Video Compression - Step-by-Step Handbrake Tutorial - EngageMedia

24/06/2023, 14:22 Video Compression – Step-by-Step Handbrake Tutorial - EngageMedia
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Video Compression – Step-by-Step

Handbrake Tutorial
https://engagemedia.org/help/video-compression-step-by-step-handbrake-tutorial/ 1/23
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Why Use Handbrake?
Handbrake is an easy-to-use application available for Mac, Linux, and Windows.

Originally designed for ripping DVDs, it is the most popular tool for
creating H.264 video from any video file or DVD.
Below you can find a step-by-step guide for using Handbrake to compress your video.
If you’re in a hurry, you can also use the custom Handbrake presets we have uploaded
to quickly apply these settings without having to enter them yourself.
Make H.264 with Handbrake – Step-by-Step Guide

This tutorial assumes you have an HD video file that is 1920×1080 pixels. We will make
the frame size a bit smaller and drastically reduce the file size (compared to, for
 
example, a ProRes file from Final Cut Pro or Avid).
1. Install Handbrake by choosing the version for your operating system

from http://handbrake.fr/.
2. Open Handbrake from your Applications or Programs folder.
3. Load your video file. A file browser window should have automatically opened
for you to select your source video file (or DVD). If not, click the Open
Source button.
4. Select the file you want to compress and click Open.
 
5. Destination: Select where you want the transcoded video file to be saved by
clicking Browse…
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6. In Save As, give the file an appropriate name such as “(Original-Filename)-

h264.mp4” so that you know which version is the one you have compressed.
Choose where you want to save it, and click Save.
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7. Choose Format MP4 file.
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8. For Video Codec, choose H.264 (x264).
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9. Choose the High Profile under Encoder Options.
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10. In Framerate (FPS), choose Same as Source. You can also change the Frame
rate of your video source if you need to. Choose 25 for PAL and 29.97 for
NTSC. Make sure you tick the Constant Framerate button to ensure better
compatibility.
 
11. Enter an Average Bitrate (kbps) for the video between 5,000-
10,000 (choose 10,000 unless you want a much higher quality video that will
take longer to upload and download — see File Size Guide for more details). If
you have time to wait while Handbrake compresses the video, choose the 2-
pass encoding for better results. You may tick Turbo first-pass to speed up
this process slightly. Otherwise, leave this unticked.
 
12. Click the Dimensions button, which opens a new dialogue box where we can
change the video frame size or resolution.
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13. Change Anamorphic to None (this feature is more suited to DVD ripping).
Change Modulus to 16. Tick Keep Aspect Ratio. Use the stepper (click the
arrow down) on Width to change Width from 1920 (full HD) down to 1280.
Your Height should automatically then read as 720 if you have Kept Aspect
Ratio ticked.
Here we are re-sizing the video, making it substantially smaller in the number of
pixels it uses compared to 1920×1080. However, you may choose to keep it at
1920×1080 and use a higher bitrate such as 10,000 kbps (see above).
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14. Select the Audio tab and select AAC (CoreAudio) Codec. Choose the 48.000
Hz Samplerate. Choose Stereo for Mixdown. Choose 320 for your
audio Bitrate.
 
15. Select the Audio tab and select AAC (CoreAudio) Codec. Choose the 48.000
Hz Samplerate. Choose Stereo for Mixdown. Choose 320 for your
audio Bitrate.
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16. Depending on your When done settings in preferences, Handbrake can notify
or alert you when it’s done.
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17. Open your video file in VLC or another video player and check whether it looks
good. Check periods of intense motion more carefully to make sure you don’t
have too many compression artefacts. If the file doesn’t look good enough, try
doing it again with a higher bitrate. If it looks good, then you are ready to
upload the video file!
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18. If you like the settings you are using, you can save them as a preset by clicking
the + sign in the bottom right of the Presets Drawer.
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19. Give it a Preset Name and Description.
 
Compressing H.264 Using Presets
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We have created a preset that uses the exact settings above, which makes it
incredibly easy to apply these settings. To use this, first, you need to download the
preset file.
For an original video file that is 25 frames per second, choose this preset file.
For an original video file that is 29.97 or 30 frames per second, choose this preset file.
1. To import the preset, go to Presets -> Import in the Handbrake top menu and
select the preset file you just downloaded. They should appear in the
Handbrake presets panel, available for use.
 
2. Make sure you have loaded your original video file by clicking Open Source,
and give it a Destination and new filename by clicking Browse… Next, click on
the appropriate preset called “(import) v4c.org H264 720p 25fps”,
or “(import) v4c.org H264 720p 30fps”, then click Start.
Find the Handbrake Tutorial Using H.265 Codec here and for further information and a
glossary of terms, read on…
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24/06/2023, 14:22 Video Compression – Step-by-Step Handbrake Tutorial - EngageMedia

Video Compression – Step-by-Step

Why Use Handbrake?

Handbrake is an easy-to-use application available for Mac, Linux, and Windows.

Make H.264 with Handbrake – Step-by-Step Guide

1. Install Handbrake by choosing the version for your operating system

4. Select the file you want to compress and click Open.

6. In Save As, give the file an appropriate name such as “(Original-Filename)-

7. Choose Format MP4 file.

8. For Video Codec, choose H.264 (x264).

9. Choose the High Profile under Encoder Options.

19. Give it a Preset Name and Description.

Compressing H.264 Using Presets

EngageMedia is a non-profit media, technology, and

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