Answers.Body: <p>Let the encoder set the level automatically. The encoder will have a default <code>profile</code> (High for x264) and higher the profile, better quality for a given bitrate or lower bitrate for a certain quality target. Unless you have compatibility concerns, default High is fine as well.</p>
  
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Answers.CreationDate: 2019-12-11T18:40:00.910Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2019-12-11T18:40:00.910Z
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Body: <p>Should I bother setting them at all? Basically, what is the guidance on setting these properties?</p>
  
  <p>The specific ffmpeg flags I'm referring to are <code>-level:v</code> and <code>-profile:v</code>.</p>
  
  <p>The video is intended for general consumption, direct download (not embedded in a web page). So most users will probably play the video however their device tells them to. I would like to know what's the best practice so that the highest number of users can view it without problems.</p>
  
  <p><a href="https://video.stackexchange.com/questions/24476/how-to-choose-the-right-bitrate-h-264-profile-and-level-for-web-video-presentat">This question</a> asks something similar, but it has no answer about these two settings.</p>
  
Tags: <ffmpeg>
Title: When using ffmpeg to encode an MP4 for general consumption, should I set the profile and IDC level? (-profile:v and -level:v)
UserDisplayName: felwithe
ThreadText: # When using ffmpeg to encode an MP4 for general consumption, should I set the profile and IDC level? (-profile:v and -level:v)
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2019-12-11)
  
  Should I bother setting them at all? Basically, what is the guidance on setting these properties?
  
  The specific ffmpeg flags I'm referring to are `-level:v` and `-profile:v`.
  
  The video is intended for general consumption, direct download (not embedded in a web page). So most users will probably play the video however their device tells them to. I would like to know what's the best practice so that the highest number of users can view it without problems.
  
  [This question](https://video.stackexchange.com/questions/24476/how-to-choose-the-right-bitrate-h-264-profile-and-level-for-web-video-presentat) asks something similar, but it has no answer about these two settings.
  
  **Tags:** ffmpeg
  
  
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  ## 1 answers
  
  ### Answer by username_1 on 2019-12-11. Score: 2 | Accepted answer
  
  Let the encoder set the level automatically. The encoder will have a default `profile` (High for x264) and higher the profile, better quality for a given bitrate or lower bitrate for a certain quality target. Unless you have compatibility concerns, default High is fine as well.
  
  
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