Handbrake or AVIsynth for encoding?

[ryugu]

Do people still use AVIsynth? Are there situations were you can get better quality using it? I'm currently using handbrake for all my encoding, but maybe I shouldn't?

[manono]

AviSynth isn't an encoder. You use encoders that accept AviSynth scripts as input. Which is most of them, but not Handbrake.

[KarMa]

Do people still use AVIsynth? Are there situations were you can get better quality using it? I'm currently using handbrake for all my encoding, but maybe I shouldn't?

If you need special processing beyond simple downsizing or Yadif deinterlacing, then Avisynth can be of use. Otherwise Handbrake has access to the same x264-x265 encoders that Avisynth is often piped out of to.

[ryugu]

Hey thanks for the responses. Can anybody point me to the latest tutorials on encoding without Handbrake? I worry that the tutorials I have found so far are somewhat outdated. I'm mainly working with BD/1080p.

I have found plenty of info concerning Handbrake, so I'm good with that.

I definitely want to experiment. But if Handbrake does the job maybe 90% of the time, then maybe I won't have to. I'm still learning about detecline and deinterlacing, progressive video.

I have been trying to follow this one: https://www.techpowerup.com/forums/threads/hats-ntsc-guide-to-dvd-bd-ripping.221062/

Is there anything more thorough for newbies like myself? It's very easy for newbies to get lost here!

[ryugu]

Ok, it's all coming together now. I apologize for the completely nonsensical thread title. Handbrake should be fine for my purposes.

[stax76]

If Handbrake works for you that's fine, it is very popular and has a good reputation, if you need support you can also try VidCoder, the author has a thread at doom9. The best thing about Handbrake is that it is portable, that is something not easy to achieve.

[chris319]

I could be wrong here, but I'm naive on this subject:

Do avisynth and handbrake both use ffmpeg under the hood?

ffmpeg is very complicated and I don't blame someone for using a front-end program to deal with it.

[jagabo]

Do avisynth and handbrake both use ffmpeg under the hood?

AviSynth doesn't use ffmpeg (although there is an ffmpeg source filter available for it). It's an advanced video/audio filtering system, it doesn't include an encoder. You can use ffmpeg to encode AviSynth output, and many other encoders can be used too. Many AviSynth filters have been adapted for use in ffmpeg (using those filters in ffmpeg doesn't require AviSynth).

Handbrake uses ffmpeg as its encoding engine. In turn ffmpeg uses other encoders like x264, x265, nvenc, etc. that are built into the ffmpeg exe. AviSynth's filtering is far more advanced than that which is in Handbrake. Many videos require that advanced filtering in order to get the best results.

[manono]

Do avisynth and handbrake both use ffmpeg under the hood?

AviSynth isn't an encoder.

Therefore AviSynth doesn't use anything 'under the hood'. Once again, you open AviSynth scripts in programs that do the encoding. I use RipBot264 which uses the x264 encoder. I suppose handbrake does use ffmpeg, but I don't know for sure as I don't (and won't) use it.

[chris319]

What does AviSynth do that ffmpeg doesn't?

[stax76]

@chris319

AviSynth is scripting language while ffmpeg is a command line tool.

With ffmpeg you can do everything, with AviSynth you need an encoder, ffmpeg includes all popular encoders.

There are some GUIs for both AviSynth and ffmpeg, staxrip, megui, hybrid, RipBot264.

[_Al_]

Avisynth has thousands of customizable filters, plugins to the point you can restore videos,

and the way it is set up (using AvsPmode, VirtualDub, MPC-HC) you have easier immediate visual feedback, comparing changes