ffmpeg h264 commands v0.1

[CraigWatt]

This space is centred around h264 alias's and ffmpeg commands.

Starting point:

ALIAS="queen"

  QUEEN_LOCATION=NOT RELEVANT TO DISCUSSION

  QUEEN_CRITERIA_CODEC_NAME="h264"

  /* possible options: 8, 10 (color depth should be the preferred name imo)
  QUEEN_CRITERIA_BITS="8"

  /* possible options: rgb, bt709, fcc, bt470bg, smpte170m, smpte240m, 
     ycocg, bt2020nc, bt2020_ncl, bt2020c, bt2020_cl, smpte2085, 
     chroma-derived-nc, chroma-derived-c, ictcp */
  QUEEN_CRITERIA_COLOR_SPACE="bt709"

  QUEEN_CRITERIA_RESOLUTION_MIN_WIDTH="352"

  QUEEN_CRITERIA_RESOLUTION_MIN_HEIGHT="240"

  QUEEN_CRITERIA_RESOLUTION_MAX_WIDTH="1920"

  QUEEN_CRITERIA_RESOLUTION_MAX_HEIGHT="1080"

  /* possible options:  INCORRECT_CODEC, 
                                     INCORRECT_BIT_RATE, 
                                     INCORRECT_COLOR_SPACE, 
                                     NO_VALID_COLOR_SPACE_DETECTED,(is "" or isnt bt709, bt2020nc) 
                                     RES_TOO_LOW, 
                                     RES_TOO_HIGH, 
                                     CODEC_JUST_RIGHT (exact match)
                                     BIT_RATE_JUST_RIGHT (exact match), 
                                     COLOR_SPACE_JUST_RIGHT (exact match)
                                     RES_JUST_RIGHT (exactly within criteria min & max)
                       
                                     BELOW_4K (<w3860xh2160), 4K_OR_HIGHER (=>w3860xh2160)
                                     BELOW_FULL_HD (<w1920xh1080), FULL_HD_OR_HIGHER (=>w1920xh1080)
                                     BELOW_HALF_HD (<w1280xh720), HALF_HD_OR_HIGHER (=>w1280xh720)
                                     BELOW_480p (<w858xh480), 480p_OR_HIGHER(=>w858xh480)
                                     BELOW_360p (<w480xh360), 360p_OR_HIGHER(=>w480xh360)
                                     BELOW_240p (<w352xh240), 240p_OR_HIGHER (=>w352xh240)

                                    WIDTH_RES<=*number*, WIDTH_RES>=*number*
                                    HEIGHT_RES<=*number*, HEIGHT_RES>=*number*
                                    ELSE 
  */

  /* please use $vfo_input & $vfo_output in your ffmpeg command */

  /* file is already an exact match of alias critera, so just use ffmpeg to remux */
  QUEEN_SCENARIO="CODEC_JUST_RIGHT COLOR_SPACE_JUST_RIGHT RES_JUST_RIGHT"
  QUEEN_FFMPEG_COMMAND="ffmpeg -nostdin -i $vfo_input -c copy -sn -movflags faststart -strict -2 $vfo_output"

  /* when candidate video file has no valid color space information */
  QUEEN_SCENARIO="NO_VALID_COLOR_SPACE_DETECTED CODEC_JUST_RIGHT RES_JUST_RIGHT"
  QUEEN_FFMPEG_COMMAND="ffmpeg -nostdin -i $vfo_input -c copy -sn -movflags faststart -strict -2 $vfo_output"

  /* when candidate video file has no valid color space info & res is above maximum */
  QUEEN_SCENARIO="NO_VALID_COLOR_SPACE_DETECTED RES_TOO_HIGH"
  QUEEN_FFMPEG_COMMAND="ffmpeg -hide_banner -y -probesize 100M -i $vfo_input -map 0:v:0 -c:v libx264 -x264-params b_pyramid=2:ref=4:vbv-maxrate=30000:vbv-bufsize=15000 -refs 4 -crf 17 -preset:v veryslow -profile:v high -b_strategy 2 -rc-lookahead 900 -level 4.1 -pix_fmt yuv420p -subq 10 -vf zscale=r=tv,format=yuv420p,zscale=s=1920x1080 -c:a copy -map 0:1 -movflags faststart -strict -2 $vfo_output"

  /* when candidate video file has no valid color space info & res is below minimum */
  QUEEN_SCENARIO="NO_VALID_COLOR_SPACE_DETECTED RES_TOO_LOW"
  QUEEN_FFMPEG_COMMAND="ffmpeg vfo_deliberately_cause_an_error_res_too_low $vfo_input $vfo_output"

