FFmpeg Forge 2.1.6

FFmpeg Forge 2.1.6
FFmpeg Forge 2.1.6 now available on Linux and MacOS

FFmpeg Forge 2.1.6 brings a brand new cinematic design, SDR to HDR conversion (HDR10 and Dolby Vision 8.1), and new audio track tools requested by users: change only the audio of a video, or add audio tracks, without re encoding the picture.

New cinematic design

New header with original artwork (film reel, golden light streaks), a bigger gold logo, "FFmpeg FORGE" in large letters and a gold "VERSION 2.1.6" badge.

FFmpeg status pill in the header: a magnifier while detecting, a green check when FFmpeg is found, a red warning when it is missing. "FFmpeg location…" now has its own button with a folder icon.

Every toolbar button has an icon: Add files, Add folder, Remove, Clear all, Show command, Filter library.

New drop zone: film strip artwork, big logo, "Drop your files here", and coloured feature badges (Video, Audio, Image, AI Denoise, AI Upscale, Dolby Atmos, DSD).

New Activity Log: one line per message with a status icon (info, success, warning, error), the time and the message, details dimmed. New "Clear log" button. Double click or Ctrl+C copies a line, right click copies everything.

Gold icons on every settings section, icons on the VIDEO, AUDIO and IMAGE buttons, taller file list rows.

Status bar with a coloured dot (green ready, gold working, red error), Open folder and Cancel with icons, and a new blue to gold CONVERT button.

Dark title bar on Windows 10 and Windows 11.

SDR to HDR (Video and Image)

New "SDR → HDR" option with a choice of peak brightness (600, 1000, 1500, 2000 or 4000 nits).

HDR10: H.265 10 bit, BT.2020 PQ, HDR10 static metadata (mastering display and content light level). VP9 or AV1 for WebM.

Dolby Vision 8.1: the same HDR10 picture plus Dolby Vision dynamic metadata, measured on every frame of your video and grouped by shot. It plays as Dolby Vision on Dolby Vision screens and as HDR10 everywhere else. MP4, M4V, MOV or MKV. Made with dovi_tool (MIT licence), included next to FFmpegForge.exe.

HDR pictures: PNG 16 bit with the HDR tag (cICP) or AVIF 10 bit, BT.2020 PQ. Shown in HDR by Chrome, Edge, Windows Photos with HDR turned on, and recent phones.

How it works: the SDR picture is placed in HDR with SDR white at 203 nits (the BT.2408 reference white), then the highlights are expanded up to the chosen peak. Only the brightness is expanded, colours keep their exact hue.

An HDR screen is needed to see the result: on an SDR screen, HDR files look dim or flat. Files that are already HDR are not converted again.

Audio tracks without re encoding the video

New "AUDIO TRACKS (VIDEO UNTOUCHED)" section in the Video category, as requested by users.

"Keep the video as is": the picture is copied bit for bit, same quality, very fast. Only the audio changes, for example Opus to AAC or AC3 (choose the codec in Audio settings).

Original audio tracks: convert them, keep them as they are, or remove them. Every audio track is processed, not only the first one.

Add audio tracks from audio files or from other videos, with language (guessed from the file name: _fr, VF, english…), title, delay in milliseconds to resynchronise a track, and default track.

Added tracks are copied as they are when the output format accepts them, otherwise converted automatically (the log says so). Chapters and metadata are kept, and subtitles too in MKV.

Also included

QTGMC deinterlacing (from 2.1.5) and the NVIDIA RTX AI audio sync fix (from 2.1.0.1).

Cover / thumbnail now works on Dolby Vision and HDR files too.

Support FFmpegForge

Enjoying FFmpegForge? If you find it useful, please consider stars the project on GitHub! It helps more people discover this free software and supports its continued development.