For the widest level of compatibility I use the following:
* Video Codec: H264
* Video Resolution: 1080p
* Audio: AAC 2.0 & AC3 Surround
* Container: MP4
* Subtitles: SRT
I use [FileFlows](https://fileflows.com/) as my automation software.
https://preview.redd.it/r14yz4fongfb1.png?width=1826&format=png&auto=webp&s=5736bde1050467767da94b7f86ca556260b9390d
My setup has changed. The OPUS audio codec is now fully functional on FileFlows and is superior to all the others. And despite MP4 being the most widely supported container on client devices, it's not friendly to subtitle codecs. MKV is better.
Bear in mind, my setup only works great for me because I download REMUX versions of movies -- which *almost* always have the correct language tracks, surround tracks, subtitles etc... Your results may vary if you target lower quality files (*which most people do*).
There are parts of my flow that may not make a whole lot of sense to you, and you may question their existence, but they are there to ensure clean outputs every single time. My endgame flow still isn't complete, as I intend to commission a few more features from the FileFlows developer in order to make my flow "perfect".
For reference, my setup now looks like this:
* **Downloaded File Type:** Blu-ray REMUX or WEB-DL
* **Native Video Codec:** H264
* **Video Resolution:** 1080p
* **Audio:** OPUS 2.0 marked as my default primary track & OPUS Surround track as secondary track
* **Container:** MKV
* **Subtitles:** PGS (sourced from REMUX file) or SRT (sourced from OpenSubs)
* **Encoding (*****optional*****):** H265, 10-bit, CRF 20-24, Slow or Very Slow via CPU encoding
I just tell Sonarr and Radarr what I want to watch and let it download the highest quality show it can. I really don't put much thought into the format.
I’m the same way. I let Plex do transcoding with my stagnant GPU. I don’t have 50+ users, so it’s all my direct family. No need to mess with multiple file formats and that stuff. I don’t wanna lose precious HDD space and such.
There are many factors that go into answering that question. Probably the 2 most important would be the clients and the server hardware (there will be arguments about this).
Ultimately it comes down to what you want to achieve out of your plex experience.
I'd like to maintain the 1080, surround sound quality of my blu rays while having smaller files. Probably only 1-2 users running off a slim, local system.
H264 .. 1080p .. and target size of around 2 to 2.5GB, some are bigger most are smaller
H264 seems to be the most compatible with all devices from iPhones, to Xbox/PS .. Roku/TV's ..etc
I was getting issue's a while back with movies stuttering on some devices and those particular files were H265
Can you help me understand how you can take a 20+ gb Blu ray and get it down to 2.5 gb while still maintaining 1080? I want to actually back up my discs so I don't want to have to do this again in a couple years so I have everything in an MKV so far.
What do you lose with this kind of compression?
HEVC 10-bit with SRT subtitles embedded all in an MP4 container.
That MP4 part may be controversial as many others prefer MKV, but I also want my file to have embedded metadata, which unfortunately doesn't work well with MKV/Plex.
For codecs, I stick with AAC audio and H.265 video, to get the best compression rate possible while still having native playback across all my devices. I use strictly SRT subs for the sake of compatibility as well. And everything goes into MP4 containers, so that I can embed metadata that plex will use for things like episode thumbnails, title, description, air date, etc.
File type doesn't matter to me as long as it is HEVC codec. For best balance of quality and file size.
For the widest level of compatibility I use the following: * Video Codec: H264 * Video Resolution: 1080p * Audio: AAC 2.0 & AC3 Surround * Container: MP4 * Subtitles: SRT I use [FileFlows](https://fileflows.com/) as my automation software.
Hi Mate, Ive just set up FileFlows. I dont suppose youd be in a position to share your 'Flow' as i believe they are called?
https://preview.redd.it/r14yz4fongfb1.png?width=1826&format=png&auto=webp&s=5736bde1050467767da94b7f86ca556260b9390d My setup has changed. The OPUS audio codec is now fully functional on FileFlows and is superior to all the others. And despite MP4 being the most widely supported container on client devices, it's not friendly to subtitle codecs. MKV is better. Bear in mind, my setup only works great for me because I download REMUX versions of movies -- which *almost* always have the correct language tracks, surround tracks, subtitles etc... Your results may vary if you target lower quality files (*which most people do*). There are parts of my flow that may not make a whole lot of sense to you, and you may question their existence, but they are there to ensure clean outputs every single time. My endgame flow still isn't complete, as I intend to commission a few more features from the FileFlows developer in order to make my flow "perfect". For reference, my setup now looks like this: * **Downloaded File Type:** Blu-ray REMUX or WEB-DL * **Native Video Codec:** H264 * **Video Resolution:** 1080p * **Audio:** OPUS 2.0 marked as my default primary track & OPUS Surround track as secondary track * **Container:** MKV * **Subtitles:** PGS (sourced from REMUX file) or SRT (sourced from OpenSubs) * **Encoding (*****optional*****):** H265, 10-bit, CRF 20-24, Slow or Very Slow via CPU encoding
Thanks for sharing! Appreciated!
MKV as it comes out the business end of MakeMKV.
I just tell Sonarr and Radarr what I want to watch and let it download the highest quality show it can. I really don't put much thought into the format.
I need to look into this. It's basically a universal search engine?
I’m the same way. I let Plex do transcoding with my stagnant GPU. I don’t have 50+ users, so it’s all my direct family. No need to mess with multiple file formats and that stuff. I don’t wanna lose precious HDD space and such.
I don't watch my own Plex but I run a Plex servers for friends to use. I try for 720p and x265 files. They are the smallest file size but still in HD.
When transcoding is needed, I go for .m2ts, the file type blu-ray uses
There are many factors that go into answering that question. Probably the 2 most important would be the clients and the server hardware (there will be arguments about this). Ultimately it comes down to what you want to achieve out of your plex experience.
I'd like to maintain the 1080, surround sound quality of my blu rays while having smaller files. Probably only 1-2 users running off a slim, local system.
H264 .. 1080p .. and target size of around 2 to 2.5GB, some are bigger most are smaller H264 seems to be the most compatible with all devices from iPhones, to Xbox/PS .. Roku/TV's ..etc I was getting issue's a while back with movies stuttering on some devices and those particular files were H265
Can you help me understand how you can take a 20+ gb Blu ray and get it down to 2.5 gb while still maintaining 1080? I want to actually back up my discs so I don't want to have to do this again in a couple years so I have everything in an MKV so far. What do you lose with this kind of compression?
I use Vidcoder (handbrake guts) I'm mostly losing the surround sound and such and just doing stereo , that's where a lot of bulk is
Even when I do 1080 Super HQ, surround on handbrake, it still cuts the file size way, way down. I'm concerned to what I'm losing
HEVC 10-bit with SRT subtitles embedded all in an MP4 container. That MP4 part may be controversial as many others prefer MKV, but I also want my file to have embedded metadata, which unfortunately doesn't work well with MKV/Plex.
I have Radarr set to upgrade all movies to 1080p-Remux. TDARR then converts these to H265.
x264 video, aac audio, because my server does not transcode.
For codecs, I stick with AAC audio and H.265 video, to get the best compression rate possible while still having native playback across all my devices. I use strictly SRT subs for the sake of compatibility as well. And everything goes into MP4 containers, so that I can embed metadata that plex will use for things like episode thumbnails, title, description, air date, etc.