FFmpeg - Encode AVC

From PiRho Knowledgebase
(Redirected from FFmpeg - AVC)
Jump to navigationJump to search

FFmpeg – Encode AVC (H.264) Using CRF

Summary

This article explains how to encode H.264/AVC video using CRF (Constant Rate Factor) with FFmpeg. CRF is the recommended rate‑control mode for most workflows because it prioritises consistent visual quality over exact file size.

What CRF Is

CRF is a quality‑targeted encoding mode. Instead of telling the encoder how big the output must be, you tell it what quality level you want, and the encoder decides the bitrate dynamically across the entire video.

CRF Scale Explained

The CRF scale ranges from 0 to 51.

Presets

Presets determine the speed/compression ratio balance.

Example Command

ffmpeg -i input.file -c:v libx264 -crf 23 -preset veryslow output.file

References