  /* when candidate video file has no valid color space info & res is exactly 1080p or higher */
  QUEEN_SCENARIO="NO_VALID_COLOR_SPACE_DETECTED FULL_HD_OR_HIGHER"
  QUEEN_FFMPEG_COMMAND="ffmpeg -hide_banner -y -probesize 100M -i $vfo_input -map 0:v:0 -c:v libx264 -x264-params b_pyramid=2:ref=4:vbv-maxrate=30000:vbv-bufsize=15000 -refs 4 -crf 17 -preset:v veryslow -profile:v high -b_strategy 2 -rc-lookahead 900 -level 4.1 -pix_fmt yuv420p -subq 10 -c:a copy -map 0:1 -movflags faststart -strict -2 $vfo_output"

  /* when candidate video file has no valid color space info & res is between exactly 720p and 1079p */
  QUEEN_SCENARIO="NO_VALID_COLOR_SPACE_DETECTED BELOW_FULL_HD HALF_HD_OR_HIGHER"
  QUEEN_FFMPEG_COMMAND="ffmpeg -hide_banner -y -probesize 100M -i $vfo_input -map 0:v:0 -c:v libx264 -x264-params b_pyramid=2:ref=4:vbv-maxrate=30000:vbv-bufsize=15000 -refs 4 -crf 16 -preset:v veryslow -profile:v high -b_strategy 2 -rc-lookahead 900 -level 4.1 -pix_fmt yuv420p -subq 10 -c:a copy -map 0:1 -movflags faststart -strict -2 $vfo_output" 
 
  /* when candidate video file has no valid color space info & res is between exactly 480p and 719p */
  QUEEN_SCENARIO="NO_VALID_COLOR_SPACE_DETECTED BELOW_HALF_HD 480p_OR_HIGHER"
  QUEEN_FFMPEG_COMMAND="ffmpeg -hide_banner -y -probesize 100M -i $vfo_input -map 0:v:0 -c:v libx264 -x264-params b_pyramid=2:ref=4:vbv-maxrate=30000:vbv-bufsize=15000 -refs 4 -crf 11 -preset:v veryslow -profile:v high -b_strategy 2 -rc-lookahead 900 -level 4.1 -pix_fmt yuv420p -subq 10 -c:a copy -map 0:1 -movflags faststart -strict -2 $vfo_output"

  /* when candidate video file color space matches criteria & res is within minimum & maximum criteria */
  QUEEN_SCENARIO="CODEC_JUST_RIGHT RES_JUST_RIGHT"
  QUEEN_FFMPEG_COMMAND="ffmpeg -nostdin -i $vfo_input -c copy -sn -movflags faststart -strict -2 $vfo_output"

  /* when candidate video file res is above maximum criteria */
  QUEEN_SCENARIO="RES_TOO_HIGH"
  QUEEN_FFMPEG_COMMAND="ffmpeg -hide_banner -y -probesize 100M -i $vfo_input -map 0:v:0 -c:v libx264 -x264-params b_pyramid=2:ref=4:vbv-maxrate=30000:vbv-bufsize=15000 -refs 4 -crf 17 -preset:v veryslow -profile:v high -b_strategy 2 -rc-lookahead 900 -level 4.1 -pix_fmt yuv420p -color_range 1 -colorspace 1 -color_primaries bt709 -color_trc bt709 -subq 10 -vf zscale=tin=smpte2084:min=bt2020nc:pin=bt2020:rin=tv:t=smpte2084:m=bt2020nc:p=bt2020:r=tv,zscale=t=linear,format=gbrpf32le,zscale=p=bt709,tonemap=tonemap=hable:desat=0,zscale=t=bt709:m=bt709:r=tv,format=yuv420p,zscale=s=1920x1080 -c:a copy -map 0:1 -movflags faststart -strict -2 $vfo_output"

  /* when candidate video file res is below minimum criteria */
  QUEEN_SCENARIO="RES_TOO_LOW"
  QUEEN_FFMPEG_COMMAND="ffmpeg vfo_deliberately_cause_an_error_res_too_low $vfo_input $vfo_output"
  
