Encoding my own 4K content with Handbrake and iFlicks 2?

[grahamwright1]

I've happily used Handbrake to encode in Apple TV format, and iFlicks 2 to encode the metadata into my iTunes content for years. With the ATV4K I have tried modifying the Handbrake preset for the ATV3 to use h.265 and setting the max video size to 3480x2160 which (eventually!) gives a file that should work on the ATV4K.

The problem comes when I try to update the metadata as iFlicks 2 forces a re-encoding back to 1920x1080 which kind of defeats the purpose of this.

1) Anyone found a decent metadata editor that works with h.265 encoded 4K content correctly?

2) Anyone have recommended settings for Handbrake for the ATV4K?

 

[wnhmasterchief]

I've happily used Handbrake to encode in Apple TV format, and iFlicks 2 to encode the metadata into my iTunes content for years. With the ATV4K I have tried modifying the Handbrake preset for the ATV3 to use h.265 and setting the max video size to 3480x2160 which (eventually!) gives a file that should work on the ATV4K.

The problem comes when I try to update the metadata as iFlicks 2 forces a re-encoding back to 1920x1080 which kind of defeats the purpose of this.

1) Anyone found a decent metadata editor that works with h.265 encoded 4K content correctly?

2) Anyone have recommended settings for Handbrake for the ATV4K?

I contacted the iFlicks team about 4K and h.265 support and they said they have an update waiting for the release of High Sierra.

 

[Ritsuka]

Make sure to use a nightly build of HandBrake, previous versions won't work.
Subler doesn't have those weird iFlicks issues

 

[Zimmy68]

InFuse all day.

 

[priitv8]

Make sure to use a nightly build of HandBrake, previous versions won't work.
Subler doesn't have those weird iFlicks issues

What exactly is wrong with official release of HandBrake? I don't recall having any problems with it encoding into UHD in H.265.
Story is different, if you intend to encode HDR material. Then you will need the 10-bit x265 encoder.

I haven't seen that Subler developers have managed to include the new metadata tags / values that are now necessary to describe 4K and HDR content.

 

[Ritsuka]

The official release of HandBrake muxes HEVC in a way that's not compatible with Apple devices.

There is no need for additional "metadata" for 4k. The iTunes tag is just for displaying the nice badge. Apple has yet to add such badge for 4k in iTunes. HDR is another big unknown. But you are not going to use HandBrake to encode HDR, HandBrake is pipeline is 4:2:0 8bit, so even if you use the a 10bit encode you are going to lose a lot of info.

(HandBrake and Subler developer, so I have a fairly good knowledge of these apps limitations)

 

[archer75]

I use handbrake to encode but I use plex to play. It handles all the metadata. I just drop it in a folder and enjoy. MakeMKV, handbrake and done. That's it.

 

[priitv8]

HDR is another big unknown. But you are not going to use HandBrake to encode HDR, HandBrake is pipeline is 4:2:0 8bit, so even if you use the a 10bit encode you are going to lose a lot of info.

(HandBrake and Subler developer, so I have a fairly good knowledge of these apps limitations)

Good to know, but I am using it already, with pretty good results. At any rate, the difference is immense, even if i am no way professional nor shooting in Arri RAW.
But graded/encoded in HDR10 anything will look better, not due to the fact that the encode is so much better, but due to fact that you enforce your display into better mode (wider dynamic and chromatic range).

PS is the current HEVC encode issue that with fourcc code? Latest Subler provides a hack-fix for that.

PPS I am using this HB 10-bit build:
https://mattgadient.com/2016/02/15/...ncodes-with-handbrake-mac-os-x-linux-windows/
Mastering display data needs to be added as additional parameter to x265. Once sorted out, it all works pretty straightforward and with very good results.

 

[Ritsuka]

Good to know, but I am using it already, with pretty good results. At any rate, the difference is immense, even if i am no way professional nor shooting in Arri RAW.
But graded/encoded in HDR10 anything will look better, not due to the fact that the encode is so much better, but due to fact that you enforce your display into better mode (wider dynamic and chromatic range).

PS is the current HEVC encode issue that with fourcc code? Latest Subler provides a hack-fix for that.

PPS I am using this HB 10-bit build:
https://mattgadient.com/2016/02/15/...ncodes-with-handbrake-mac-os-x-linux-windows/
Mastering display data needs to be added as additional parameter to x265. Once sorted out, it all works pretty straightforward and with very good results.

It might looks good to your eyes, but what you are doing is getting a 10 bit source, down converting it to 8bit, and then encoding it back to 10bit. All the lost information is not coming back.

I wrote Subler and wrote the HandBrake mac gui, so please believe me when I say I know a bit of this things.

 

[priitv8]

It might looks good to your eyes, but what you are doing is getting a 10 bit source, down converting it to 8bit, and then encoding it back to 10bit. All the lost information is not coming back.

I wrote Subler and wrote the HandBrake mac gui, so please believe me when I say I know a bit of this things.

Are you saying, that that other guy’s effort to recompile x265 in 10-bit mode was all for nothing?
My point is, that even with all said limitations, end result is totally worth it. Just because I can get out of the Rec 709 cage. And my display can deliver maximum that it’s capable of, not its minimum. For that to happen, my clip needs to be encoded in PQ EOTF, 10bpp and 2020 color space. Not much more, really.

PS do you know when will Subler get the update to output this new metadata, that will give us nice and proper tags in iTunes library?

 

[Ritsuka]

Encoding a 8 bit source with a 10 bit encoder helps a bit to reduce banding in dark areas. Encoding a 10 bit HDR source by downconverting it to 8 bit with a 10 bit encoder is just asking for trouble.

 

[priitv8]

Encoding a 8 bit source with a 10 bit encoder helps a bit to reduce banding in dark areas. Encoding a 10 bit HDR source by downconverting it to 8 bit with a 10 bit encoder is just asking for trouble.

That I didn’t get.
If my final encode shows 10-bit HEVC Main 10 profile stream, where does the 8-bit downconversion come in?

 

[priitv8]

@Ritsuka - please check my output file data above and let me know, where can it go so wrong that it will be just asking for trouble?
I am really interested to learn the details of producing HDR movies for myself.
So far, with the output as shown above, I definitely get a visibly better image than in Rec.709 SDR mastering.

PS Just received my aTV 4K, will check how do my files play back on it in coming days.