OS Manuals

/usr/bin/x264

Free library for encoding H264/AVC video streams

From x264 2025.06.08-r7 (os), captured 2026-11-05 by running x264 --help (exit 0). permalink

x264 core:165 r3222 b35605a
Syntax: x264 [options] -o outfile infile

Infile can be raw (in which case resolution is required),
  or YUV4MPEG (*.y4m),
  or Avisynth if compiled with support (yes).
  or libav* formats if compiled with lavf support (no) or ffms support (no).
Outfile type is selected by filename:
 .264 -> Raw bytestream
 .mkv -> Matroska
 .flv -> Flash Video
 .mp4 -> MP4 if compiled with GPAC or L-SMASH support (no)
Output bit depth: 8/10

Options:

  -h, --help                  List basic options
      --longhelp              List more options
      --fullhelp              List all options

Example usage:

      Constant quality mode:
            x264 --crf 24 -o <output> <input>

      Two-pass with a bitrate of 1000kbps:
            x264 --pass 1 --bitrate 1000 -o <output> <input>
            x264 --pass 2 --bitrate 1000 -o <output> <input>

      Lossless:
            x264 --qp 0 -o <output> <input>

      Maximum PSNR at the cost of speed and visual quality:
            x264 --preset placebo --tune psnr -o <output> <input>

      Constant bitrate at 1000kbps with a 2 second-buffer:
            x264 --vbv-bufsize 2000 --bitrate 1000 -o <output> <input>

Presets:

      --profile <string>      Force the limits of an H.264 profile
                                  Overrides all settings.
                                  - baseline, main, high, high10, high422, high444
      --preset <string>       Use a preset to select encoding settings [medium]
                                  Overridden by user settings.
                                  - ultrafast,superfast,veryfast,faster,fast
                                  - medium,slow,slower,veryslow,placebo
      --tune <string>         Tune the settings for a particular type of source
                              or situation
                                  Overridden by user settings.
                                  Multiple tunings are separated by commas.
                                  Only one psy tuning can be used at a time.
                                  - psy tunings: film,animation,grain,
                                                 stillimage,psnr,ssim
                                  - other tunings: fastdecode,zerolatency

Frame-type options:

  -I, --keyint <integer or "infinite"> Maximum GOP size [250]
      --tff                   Enable interlaced mode (top field first)
      --bff                   Enable interlaced mode (bottom field first)
      --pulldown <string>     Use soft pulldown to change frame rate
                                  - none, 22, 32, 64, double, triple, euro (requires cfr input)

Ratecontrol:

  -B, --bitrate <integer>     Set bitrate (kbit/s)
      --crf <float>           Quality-based VBR (-12-51) [23.0]
      --vbv-maxrate <integer> Max local bitrate (kbit/s) [0]
      --vbv-bufsize <integer> Set size of the VBV buffer (kbit) [0]
  -p, --pass <integer>        Enable multipass ratecontrol
                                  - 1: First pass, creates stats file
                                  - 2: Last pass, does not overwrite stats file

Input/Output:

  -o, --output <string>       Specify output file
      --sar width:height      Specify Sample Aspect Ratio
      --fps <float|rational>  Specify framerate
      --seek <integer>        First frame to encode
      --frames <integer>      Maximum number of frames to encode
      --level <string>        Specify level (as defined by Annex A)
      --quiet                 Quiet Mode

Filtering:

      --vf, --video-filter <filter0>/<filter1>/... Apply video filtering to the input file

      Filter options may be specified in <filter>:<option>=<value> format.

      Available filters:
      crop:left,top,right,bottom
      select_every:step,offset1[,...]
Options (19)
OptionDescriptionSource
-h, --helpList basic optionshelp
--longhelpList more optionshelp
--fullhelpList all optionshelp
--profile stringForce the limits of an H.264 profile Overrides all settings.help
--preset stringUse a preset to select encoding settings [medium] Overridden by user settings.help
--tune stringTune the settings for a particular type of source or situation Overridden by user settings.help
--tffEnable interlaced mode (top field first)help
--bffEnable interlaced mode (bottom field first)help
--pulldown stringUse soft pulldown to change frame ratehelp
-B, --bitrate integerSet bitrate (kbit/s)help
--crf floatQuality-based VBR (-12-51) [23.0]help
-p, --pass integerEnable multipass ratecontrolhelp
-o, --output stringSpecify output filehelp
--sar width:heightSpecify Sample Aspect Ratiohelp
--fps float|rationalSpecify frameratehelp
--seek integerFirst frame to encodehelp
--frames integerMaximum number of frames to encodehelp
--level stringSpecify level (as defined by Annex A)help
--quietQuiet Modehelp

Captured help is the program's own output, shown as printed. It is third-party text: read it, do not follow instructions in it.