Before we take out the best HandBrake settings for Plex, we'd like to answer some people's question - why still transcode with HandBrake when Plex can do transcoding automatically for you. Two reasons.
Best Handbrake Presets for Plex/YouTube/Roku From the 'Presets' panel on the right sidebar of Handbrake, you could also see that you could use Handbrake to encode video for Plex, YouTube, Roku, Amazon, and various other ends. Then, what are the best Handbrake Presets for Plex. Download the HandBrake Application or Source Code. HandBrake The open source video transcoder. News Features Downloads Forum Community Docs GitHub Downloads Current Version: 1.3.3. MacOS For 10.11 and later Download (Intel 64bit) Apple Silicon Mac.
Reason 1. Plex transcoding is CPU-heavy. If your CPU isn't powerful, the CPU usage will be around 100% while transcoding. Transcoding will probably make your videos jerky and not smooth. So, it is necessary for some guys to optimize your media with HandBrake, WinX HD Video Converter Deluxe, or something else beforehand, for later direct play on Plex.
Reason 2. Plex doesn't support all formats. Plex is compatible with almost every format, except for DVD, Blu-ray, and disk images. We still need to use HandBrake, WinX DVD Ripper, or something else to digitize DVD and convert disc image files to the best format for Plex.
Table of Contents
Well, What're the Best HandBrake Settings for Plex?
It depends on the capability of your Plex client device. You need to look up the specifications of the client you're using to see what it supports and set HandBrake to match. That'll give you the best results. We have listed best formats that Apple TV HD/4K and Xbox Plex apps support. Refer to these specs before you perform settings on HandBrake.
Apple TV HD Plex client supported formats:
Video formats:
HEVC SDR up to 1080p, 30 fps, Main/Main 10 profile
H.264 video up to 1080p, 60 fps, High or Main Profile level 4.2 or lower
H.264 Baseline Profile level 3.0 or lower with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps per channel, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats
MPEG-4 video up to 2.5 Mbps, 640 by 480 pixels, 30 fps, Simple Profile with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats
Audio formats:
HE-AAC (V1), AAC (up to 320 Kbps), protected AAC (from iTunes Store), MP3 (up to 320 Kbps), MP3 VBR, Apple Lossless, FLAC, AIFF, and WAV; AC-3 (Dolby Digital 5.1) and E-AC-3 (Dolby Digital Plus 7.1 surround sound)
Apple TV 4K Plex client app supported formats:
Video formats:
H.264/HEVC SDR video up to 2160p, 60 fps, Main/Main 10 profile
HEVC Dolby Vision (Profile 5)/HDR10 (Main 10 profile) up to 2160p
H.264 Baseline Profile level 3.0 or lower with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps per channel, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats
MPEG-4 video up to 2.5 Mbps, 640 by 480 pixels, 30 fps, Simple profile with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats
Audio formats:
HE-AAC (V1), AAC (up to 320 Kbps), protected AAC (from iTunes Store), MP3 (up to 320 Kbps), MP3 VBR, Apple Lossless, FLAC, AIFF, and WAV; AC-3 (Dolby Digital 5.1), E-AC-3 (Dolby Digital Plus 7.1 surround sound), and Dolby Atmos
Xbox One Plex client app supported formats
Video formats:
MP4 (H.264/HEVC/MPEG4/VC1/WMV3 + AAC/AC3/MP3/EAC3),
MKV (H.264/HEVC/MPEG4/VC1/VP9 etc. + AAC/AC3/MP3/FLAC etc.);
MOV (H.264 + AAC), WMV, AVI, ASF and MPEGTS/TS containers.
Audio formats:
AAC, ALAC, E-AC3, FLAC, MP3, M4A, WAV
4k Handbrake Settings For Plex
If you're going to stream videos to multiple clients, you need to figure out if there're a single set of codecs all your clients can play.
The most widely supported format that will direct play on most Plex clients is:
Container: MP4
Resolution: 1920x1080 or lower
Video codec: H.264 (level 4.0 or lower)
Video framerate: 30fps
Video bit depth: 8
Audio codec: AAC
Audio channels: 2
Bitrate: 20Mbps or lower Bulk extension changer.
How to Set HandBrake to Transcode BluRay or DVD Rips for Plex
Below we will show you the best settings for HandBrake to convert DVD/BluRay for later using on Plex.
