Best Settings for Foxreal Video Converter to Maximize Quality
Understanding the core settings
- Resolution — Match the source resolution whenever possible. Upscaling a low-resolution source won’t add detail; downscaling can reduce noise and improve perceived sharpness.
- Codec — Modern codecs like H.265/HEVC offer better compression efficiency than H.264/AVC at the same quality, but H.265 needs more CPU/GPU for encoding and broader hardware/software support. For maximum quality with reasonable file sizes, choose H.265 where supported; otherwise use H.264.
- Bitrate — The single most important factor for visual quality. Use a high constant bitrate (CBR) or a high maximum for variable bitrate (VBR). For preserving quality use 1-pass high bitrate or 2-pass VBR for better efficiency.
- Frame rate (FPS) — Retain the original frame rate. Converting between 24/25/30/60 fps can introduce judder or motion artifacts.
- Keyframe interval (GOP size) — Shorter intervals help with seeking and scene changes; longer intervals improve compression. For most content, use a GOP of 2–4 seconds (e.g., for 30 fps, GOP 60–120).
- Profile & Level — For H.264 use High profile; for H.265 use Main or Main10 for 10-bit color. Ensure level supports chosen resolution/FPS/bitrate.
- Color depth & color space — Use 10-bit (Main10) for footage with gradients (e.g., drone, cinematic) to prevent banding. Preserve BT.709 for SDR content; use BT.2020/PQ for HDR if source is HDR.
- Audio — Use AAC or Opus with a high bitrate (e.g., 256 kbps AAC stereo) or lossless formats (FLAC) if you need perfect fidelity. Sample rate should match source (usually 48 kHz).
- Filtering & deinterlacing — Deinterlace interlaced sources. Use denoise or sharpening sparingly; apply after careful testing.
- Two-pass vs One-pass — Two-pass VBR generally yields better quality-per-byte; use it for final exports when time allows.
Recommended presets by use case
1) Preservation of master-quality (archival / editing masters)
- Container: MKV or MOV
- Video codec: H.265 (HEVC) Main10 if supported; else H.264 High
- Resolution: match source (no scaling)
- Bitrate mode: 2-pass VBR
- Target bitrate: visually-lossless — set according to resolution:
- 1080p: 20–35 Mbps
- 1440p: 40–60 Mbps
- 4K: 80–150 Mbps
- Keyframe interval: 2 seconds
- Profile/Level: Main10 / appropriate level
- Color depth: 10-bit if source supports
- Audio: FLAC or PCM, 48 kHz, stereo or multichannel
2) High-quality playback (streaming / sharing)
- Container: MP4
- Video codec: H.265 (HEVC) or H.264 if H.265 not supported
- Resolution: match or downscale one step if file size is a concern (e.g., 4K→1440p)
- Bitrate mode: 2-pass VBR or 1-pass VBR high max
- Target bitrate:
- 1080p: 8–15 Mbps
- 1440p: 20–35 Mbps
- 4K: 35–80 Mbps
- Keyframe interval: 2–4 seconds
- Audio: AAC 192–256 kbps, 48 kHz
3) Screen recordings / tutorials
- Container: MP4 or MKV
- Video codec: H.264 High (fast encoding, wide compatibility)
- Resolution: match recorded resolution (often 1080p or 1440p)
- Bitrate mode: CBR or 1-pass VBR (to avoid bitrate spikes)
- Target bitrate:
- 1080p: 8–12 Mbps
- 1440p: 15–25 Mbps
- Frame rate: match source (30 or 60 fps)
- Keyframe interval: 1–2 seconds (helps seeking and editing)
- Audio: AAC 128–192 kbps
- Container: MP4
- Video codec: H.264 (best compatibility)
- Resolution: 1080p or 720p depending on platform
- Bitrate mode: 1-pass VBR
- Target bitrate:
- 1080p: 6–10 Mbps
- 720p: 3–5 Mbps
- Audio: AAC 128 kbps
Advanced options and tips
- Hardware acceleration: Use NVENC/QuickSync/AMD VCE if you need faster encoding. NVENC quality has improved — for fast exports use high-quality NVENC preset; for best quality stick with software x265/x264.
- CQ (Constant Quality) / CRF: For x264/x265, CRF gives a consistent quality level across files. Typical CRF ranges:
- x264: CRF 18–22 (lower = higher quality)
- x265: CRF 20–24 (x265 is more efficient; higher CRF values match x264 quality)
- Tune options: use “film” for cinematic footage, “grain” to preserve film grain, “animation” for cartoons/screens with flat colors.
- Hardware decoding preview: preview final output at 100% to check for banding, blocking, or color shifts.
- Noise reduction: apply only if source has heavy noise — removing noise can allow lower bitrate while preserving perceived detail.
- Preserve original audio stream if you need exact sync and fidelity; re-encode audio only if needed.
Step-by-step example profile (4K mastering → H.265 Main10)
- Input file: 4K60 source (3840×2160, 60 fps)
- Container: MKV
- Video codec: H.265 (Main10)
- Resolution: 3840×2160 (no scaling)
- Bitrate mode: 2-pass VBR, target 120 Mbps, max 160 Mbps
- Keyframe interval: 2 seconds (GOP = 120)
- CRF alternative: CRF 20 (if using single-pass constant quality)
- Color depth: 10-bit, BT.709 or BT.2020 depending on source
- Audio: FLAC, 48 kHz, stereo or 5.1 as source
- Filters: Mild denoise if needed (preview at 100%)
Quick troubleshooting
- Blocky artifacts at low bitrates: increase bitrate or lower resolution; enable stronger rate-control (two-pass).
- Banding in gradients: enable 10-bit output or add noise/grain to mask banding.
- Choppy motion after frame-rate conversion: keep original FPS or use frame interpolation carefully.
- Playback compatibility issues: switch to H.264 and MP4 container for maximum device support.
Summary checklist (copy-paste)
- Match resolution & frame rate to source.
- Prefer H.265/Main10 for best efficiency; use H.264 for compatibility.
- Use two-pass VBR or CRF for best quality-per-size.
- Choose bitrate according to resolution (see presets above).
- Keep audio at 48 kHz, AAC 192–256 kbps (or FLAC/PCM for masters).
- Preview at full resolution and adjust denoise/sharpen sparingly.
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