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Type, Title, Project, Project_URL, Project_Version, Language, Language_Code, Authors, Copyright, License, License_Abbr, License_URL
Type Title Project Project_URL Project_Version Language Language_Code Authors Copyright License License_Abbr License_URL
article Video codecs HandBrake https://handbrake.fr/ Latest English en
Bradley Sepos <bradley@bradleysepos.com> (BradleyS)
Scott (s55)
2021 HandBrake Team Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International CC BY-SA 4.0 https://handbrake.fr/docs/license.html

Video codecs

The following video codecs are available for encoding in HandBrake.

  • H.264:

    • MPEG-4 Part 10, also known as H.264/AVC
    • Provides excellent quality, performance, and file size
    • Widely supported by media players, including mobile devices
    • Several different encoders are supported:
      • In software: x264
      • In hardware: Intel QuickSync, AMD VCE, Nvidia NVENC and ARM devices though MediaFoundation.

  • H.265 (HEVC)

    • MPEG-H Part 2, also known as H.265/HEVC
    • Successor to H.264/AVC offering higher quality encodes and smaller file sizes
    • Current strengths are improved quality and compression for low bit rate encodes, and for ultra high definition content
    • Significantly slower than software H.264/AVC encoders
    • Limited device compatibility compared to H.264/AVC, but this is improving rapidly
    • Several different encoders are supported:
      • In software: x265
      • In hardware: Intel QuickSync, AMD VCE, Nvidia NVENC and ARM devices though MediaFoundation.

  • MPEG-4 (ffmpeg):

    • MPEG-4 Part 2, also known as MPEG-4 Visual
    • Predecessor to H.264/AVC offering fast encoding with lower overall quality than H.264/AVC
    • Compatible with older devices, inexpensive DVD/flash/network players

  • MPEG-2 (ffmpeg):

    • MPEG-2 Part 2, also known as MPEG-2 Visual and H.262
    • Predecessor to MPEG-4 Visual offering very fast encoding with lower quality than modern codecs
    • Creates larger files than modern encoders

  • VP9 (libvpx):

    • Developed by Google and the successor to VP8, VP9 is a free and open video codec
    • Comparable to HEVC/H.265 in quality and file size
    • Slower encoding compared to x265

  • VP8 (libvpx):

    • Developed by On2 Technologies and acquired by Google, VP8 is a free and open video codec
    • Successor to Theora offering significant improvements, comparable to H.264/AVC

  • Theora:

    • Developed by Xiph.Org Foundation and based on On2 Technologies' VP3, Theora is a free and open video codec
    • Comparable to MPEG-4 Visual in quality and file size