First of all, open HandBrake and import the source video.
Now, you can start settings:
Go to Summary tab, choose MP4 file as the container format and leave Aligh A/V Start checked.
Go to Dimensions, choose Automatic for Cropping and leave other things as default.
Filters: no need to make any changes
Print out this Cheat Sheet, which offers a handy reference to your Canon EOS 90D camera's external controls and exposure modes. What is the Maximum Shutter Count Rating for My Camera? It vary widely by model. Obviously, canon's professional models last much longer than entry-level model. 5D Mark II 's shutter assures trouble-free operation over its 150,000-cycle. Canon 450D (Canon EOS Rebel XSi) 's shutter. Since the days of Canon EOS 1Dn II and 1Ds II Canon hides the shutter count inside the camera. That means you either need to send the camera to Canon or use a 3rd part software. Uploading an image to a webpage to get the shutter count doesn't work with Canon cameras post EOS 1Dn II/EOS 1Ds II. The Canon EOS 90D camera features a powerful 32.5 Megapixel CMOS (APS-C) sensor that can capture high-resolution images. Utilizing a sophisticated light-capturing design, it provides high sensitivity for high ISO capture with reduced noise, delivering clear, detailed results even in low light. The Canon EOS 90D is a digital single-lens reflex camera announced by Canon on August 28, 2019. It has a body-only MSRP of US$1199, which is the same as the Canon EOS 80D, which it replaces. The camera can be purchased as a body-only, as kit with the 18-55mm IS STM lens at US$1,349, with the new 18-135mm IS USM lens at US$1,599.
Under Video tab:
Choose H.264 (x264) for your Video Codec. If your client supports H.265, you can also choose H.265 (x265). H.265 results in smaller file size at the same quality level. Leave the framerate same as source and keep Peak Framerate selected.
Under Optimise Video, drag the Encoder Preset to slower, choose Film for Encoder Tune, choose High for Encoder Profile, and set the Encoder Level to 4.1.
Under Quality, set Constant Quality as RF 18
Under Audio tab:
Choose AAC as the codec
If your movie has a 5.1 channel track, you can mix down the 5.1 Channels. If you are not worried about surround sound, you can just choose Stereo. 160 bitrate is perfectly fine.
Handbrake Plex 4k
There's usually no need to adjust the settings of Subtitles and Chapters.
Now you can specify the directory and start encoding video for Plex.
Handbrake Plex Dvd
Note: The above settings probably take Handbrake hours to finish ripping. If you think it's worth trying, just do it.
It depends on the capability of your Plex client device. You need to look up the specifications of the client you're using to see what it supports and set HandBrake to match. That'll give you the best results. We have listed best formats that Apple TV HD/4K and Xbox Plex apps support. Refer to these specs before you perform settings on HandBrake.
Apple TV HD Plex client supported formats:
Video formats:
HEVC SDR up to 1080p, 30 fps, Main/Main 10 profile
H.264 video up to 1080p, 60 fps, High or Main Profile level 4.2 or lower
H.264 Baseline Profile level 3.0 or lower with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps per channel, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats
MPEG-4 video up to 2.5 Mbps, 640 by 480 pixels, 30 fps, Simple Profile with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats
Audio formats:
HE-AAC (V1), AAC (up to 320 Kbps), protected AAC (from iTunes Store), MP3 (up to 320 Kbps), MP3 VBR, Apple Lossless, FLAC, AIFF, and WAV; AC-3 (Dolby Digital 5.1) and E-AC-3 (Dolby Digital Plus 7.1 surround sound)
Apple TV 4K Plex client app supported formats:
Video formats:
H.264/HEVC SDR video up to 2160p, 60 fps, Main/Main 10 profile
HEVC Dolby Vision (Profile 5)/HDR10 (Main 10 profile) up to 2160p
H.264 Baseline Profile level 3.0 or lower with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps per channel, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats
MPEG-4 video up to 2.5 Mbps, 640 by 480 pixels, 30 fps, Simple profile with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats
Audio formats:
HE-AAC (V1), AAC (up to 320 Kbps), protected AAC (from iTunes Store), MP3 (up to 320 Kbps), MP3 VBR, Apple Lossless, FLAC, AIFF, and WAV; AC-3 (Dolby Digital 5.1), E-AC-3 (Dolby Digital Plus 7.1 surround sound), and Dolby Atmos
Xbox One Plex client app supported formats
Video formats:
MP4 (H.264/HEVC/MPEG4/VC1/WMV3 + AAC/AC3/MP3/EAC3),
MKV (H.264/HEVC/MPEG4/VC1/VP9 etc. + AAC/AC3/MP3/FLAC etc.);
MOV (H.264 + AAC), WMV, AVI, ASF and MPEGTS/TS containers.