  /* when candidate video file res is exactly 1080p or higher */
  QUEEN_SCENARIO="FULL_HD_OR_HIGHER"
  QUEEN_FFMPEG_COMMAND="ffmpeg -hide_banner -y -probesize 100M -i $vfo_input -map 0:v:0 -c:v libx264 -x264-params b_pyramid=2:ref=4:vbv-maxrate=30000:vbv-bufsize=15000 -refs 4 -crf 17 -preset:v veryslow -profile:v high -b_strategy 2 -rc-lookahead 900 -level 4.1 -pix_fmt yuv420p -color_range 1 -colorspace 1 -color_primaries bt709 -color_trc bt709 -subq 10 -vf zscale=tin=smpte2084:min=bt2020nc:pin=bt2020:rin=tv:t=smpte2084:m=bt2020nc:p=bt2020:r=tv,zscale=t=linear,format=gbrpf32le,zscale=p=bt709,tonemap=tonemap=hable:desat=0,zscale=t=bt709:m=bt709:r=tv,format=yuv420p -c:a copy -map 0:1 -movflags faststart -strict -2 $vfo_output"

  /* when candidate video file res is between exactly 720p and 1079p */ 
  QUEEN_SCENARIO="BELOW_FULL_HD HALF_HD_OR_HIGHER"
  QUEEN_FFMPEG_COMMAND="ffmpeg -hide_banner -y -probesize 100M -i $vfo_input -map 0:v:0 -c:v libx264 -x264-params b_pyramid=2:ref=4:vbv-maxrate=30000:vbv-bufsize=15000 -refs 4 -crf 16 -preset:v veryslow -profile:v high -b_strategy 2 -rc-lookahead 900 -level 4.1 -pix_fmt yuv420p -color_range 1 -colorspace 1 -color_primaries bt709 -color_trc bt709 -subq 10 -vf zscale=tin=smpte2084:min=bt2020nc:pin=bt2020:rin=tv:t=smpte2084:m=bt2020nc:p=bt2020:r=tv,zscale=t=linear,format=gbrpf32le,zscale=p=bt709,tonemap=tonemap=hable:desat=0,zscale=t=bt709:m=bt709:r=tv,format=yuv420p -c:a copy -map 0:1 -movflags faststart -strict -2 $vfo_output"
 
  /* when candidate video file is between exactly 480p and 719p */
  QUEEN_SCENARIO="BELOW_HALF_HD 480p_OR_HIGHER"
  QUEEN_FFMPEG_COMMAND="ffmpeg -hide_banner -y -probesize 100M -i $vfo_input -map 0:v:0 -c:v libx264 -x264-params b_pyramid=2:ref=4:vbv-maxrate=30000:vbv-bufsize=15000 -refs 4 -crf 11 -preset:v veryslow -profile:v high -b_strategy 2 -rc-lookahead 900 -level 4.1 -pix_fmt yuv420p -color_range 1 -colorspace 1 -color_primaries bt709 -color_trc bt709 -subq 10 -vf zscale=tin=smpte2084:min=bt2020nc:pin=bt2020:rin=tv:t=smpte2084:m=bt2020nc:p=bt2020:r=tv,zscale=t=linear,format=gbrpf32le,zscale=p=bt709,tonemap=tonemap=hable:desat=0,zscale=t=bt709:m=bt709:r=tv,format=yuv420p -c:a copy -map 0:1 -movflags faststart -strict -2 $vfo_output"

  /* fallback ffmpeg command when no above scenario above matches candidate video file */
  QUEEN_SCENARIO="ELSE"
  QUEEN_FFMPEG_COMMAND="ffmpeg vfo_deliberately_cause_an_error_else $vfo_input $vfo_output"

As we can see, this is a pretty busy alias as we are forcing the alias to accomodate video candidates both WITH and WITHOUT valid color space information.

Perhaps there is a better way of coping with this by introducing multiple alias's first. Then we can more easily dive in to establishing the best possible command for a given candidate videos portfolio.

[CraigWatt]

Here is a h264 relevant excerpt from our overall Encoding Strategy discussion #14:

h264 'only ever be' buckets --->
   *h264 processor*
   *720p tv*
   *SDR MAX tv*
     /* 240p to 720p - unspecified - h264-8bit OR 10bit - CANDIDATES ONLY ---------- */
     /* 240p to 720p - bt709 - h264-8bit OR 10bit - CANDIDATES ONLY ---------- */
     /* 240p to 720p - bt709 - h264-8bit OR 10bit - POSSIBLE TRANSFORMS ONLY ---------- */
 
