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[Marius]

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{ffmpeg-cmd} -i {input} -c:v libx264 -preset slow -crf 18 -vf yadif -strict -2 {output}.mp4

When file size is not an issue, this is a quick command that will produce a visually lossless H.264 encoding with an mp4 container. C:V is the video codec of choice, preset is the compression preset (in this case slow for higher quality compression), and CRF is the Constant Rate Factor, which preserves an overall level of quality throughout the file by adjusting each frame's bitrate based on the given quality level. Consequently, the higher the CRF, the lower the overall quality level.
The video filter flag (-vf) is used to call FFMPEG's pre-bundled video filters, while yadif (Yet Another Deinterlacing Filter) deinterlaces an interlaced input, as progressive video is not only easier to compress and most current computer monitors and televisions are progressive scan.
Finally, when encoding with H.264/MPEG-4 AVC, the audio format used is AAC (Advanced Audio Coding); in order to enable FFMPEG's experimental, native AAC encoder, -strict -2 needs to be added to the command. An external library such as libfaac [4] can also be used, and –strict -2 can be omitted.


A preservation quality master can be output using the same principles, setting the –crf to 0, the preset to veryslow, and the output container to .mkv:

Code Select Expand

{ffmpeg-cmd} -i {input} -c:v libx264 -preset veryslow -crf 0 -vf yadif -strict -2 output.mp4

A preservation quality master can be output using the same principles, setting the –crf to 0, the preset to veryslow, and the output container to .mkv:

Code Select Expand

{ffmpeg-cmd} -i {input} -c:v libx264 -preset veryslow -crf 0 -vf  yadif -strict -2 output.mp4

[Marius]

Beta-testing on VideoInedit:

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$output ="{ffmpeg-cmd} -i {input} -c:v libx264 -preset slow -crf 18 -vf yadif -strict -2 -movflags faststart {output}.mp4";

Sample: http://www.videoinedit.com/video/7486/transformers-4-official-trailer-hd-1080p-/

[Marius]

Beta-testing on VideoInedit:
....

Note, this is really heavy on 2.3 gb full 720p movie, and also slow.
This hardware: 8 gb, 2.4 quad-core intel.

[Marius]

After about 2h of conversion : http://www.videoinedit.com/video/7487/scooby-doo-frankencreepy-2014-720p-x264/
The video quality is almost to 100% as the original .mkv video file.