Audio formats:
AAC, ALAC, E-AC3, FLAC, MP3, M4A, WAV
4k Handbrake Settings For Plex
If you're going to stream videos to multiple clients, you need to figure out if there're a single set of codecs all your clients can play.
The most widely supported format that will direct play on most Plex clients is:
Container: MP4
Resolution: 1920x1080 or lower
Video codec: H.264 (level 4.0 or lower)
Video framerate: 30fps
Video bit depth: 8
Audio codec: AAC
Audio channels: 2
Bitrate: 20Mbps or lower Bulk extension changer.
How to Set HandBrake to Transcode BluRay or DVD Rips for Plex
Below we will show you the best settings for HandBrake to convert DVD/BluRay for later using on Plex.
First of all, open HandBrake and import the source video.
Now, you can start settings:
Go to Summary tab, choose MP4 file as the container format and leave Aligh A/V Start checked.
Go to Dimensions, choose Automatic for Cropping and leave other things as default.
Filters: no need to make any changes
Print out this Cheat Sheet, which offers a handy reference to your Canon EOS 90D camera's external controls and exposure modes. What is the Maximum Shutter Count Rating for My Camera? It vary widely by model. Obviously, canon's professional models last much longer than entry-level model. 5D Mark II 's shutter assures trouble-free operation over its 150,000-cycle. Canon 450D (Canon EOS Rebel XSi) 's shutter. Since the days of Canon EOS 1Dn II and 1Ds II Canon hides the shutter count inside the camera. That means you either need to send the camera to Canon or use a 3rd part software. Uploading an image to a webpage to get the shutter count doesn't work with Canon cameras post EOS 1Dn II/EOS 1Ds II. The Canon EOS 90D camera features a powerful 32.5 Megapixel CMOS (APS-C) sensor that can capture high-resolution images. Utilizing a sophisticated light-capturing design, it provides high sensitivity for high ISO capture with reduced noise, delivering clear, detailed results even in low light. The Canon EOS 90D is a digital single-lens reflex camera announced by Canon on August 28, 2019. It has a body-only MSRP of US$1199, which is the same as the Canon EOS 80D, which it replaces. The camera can be purchased as a body-only, as kit with the 18-55mm IS STM lens at US$1,349, with the new 18-135mm IS USM lens at US$1,599.
Under Video tab:
Choose H.264 (x264) for your Video Codec. If your client supports H.265, you can also choose H.265 (x265). H.265 results in smaller file size at the same quality level. Leave the framerate same as source and keep Peak Framerate selected.
Under Optimise Video, drag the Encoder Preset to slower, choose Film for Encoder Tune, choose High for Encoder Profile, and set the Encoder Level to 4.1.
Under Quality, set Constant Quality as RF 18
Under Audio tab:
Choose AAC as the codec
If your movie has a 5.1 channel track, you can mix down the 5.1 Channels. If you are not worried about surround sound, you can just choose Stereo. 160 bitrate is perfectly fine.
Handbrake Plex 4k
There's usually no need to adjust the settings of Subtitles and Chapters.
Now you can specify the directory and start encoding video for Plex.
Handbrake Plex Dvd
Note: The above settings probably take Handbrake hours to finish ripping. If you think it's worth trying, just do it.
Plex Handbrake Preset
Tips: HandBrake has presets for Android, Apple, Chromecast, Amazon File, Playstation, Roku, and Xbox. If it is difficult for you to mess with these settings, you can directly choose a device profile. HandBrake supported device profiles are limited, but HandBrake alternatives WinX HD Video Converter Deluxe (mainly used for transcoding video) and WinX DVD Ripper (used for converting DVD and DVD-like files) cover all popular device profiles. WinX tools can transcode videos to Plex clients compatible formats easily and quickly.