   *h264 processor* 
   *720p tv*
   *HDR MAX tv* - VERY UNLIKELY POSSIBILITY IMO
     /* 240p to 720p - bt2020? - h264-10bit - CANDIDATES ONLY ---------- */
     /* 240p to 720p - bt2020? - h264-10bit - POSSIBLE TRANSFORMS ONLY ---------- */
 
   *h264 processor*
   *1080p tv*
   *SDR MAX tv*
     /* 721p to 1080p - unspecified - h264-8bit OR 10bit - CANDIDATES ONLY ---------- */
     /* 721p to 1080p - bt709 - h264-8bit OR 10bit - CANDIDATES ONLY ---------- */
     /* 721p to 1080p - bt709 - h264-8bit OR 10bit - POSSIBLE TRANSFORMS ONLY ---------- */

   *h264 processor*
   *1080p tv*
   *HDR MAX tv*
     /* 721p to 1080p - bt2020? - h264-10bit - CANDIDATES ONLY ---------- */
     /* 721p to 1080p - bt2020? - h264-10bit - POSSIBLE TRANSFORMS ONLY ---------- */

This currently looks to specify 7 separate h264 alias's (you can think of these as seperate buckets processed video files). By splitting into 7 separate alias's, we avoid attempting encode all possible types of candidate videos into a single alias. NOT that there is anything wrong with the first example, as we are simply experimenting with different ideas to aid in lowering storage space WITHOUT compromising on direct play available for all scenarios.

By going for a 'Candidates Only' alias for each hardware driven criteria, we might be able to avoid constantly remuxing candidate videos from vfo-source.

On the other hand, by allow for 'Possible Transforms Only' alias's too for each hardware driven scenario, we are aiming to ensure, WHEN a candidate video A: Does not meet the hardware driven criteria & B: is objectively of 'higher quality' than the given hardware driven criteria; the given candidate video will be able to exist in this alias.

SO, we are attempting to:

1. Avoid unnecessary candidate file duplication (remuxing)
2. Avoid unnecessary 'bottom-up' encoding
3. Ensuring we either providing exact match candidate files for alias & most appropriate 'top-down' encoding for given hardware criteria.
4. We are also leaving a door open specifically for candidate files in our portfolio that don't provide any valid color space information. You could argue this is slightly dangerous however I have noticed these tend to be candidate video files from a past time. They are usually always some kind of unspecified SDR.

Take note, this particular encoding strategy is not considering any changes to audio other than the usual stripping down to stream 0 & stream 1 for vfo-source (i.e. always just deal with a single video stream and a single audio stream before encoding or remuxing to an alias).
(Of course, this is not a limitation of vfo nor ffmpeg, it is simply a preference for the encoding strategy I'm implementing for my vfo_config.conf. If you want to store alias's that are specifically concerned with audio, you can do that BUT I need to implement more audio criteria & scenario variables in vfo_config.conf as per this discussion #9.)

Let's now try to mock up a new vfo_config.conf file that specifies these 7 aliases exactly. We can then compare this vfo_config.conf with the single 'queen' alias vfo_config.conf example from the first post. It might be the case that both are feasible strategies and it is down to the encoder what their portfolio/encoding goals are, particularly when thinking about things like streaming distribution/file access/end-user use cases etc.

[CraigWatt]

*h264 processor*
*720p tv*
*SDR MAX tv*
  /* 240p to 720p - unspecified - h264-8bit OR 10bit - CANDIDATES ONLY ----LION------ */
  /* 240p to 720p - bt709 - h264-8bit OR 10bit - CANDIDATES ONLY ------SHARK---- */
  /* 240p to 720p - bt709 - h264-8bit OR 10bit - POSSIBLE TRANSFORMS ONLY -----MOUSE----- */

*h264 processor* 
*720p tv*
*HDR MAX tv* - VERY UNLIKELY POSSIBILITY IMO
  /* 240p to 720p - bt2020? - h264-10bit - CANDIDATES ONLY ----TIGER------ */
  /* 240p to 720p - bt2020? - h264-10bit - POSSIBLE TRANSFORMS ONLY -----BEAR----- */

*h264 processor*
*1080p tv*
*SDR MAX tv*
  /* 721p to 1080p - unspecified - h264-8bit OR 10bit - CANDIDATES ONLY -----WOLF----- */
  /* 721p to 1080p - bt709 - h264-8bit OR 10bit - CANDIDATES ONLY -----OX----- */
  /* 721p to 1080p - bt709 - h264-8bit OR 10bit - POSSIBLE TRANSFORMS ONLY ----FROG------ */

