Browser FFmpeg recipe

Set CRF Online with FFmpeg

Create an H.264 MP4 using a selected CRF quality value.

Command

Run this FFmpeg command

ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -c:v libx264 -crf 23 -preset fast -c:a copy crf-output.mp4

When to use it

  • quality tuning
  • file size control
  • H.264 exports

How it works

  1. Upload the source video.
  2. Change the CRF value to tune quality and size.
  3. Run FFmpeg and download the encoded output.

Option reference

OptionWhat it does
-crf 23Sets quality for H.264. Lower values improve quality.
-preset fastControls encoding speed and compression efficiency.
-c:a copyKeeps original audio.

Practical notes

  • Common H.264 CRF values range from 18 to 30.
  • CRF 18 is high quality, while CRF 28 is much smaller.

FAQ

What CRF should I start with?

Start around 23 for H.264 and adjust after checking the result.

Does lower CRF mean smaller files?

No. Lower CRF means higher quality and larger files.