How to Set SVT-AV1 Preset in FFmpeg

This article provides a quick guide on how to configure the speed and quality presets for the SVT-AV1 (libsvtav1) encoder in FFmpeg. You will learn the correct command-line syntax, understand the available preset ranges, and see how different preset values impact your encoding speed and output file size.

Using the -preset Option

To configure the encoding speed in SVT-AV1, use the -preset option in your FFmpeg command. The syntax is straightforward:

ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -c:v libsvtav1 -preset 6 -crf 30 output.mkv

In this command:

• -c:v libsvtav1 selects the SVT-AV1 encoder.
• -preset 6 sets the speed/quality trade-off level.
• -crf 30 sets the Constant Rate Factor for quality control.

Understanding SVT-AV1 Preset Values

SVT-AV1 uses numerical values for its presets, typically ranging from 0 to 13.

• Lower numbers (0–3): Produce the highest compression efficiency and best visual quality per bitrate, but are extremely slow to encode. These are generally reserved for archival purposes where encoding time is not a constraint.
• Medium numbers (4–6): Offer a great balance between encoding speed and file size. Preset 4 or 5 is highly recommended for high-quality personal encodes, while preset 6 is a popular choice for faster, high-quality encodes.
• Higher numbers (7–10): Focus on speed. These presets are ideal for real-time streaming, live broadcasting, or rapid draft renders.
• Maximum numbers (11–13): Provide the fastest possible encoding speeds with the lowest CPU usage, but result in much lower compression efficiency and larger file sizes.

Preset Comparison Table

To achieve the best results, it is recommended to start with -preset 6 and adjust downward if you want better compression (at the cost of time), or upward if the encoding process is taking too long.