*h264 processor*
*1080p tv*
*HDR MAX tv*
  /* 721p to 1080p - bt2020? - h264-10bit - CANDIDATES ONLY ----ROBIN------ */
  /* 721p to 1080p - bt2020? - h264-10bit - POSSIBLE TRANSFORMS ONLY -----BAT----- */

defined config task list:

LION - (co) - done
SHARK - (co) - done
MOUSE - (pto) - done
TIGER - (co) -done
BEAR - (pto) - done
WOLF - (co) - done
OX - (co) - done
FROG - (pto) - done
ROBIN - (co) - done
BAT - (pto) - done

defined ffmpeg commands task list:

LION - in progress - (requires SKIP feature)
SHARK - in progress - (requires SKIP feature)
MOUSE - in progress - (requires SKIP, ERROR features & custom ffmpeg commands)
TIGER - in progress
BEAR - in progress
WOLF - in progress
OX - in progress
FROG - in progress
ROBIN - in progress
BAT - in progress

[CraigWatt]

Lion alias:

 /* 240p to 720p - unspecified - h264-8bit OR 10bit - CANDIDATES ONLY ----LION------ */
ALIAS="lion"
  LION_LOCATION=NOT RELEVANT TO DISCUSSION
  LION_CRITERIA_CODEC_NAME="h264"
  LION_CRITERIA_BITS="10"
  LION_CRITERIA_COLOR_SPACE="bt709"
  LION_CRITERIA_RESOLUTION_MIN_WIDTH="352"
  LION_CRITERIA_RESOLUTION_MIN_HEIGHT="240"
  LION_CRITERIA_RESOLUTION_MAX_WIDTH="1280"
  LION_CRITERIA_RESOLUTION_MAX_HEIGHT="720"

  LION_SCENARIO="NO_VALID_COLOR_SPACE_DETECTED CODEC_JUST_RIGHT RES_JUST_RIGHT"
  LION_FFMPEG_COMMAND="ffmpeg -nostdin -i $vfo_input -c copy -sn -movflags faststart -strict -2 $vfo_output"

  LION_SCENARIO="ELSE"
  LION_FFMPEG_COMMAND=SKIP

Is the video codec allowed to be h264? YES
Is the range between 240p & 720p? YES
Is the color space allowed to be unspecified? YES
Is the color space allowed to be bt709? NO
Is the color bit depth allowed to be 8 bit? YES (dev in progress)
Is the color bit depth allowed to be 10 bit? YES (dev in progress)

In all other scenarios, is the candidate video file skipped? YES

[CraigWatt]

Shark alias:

/* 240p to 720p - bt709 - h264-8bit OR 10bit - CANDIDATES ONLY ------SHARK---- */
ALIAS="shark"
  SHARK_LOCATION=NOT RELEVANT TO DISCUSSION
  SHARK_CRITERIA_CODEC_NAME="h264"
  SHARK_CRITERIA_BITS="10"
  SHARK_CRITERIA_COLOR_SPACE="bt709"
  SHARK_CRITERIA_RESOLUTION_MIN_WIDTH="352"
  SHARK_CRITERIA_RESOLUTION_MIN_HEIGHT="240"
  SHARK_CRITERIA_RESOLUTION_MAX_WIDTH="1280"
  SHARK_CRITERIA_RESOLUTION_MAX_HEIGHT="720"

  SHARK_SCENARIO="CODEC_JUST_RIGHT RES_JUST_RIGHT COLOR_SPACE_JUST_RIGHT"
  SHARK_FFMPEG_COMMAND="ffmpeg -nostdin -i $vfo_input -c copy -sn -movflags faststart -strict -2 $vfo_output"

  SHARK_SCENARIO="ELSE"
  SHARK_FFMPEG_COMMAND=SKIP

Is the video codec allowed to be h264? YES
Is the range between 240p & 720p? YES
Is the color space allowed to be unspecified? NO
Is the color space allowed to be bt709? YES
Is the color bit depth allowed to be 8 bit? YES (dev in progress)
Is the color bit depth allowed to be 10 bit? YES (dev in progress)

In all other scenarios, is the candidate video file skipped? YES

[CraigWatt]

Mouse alias:

