Audio settings in Handbrake. Advice

MartinE wrote on 3/21/2017, 3:03 AM

I'm feeding handbrake with an HDCAM EX 35mb/s file (audio is PCM stereo) produced by VP13. Output from HB is an mp4 AVC which I want to be suitable for Youtube upload and to be compatible on VLC/WMP etc. Not sure what audio settings I should use. Anyone else using this workflow and could advise?

Comments

NickHope wrote on 3/21/2017, 3:58 AM

Try this:

If it's too slow or the file size is too large or you're not super-fussy about quality then you could raise the RF to between 20-23, drop the Encoder Preset to medium-fast, and drop the audio bitrate to 128-192kbps.

MartinE wrote on 3/21/2017, 4:48 AM

Thanks Nick, will try this tonight. I'm pretty certain that HB sees "unknown PCM" on my HDCAM EX file.

NickHope wrote on 3/21/2017, 10:52 AM

Oops, missed that you only asked about audio.

If Handbrake won't open your video directly, UT Video Codec is a lossless codec you can render to from Vegas that should open in Handbrake.

Otherwise you could try Vegas2Handbrake. See section 4c of this: https://www.vegascreativesoftware.info/us/forum/faq-how-can-i-improve-the-quality-of-my-avc-h-264-renders--104642/

Musicvid wrote on 3/21/2017, 12:39 PM

Handbrake's current AAC encoder is pure crap . YouTube is worse.

If you completely uninstall Handbrake and download 0.10.3 from Videohelp, you will get fdk-aac, which is better.

rraud wrote on 3/22/2017, 9:15 AM

The Nero AAC encoder is another option. As I recall it works with HB.. or at least it used to.

Musicvid wrote on 3/22/2017, 10:51 AM

Nope, it's a licensing restriction. I used to mux it externally, but fdk sounds better to me.

https://forum.handbrake.fr/viewtopic.php?f=26&t=24623&p=113155&hilit=Nero+aac#p113155

MartinE wrote on 3/24/2017, 2:06 AM

Thanks Musicvid, installed v 0.10.3, selected AAC(fdk) and looks like the crazy "whooshes" have gone. They are only noticeable in quiet sections but with headphones on it was driving me nuts. I like good sound so this was a show stopper for me, thanks again.

Musicvid wrote on 3/24/2017, 7:28 AM

Yes, when hobbyists talk about "good" open source aac encoders they really mean "less bad."

rraud wrote on 3/24/2017, 8:37 AM

Nope, it's a licensing restriction. I used to mux it externally, but fdk sounds better to me.

Yes MV, same here. I should have mentioned it was necessary to mux in the Nero encoded file .

Musicvid wrote on 3/24/2017, 8:48 AM

My biggest issue with muxing was getting the audio delay right by trial and error.