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Video Formula

Video Formula allows you to configure automated video processing formulas to standardize, encode, crop, or format your media files across four primary sections: General, Video, Audio, and Subtitles.

General Settings​

Configure general metadata, output container settings, and default fallback behaviors.

  • Name: Set a descriptive name for the Video Formula
  • Description: Add notes or a description explaining what this formula does.
  • Container: Select the target video container format (e.g., MKV, MP4).
  • Video Type: Categorize content (None, Movie, TV Show) to guide online metadata lookups and determine original audio languages.
  • Trim Silence: Enable (Yes/No) to detect and remove trailing silent audio from the video.
  • Default Language: Choose the fallback language to use for subtitles and audio when metadata is missing or undetermined.

Video Settings​

Configure video stream handling, resolution-targeted encoding profiles, codecs, quality parameters, and framing adjustments.

Stream Handling​

  • Video Processing:
    • Copy Video: Passes the original video stream through directly without re-encoding, preserving exact original quality.
    • Custom Video: Enables multi-profile processing controls described below.

Video Profiles​

Formulas use Video Profiles to apply different encoding rules based on the resolution of the incoming file.

  • Add Profile: Opens the configuration modal to define a new resolution-targeted rule set.
  • Resolution Categorization: FileFlows automatically detects the input video's resolution (SD, 720p, 1080p, 1440p, or 4K).
  • Profile Selection: FileFlows scans your configured profiles to find the closest match that doesn't exceed the video's actual resolution.
    • An exact resolution match is always chosen first.
    • If an exact match isn't found, FileFlows picks the highest available profile that fits within the video's resolution (e.g., a 1080p video will use a 720p profile over a 4K profile).
  • Fallback Rules:
    • "Any" Profile: If no specific resolution profile fits the video, FileFlows falls back to an Any profile if one exists.
    • Copy Video: If the video resolution is smaller than all configured profiles and no Any profile exists, FileFlows bypasses encoding and copies the original video stream as-is.

Profile Configuration Options​

Each individual Video Profile contains the following configurable settings:

Target Resolution & Engine​

  • Resolution: Select the target input resolution for this profile (Any, SD, 720p, 1080p, 1440p, 4K).
  • Codec: Select the output video format (e.g., H.264, H.265 / HEVC, AV1).
  • Encoder: Choose the encoding engine (e.g., Automatic, hardware-accelerated encoders, or software/CPU).

Encoding Method Dynamic Options​

The available controls dynamically change based on the selected Encoding Method:

  • Bitrate Method:

    • Bitrate Mode: Choose between Fixed bitrate or Total Size mode.
    • Total File Size: Set a target file size limit using the slider (e.g., 750 MB). Bitrate is dynamically calculated based on video duration and audio overhead.

  • Quality Method:

    • Quality: Set target visual quality using the numeric slider.
    • Speed: Set the encoding speed preset slider to balance processing time against compression efficiency.

  • Optimized Method:

    • Quality: Choose a targeted quality preset (Fair, Good, Excellent).
    • Optimize Mode:
      • Fast Scan: Performs quick checks with fewer samples.
      • Balanced: Standard testing.
      • Thorough: Longer test runs for maximum accuracy.
    • Max Size Per Hour: Enable or disable an hourly file size ceiling.
    • Larger File Strategy: Dictates action if the size limit is exceeded:
      • Accept: Retains the processed file regardless of size.
      • Target Bitrate: Recalculates bitrate to enforce the ceiling.
      • Remux Video: Reverts to the original video stream without re-encoding.
      • Keep Original: Discards changes and keeps the source file.

Framing & Scaling Adjustments​

  • Crop Black Bars: Toggle on/off to automatically detect and trim top, bottom, or side letterboxing.
  • Resolution: Scale the video output resolution (e.g., Original, 1080p, 4K).
  • Frame Rate: Adjust target output frame rate (e.g., Original, 24fps, 60fps).

Audio Settings​

Manage output audio track generation, metadata naming, and dynamic range normalization.

General Audio Options​

  • Audio Title Format: Defines naming templates for output audio tracks using metadata variables (e.g., Language + Codec + Channels).
  • Set Missing Languages: Toggle to automatically detect spoken audio using FileFlows Forge and apply missing language tags.

Stream Handling​

  • Copy Audio:
    • Copy Audio: Retains all original audio streams without re-encoding. Hides custom audio profiles and track-level configuration settings.
    • Custom Audio: Allows creation of specific audio profiles.

Audio Profiles Editor​

When using Custom Audio, click Add Profile or edit existing tracks to configure:

  • Languages: Choose specific language tracks to include/generate.
    • Leaving this blank will automatically process every unique language found in the source video. Only one audio track per language will be created (for example, if your file contains multiple English or German tracks, duplicate languages are safely ignored).
  • Codec: Select output audio codec (e.g., AAC, AC3).
  • Channels: Choose channel configuration (e.g., 5.1 (Surround), Stereo).
  • Bitrate: Set target bitrate per channel (e.g., 96 kbps).
  • Sample Rate: Set sample rate or select Same as Source.
  • Normalization Mode: Choose dynamic range adjustment mode:
    • Off: Keeps original dynamic range intact.
    • Night Mode: Compresses dynamic range for quiet listening environments.
    • Cinema: Standard movie theater dynamic balance.
    • Standard: Standard audio volume leveling.

Subtitles Settings​

Extract, translate, re-format, or generate missing subtitle tracks.

Subtitle Processing Options​

  • Subtitle Processing:
    • Copy: Retains original subtitle tracks.
    • Custom: Unlocks custom filter, conversion, and generation options.
    • Remove: Strips all subtitle tracks from the output file.

Custom Subtitle Configuration​

  • Subtitle Title Format: Naming template for track titles using variables (e.g., Language + Tags).
  • Subtitle Languages: Select target languages to keep or extract (e.g., English, German).
  • Subtitle Format: Filter by subtitle structural format:
    • Standard
    • Forced
    • SDH (Subtitles for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing)
  • Generate If Missing: Uses Fast Whisper speech-to-text to automatically generate missing subtitles or translate existing streams into target languages.
  • Standardize Subtitles: Converts text-based formats (ASS, SSA, VTT) to standard formats (SRT for MKV, mov_text for MP4).
  • Convert Image to Text: Uses OCR to convert image-based subtitles (PGS, VOBSUB) to text formats.

Default Track Flags​

  • Default Track: Rules used to mark the primary subtitle track:
    • None: No default flag set.
    • First Track: Sets the first processed track as default.
    • Forced Track: Automatically flags forced subtitles as default.
  • Default Track Language: Specify preferred language tag for the default track (e.g., eng).