x264 Encoder Settings

HOS uses the same x264 render template dialog for AviDub, ProxyAssist, and RenderEvents.  Saved templates may be found in the file "x264RenderTemplates.xml" file located in "C:\ProgramData\HappyOtterScripts".

1. Render Template.  The drop down box provides a list of saved templates.  Once a template is selected, its settings will be displayed in the Container (#2), Video Options (#5) and Audio Options (#6) info boxes.  The command line will also be updated and  displayed in the Show CommandLine info box (#7).  If you change any of the container, video, or audio options, the template name will change to "<Unsaved>".  If you want to save the changed settings as a template, simply enter a name in drop down box and left-click the plus green icon.  You can verify that the template has been changed by left-clicking on the drop down arrow once again.  To delete a saved template, first select it using the drop down list and then left-click on the red X icon.  Again, you can verify that the template has been removed by left-clicking on the drop down arrow once again. 

2. Container. x264 renders may be saved in either an mp4 or mov container.  Vegas can decode the rendered mp4 files much better, especially earlier versions.  The downside of using the mp4 container is that the audio stream cannot be uncompressed pcm--it must be aac.  The mov container, on the other hand, allows pcm audio. 

3. OK. Loads the template selection and closes the window.  Once the render starts, the template just saved will be used.

4. Cancel. Closes the window without loading the template selection.

5. Video .  If checked, video will be included.

6. Progressive Download .

7. Fast Decode .  One of the x264 and x265 tuning parameters.  Allows faster decoding on devices with lower computational power.

8. Include Audio.  If checked, audio will be included.

9. Video Options. 

a. Encoder.  There are two cpu-based encoders that are supported x264 (H.264/MPEG-4 AVC) and hevc (High Efficiency Video Coding).  For more information about use of the x264 encoder in FFmpeg, see H.264 Video Encoding Guide.   For use of x265 encoder in FFmpeg, see the FFmpeg and H.265 Encoding Guide.   Additionally, GPU-based encoding is supported for Intel's Quick-Sync, Nvidia's NVENC, and AMD's VCE (Video Encoding Engine).  These are available ONLY for systems that have the requisite hardware (see Rescan of GPU availability).  For Quick Sync functionality with different Intel processors, see Intel Quick Sync Video . 

b.  Rescan GPU Availability.  The first time that either AviDub, ProxyAssist, or RenderEvents is loaded, HOS does a scan for GPU availability and the results saved.  At any time, the user can do a re-scan to check for availability in the event a new or different video card is installed.  Upon completion, the following window is shown with the results of the scan.

c. Mode:

d. CRF (Constant Rate Factor).

e. Bitrate (kbps).

f. Presets.

g. Tuning.  Tune values are available for both x264 and x265. 

h. Profile.

i. Level. 

10. Audio Options.  For x264 direct renders, the audio stream is processed separately from the video stream.  The general approach is to first render an uncompressed pcm audio file from Vegas.  Once the video stream has been encoded, the uncompressed pcm audio file is then processed by FFmpeg using the built-in aac encoder and then remuxed with the video stream to produce the final media file.  If a mov container has been selected, the uncompressed pcm audio file is remuxed without any further processing.

a. Include Audio.  If checked, an audio stream will be added to the final rendered media file.

b. Encoder.  Two options are available: Advanced Audio Coding (aac) or uncompressed pcm.  If the mp4 container is selected, aac becomes the only option.  For the mov container, the user may choose between aac and uncompressed pcm.

c. Bitrate (kbps).  For aac encoding only.  The drop down list provides 6 bit rate options: 128, 160, 192, 224, 256, and 320.

d. Audio Delay. The use of FFmpeg can sometimes lead to audio sync problems.  This enables the user to adjust for audio delay (forward or backward) in either milliseconds or video frames.

11. Show CommandLine.  The command line can be shown for either the video encode or audio encode and remux part of the render.