --slices <integer> Number of slices per frame; forces rectangular
168 slices and is overridden by other slicing options
169 --slices-max <integer> Absolute maximum slices per frame; overrides
170 slice-max-size/slice-max-mbs when necessary
171 --slice-max-size <integer> Limit the size of each slice in bytes
172 --slice-max-mbs <integer> Limit the size of each slice in macroblocks (max
173 )
174 --slice-min-mbs <integer> Limit the size of each slice in macroblocks (min
175 )
176 --tff Enable interlaced mode (top field first)
177 --bff Enable interlaced mode (bottom field first)
178 --constrained-intra Enable constrained intra prediction.
179 --pulldown <string> Use soft pulldown to change frame rate
180 - none, 22, 32, 64, double, triple, euro (requ
181 ires cfr input)
182 --fake-interlaced Flag stream as interlaced but encode progressive.
183 Makes it possible to encode 25p and 30p Blu-Ray
184 streams. Ignored in interlaced mode.
185 --frame-packing <integer> For stereoscopic videos define frame arrangement
186
187 - 0: checkerboard - pixels are alternatively f
188 rom L and R
189 - 1: column alternation - L and R are interlac
190 ed by column
191 - 2: row alternation - L and R are interlaced
192 by row
193 - 3: side by side - L is on the left, R on the
194 right
195 - 4: top bottom - L is on top, R on bottom
196 - 5: frame alternation - one view per frame
197
198 Ratecontrol:
199
200 -q, --qp <integer> Force constant QP (0-69, 0=lossless)
201 -B, --bitrate <integer> Set bitrate (kbit/s)
202 --crf <float> Quality-based VBR (0-51) [23.0]
203 --rc-lookahead <integer> Number of frames for frametype lookahead [40]
204 --vbv-maxrate <integer> Max local bitrate (kbit/s) [0]
205 --vbv-bufsize <integer> Set size of the VBV buffer (kbit) [0]
206 --vbv-init <float> Initial VBV buffer occupancy [0.9]
207 --crf-max <float> With CRF+VBV, limit RF to this value
208 May cause VBV underflows!
209 --qpmin <integer> Set min QP [0]
210 --qpmax <integer> Set max QP [69]
211 --qpstep <integer> Set max QP step [4]
212 --ratetol <float> Tolerance of ABR ratecontrol and VBV [1.0]
213 --ipratio <float> QP factor between I and P [1.40]
214 --pbratio <float> QP factor between P and B [1.30]
215 --chroma-qp-offset <integer> QP difference between chroma and luma [0]
216 --aq-mode <integer> AQ method [1]
217 - 0: Disabled
218 - 1: Variance AQ (complexity mask)
219 - 2: Auto-variance AQ (experimental)
220 --aq-strength <float> Reduces blocking and blurring in flat and
221 textured areas. [1.0]
222
223 -p, --pass <integer> Enable multipass ratecontrol
224 - 1: First pass, creates stats file
225 - 2: Last pass, does not overwrite stats file
226 - 3: Nth pass, overwrites stats file
227 --stats <string> Filename for 2 pass stats ["x264_2pass.log"]
228 --no-mbtree Disable mb-tree ratecontrol.
229 --qcomp <float> QP curve compression [0.60]
230 --cplxblur <float> Reduce fluctuations in QP (before curve compressio
231 n) [20.0]
232 --qblur <float> Reduce fluctuations in QP (after curve compression
233 ) [0.5]
234 --zones <zone0>/<zone1>/... Tweak the bitrate of regions of the video
235 Each zone is of the form
236 <start frame>,<end frame>,<option>
237 where <option> is either
238 q=<integer> (force QP)
239 or b=<float> (bitrate multiplier)
240 --qpfile <string> Force frametypes and QPs for some or all frames
241 Format of each line: framenumber frametype QP
242 QP is optional (none lets x264 choose). Frametypes
243 : I,i,K,P,B,b.
244 K=<I or i> depending on open-gop setting
245 QPs are restricted by qpmin/qpmax.
246
247 Analysis:
248
249 -A, --partitions <string> Partitions to consider ["p8x8,b8x8,i8x8,i4x4"]
250 - p8x8, p4x4, b8x8, i8x8, i4x4
251 - none, all
252 (p4x4 requires p8x8. i8x8 requires --8x8dct.)
253 --direct <string> Direct MV prediction mode ["spatial"]
254 - none, spatial, temporal, auto
255 --no-weightb Disable weighted prediction for B-frames
256 --weightp <integer> Weighted prediction for P-frames [2]
257 - 0: Disabled
258 - 1: Weighted refs
259 - 2: Weighted refs + Duplicates
260 --me <string> Integer pixel motion estimation method ["hex"]
261 - dia: diamond search, radius 1 (fast)
262 - hex: hexagonal search, radius 2
263 - umh: uneven multi-hexagon search
264 - esa: exhaustive search
265 - tesa: hadamard exhaustive search (slow)
266 --merange <integer> Maximum motion vector search range [16]
267 --mvrange <integer> Maximum motion vector length [-1 (auto)]
268 --mvrange-thread <int> Minimum buffer between threads [-1 (auto)]
269 -m, --subme <integer> Subpixel motion estimation and mode decision [7]
270 - 0: fullpel only (not recommended)
271 - 1: SAD mode decision, one qpel iteration
272 - 2: SATD mode decision
273 - 3-5: Progressively more qpel
274 - 6: RD mode decision for I/P-frames
275 - 7: RD mode decision for all frames
276 - 8: RD refinement for I/P-frames
277 - 9: RD refinement for all frames
278 - 10: QP-RD - requires trellis=2, aq-mode>0
279 - 11: Full RD: disable all early terminations
280 --psy-rd <float:float> Strength of psychovisual optimization ["1.0:0.0"]
281 #1: RD (requires subme>=6)
282 #2: Trellis (requires trellis, experimental)
283 --no-psy Disable all visual optimizations that worsen
284 both PSNR and SSIM.
285 --no-mixed-refs Don't decide references on a per partition basis
286 --no-chroma-me Ignore chroma in motion estimation
287 --no-8x8dct Disable adaptive spatial transform size
288 -t, --trellis <integer> Trellis RD quantization. [1]
289 - 0: disabled
290 - 1: enabled only on the final encode of a MB
291 - 2: enabled on all mode decisions
292 --no-fast-pskip Disables early SKIP detection on P-frames
293 --no-dct-decimate Disables coefficient thresholding on P-frames
294 --nr <integer> Noise reduction [0]
295
296 --deadzone-inter <int> Set the size of the inter luma quantization deadzo
297 ne [21]
298 --deadzone-intra <int> Set the size of the intra luma quantization deadzo
299 ne [11]
300 Deadzones should be in the range 0 - 32.
301 --cqm <string> Preset quant matrices ["flat"]
302 - jvt, flat
303 --cqmfile <string> Read custom quant matrices from a JM-compatible fi
304 le
305 Overrides any other --cqm* options.
306 --cqm4 <list> Set all 4x4 quant matrices
307 Takes a comma-separated list of 16 integers.
308 --cqm8 <list> Set all 8x8 quant matrices
309 Takes a comma-separated list of 64 integers.
310 --cqm4i, --cqm4p, --cqm8i, --cqm8p <list>
311 Set both luma and chroma quant matrices
312 --cqm4iy, --cqm4ic, --cqm4py, --cqm4pc <list>
313 Set individual quant matrices
314
315 Video Usability Info (Annex E):
316 The VUI settings are not used by the encoder but are merely suggestions to
317 the playback equipment. See doc/vui.txt for details. Use at your own risk.
318
319 --overscan <string> Specify crop overscan setting ["undef"]
320 - undef, show, crop
321 --videoformat <string> Specify video format ["undef"]
322 - component, pal, ntsc, secam, mac, undef
323 --range <string> Specify color range ["auto"]
324 - auto, tv, pc
325 --colorprim <string> Specify color primaries ["undef"]
326 - undef, bt709, bt470m, bt470bg, smpte170m,
327 smpte240m, film, bt2020
328 --transfer <string> Specify transfer characteristics ["undef"]
329 - undef, bt709, bt470m, bt470bg, smpte170m,
330 smpte240m, linear, log100, log316,
331 iec61966-2-4, bt1361e, iec61966-2-1,
332 bt2020-10, bt2020-12
333 --colormatrix <string> Specify color matrix setting ["???"]
334 - undef, bt709, fcc, bt470bg, smpte170m,
335 smpte240m, GBR, YCgCo, bt2020nc, bt2020c
336 --chromaloc <integer> Specify chroma sample location (0 to 5) [0]
337 --nal-hrd <string> Signal HRD information (requires vbv-bufsize)
338 - none, vbr, cbr (cbr not allowed in .mp4)
339 --filler Force hard-CBR and generate filler (implied by
340 --nal-hrd cbr)
341 --pic-struct Force pic_struct in Picture Timing SEI
342 --crop-rect <string> Add 'left,top,right,bottom' to the bitstream-level
343
344 cropping rectangle
345
346 Input/Output:
347
348 -o, --output <string> Specify output file
349 --muxer <string> Specify output container format ["auto"]
350 - auto, raw, mkv, flv
351 --demuxer <string> Specify input container format ["auto"]
352 - auto, raw, y4m, avs
353 --input-fmt <string> Specify input file format (requires lavf support)
354 --input-csp <string> Specify input colorspace format for raw input
355 - valid csps for `raw' demuxer:
356 i420, yv12, nv12, i422, yv16, nv16, i444, yv24,
357 bgr, bgra, rgb
358 --output-csp <string> Specify output colorspace ["i420"]
359 - i420, i422, i444, rgb
360 --input-depth <integer> Specify input bit depth for raw input
361 --input-range <string> Specify input color range ["auto"]
362 - auto, tv, pc
363 --input-res <intxint> Specify input resolution (width x height)
364 --index <string> Filename for input index file
365 --sar width:height Specify Sample Aspect Ratio
366 --fps <float|rational> Specify framerate
367 --seek <integer> First frame to encode
368 --frames <integer> Maximum number of frames to encode
369 --level <string> Specify level (as defined by Annex A)
370 --bluray-compat Enable compatibility hacks for Blu-ray support
371 --avcintra-class <integer> Use compatibility hacks for AVC-Intra class
372 - 50, 100, 200
373 --stitchable Don't optimize headers based on video content
374 Ensures ability to recombine a segmented encode
375
376 -v, --verbose Print stats for each frame
377 --no-progress Don't show the progress indicator while encoding
378 --quiet Quiet Mode
379 --log-level <string> Specify the maximum level of logging ["info"]
380 - none, error, warning, info, debug
381 --psnr Enable PSNR computation
382 --ssim Enable SSIM computation
383 --threads <integer> Force a specific number of threads
384 --lookahead-threads <integer> Force a specific number of lookahead threads
385
386 --sliced-threads Low-latency but lower-efficiency threading
387 --thread-input Run Avisynth in its own thread
388 --sync-lookahead <integer> Number of buffer frames for threaded lookahead
389 --non-deterministic Slightly improve quality of SMP, at the cost of re
390 peatability
391 --cpu-independent Ensure exact reproducibility across different cpus
392 ,
393 as opposed to letting them select different al
394 gorithms
395 --asm <integer> Override CPU detection
396 --no-asm Disable all CPU optimizations
397 --opencl Enable use of OpenCL
398 --opencl-clbin <string> Specify path of compiled OpenCL kernel cache
399 --opencl-device <integer> Specify OpenCL device ordinal
400 --dump-yuv <string> Save reconstructed frames
401 --sps-id <integer> Set SPS and PPS id numbers [0]
402 --aud Use access unit delimiters
403 --force-cfr Force constant framerate timestamp generation
404 --tcfile-in <string> Force timestamp generation with timecode file
405 --tcfile-out <string> Output timecode v2 file from input timestamps
406 --timebase <int/int> Specify timebase numerator and denominator
407 <integer> Specify timebase numerator for input timecode file
408
409 or specify timebase denominator for other input
410 --dts-compress Eliminate initial delay with container DTS hack
411
412 Filtering:
413
414 --vf, --video-filter <filter0>/<filter1>/... Apply video filtering to the
415 input file
416
417 Filter options may be specified in <filter>:<option>=<value> format.
418
419 Available filters:
420 crop:left,top,right,bottom
421 removes pixels from the edges of the frame
422 select_every:step,offset1[,...]
423 apply a selection pattern to input frames
424 step: the number of frames in the pattern
425 offsets: the offset into the step to select a frame
426 see: http://avisynth.org/mediawiki/Select#SelectEvery