/* 240p to 720p - bt709 - h264-8bit OR 10bit - POSSIBLE TRANSFORMS ONLY -----MOUSE----- */
ALIAS="mouse"
  MOUSE_LOCATION=NOT RELEVANT TO DISCUSSION
  MOUSE_CRITERIA_CODEC_NAME="h264"
  MOUSE_CRITERIA_BITS="10"
  MOUSE_CRITERIA_COLOR_SPACE="bt709"
  MOUSE_CRITERIA_RESOLUTION_MIN_WIDTH="352"
  MOUSE_CRITERIA_RESOLUTION_MIN_HEIGHT="240"
  MOUSE_CRITERIA_RESOLUTION_MAX_WIDTH="1280"
  MOUSE_CRITERIA_RESOLUTION_MAX_HEIGHT="720"

  MOUSE_SCENARIO="NO_VALID_COLOR_SPACE_DETECTED"
  MOUSE_FFMPEG_COMMAND=SKIP

  MOUSE_SCENARIO="RES_TOO_LOW"
  MOUSE_FFMPEG_COMMAND=SKIP

  MOUSE_SCENARIO="CODEC_JUST_RIGHT RES_JUST_RIGHT COLOR_SPACE_JUST_RIGHT"
  MOUSE_FFMPEG_COMMAND="ffmpeg -nostdin -i $vfo_input -c copy -sn -movflags faststart -strict -2 $vfo_output"

  MOUSE_SCENARIO="RES_TOO_HIGH"
  MOUSE_SCENARIO="TBA"

  MOUSE_SCENARIO="480p_OR_HIGHER BELOW_HALF_HD"
  MOUSE_FFMPEG_COMMAND="TBA"

  MOUSE_SCENARIO="240p_OR_HIGHER BELOW_480p"
  MOUSE_FFMPEG_COMMAND="TBA"

  MOUSE_SCENARIO="ELSE"
  MOUSE_FFMPEG_COMMAND=ERROR

Is the video codec allowed to be h264? YES
Is the range between 240p & 720p? YES
Is the color space allowed to be unspecified? NO
Is the color space allowed to be bt709? YES
Is the color bit depth allowed to be 8 bit? YES (dev in progress)
Is the color bit depth allowed to be 10 bit? YES (dev in progress)

DONE --------
We cannot 'transform' unspecified color space to bt709, so we must skip such candidates (we have separate alias's to accommodate these anyway)
/*when candidate video file color space is unspecified */
SKIP

We cannot 'transform' candidates below minimum resolution, (this would be considered upscaling), so we must skip.
/* when candidate video file res is below minimum criteria */
SKIP

/* file is already an exact match of alias critera, so just use ffmpeg to remux */

For transform candidates where their res is above criteria max.
/* when candidate video file res is above maximum criteria */

Some candidates may fall within res, but are on the lower end of the criteria res AND requires transforming, in those case we watch for specific scenario res so to encode at a higher quality (crf) at the lower end of resolutions.
/* when candidate video file res is between exactly 480p and 719p */

/* when candidate video file is between exactly 241p and 479p */

For this alias, we are doing our best to CATCH ALL candidate's in the scenarios above
By labelling below ffmpeg_command=ERROR, this will help us debug candidates being falling through the cracks of this Alias's scenarios on our file explorer.
/* fallback ffmpeg command when no above scenario above matches candidate video file */
ERROR

[CraigWatt]

Tiger alias:

/* 240p to 720p - bt2020? - h264-10bit - CANDIDATES ONLY ----TIGER------ */
ALIAS="tiger"
  TIGER_LOCATION=NOT RELEVANT TO DISCUSSION
  TIGER_CRITERIA_CODEC_NAME="h264"
  TIGER_CRITERIA_BITS="10"
  TIGER_CRITERIA_COLOR_SPACE="bt2020nc"
  TIGER_CRITERIA_RESOLUTION_MIN_WIDTH="352"
  TIGER_CRITERIA_RESOLUTION_MIN_HEIGHT="240"
  TIGER_CRITERIA_RESOLUTION_MAX_WIDTH="1280"
  TIGER_CRITERIA_RESOLUTION_MAX_HEIGHT="720"

  TIGER_SCENARIO="CODEC_JUST_RIGHT RES_JUST_RIGHT COLOR_SPACE_JUST_RIGHT"
  TIGER_FFMPEG_COMMAND="ffmpeg -nostdin -i $vfo_input -c copy -sn -movflags faststart -strict -2 $vfo_output"

  TIGER_SCENARIO="ELSE"
  TIGER_FFMPEG_COMMAND=SKIP

Is the video codec allowed to be h264? YES
Is the range between 240p & 720p? YES
Is the color space allowed to be unspecified? NO
Is the color space allowed to be bt709? NO
Is the color space allowed to be bt2020nc? YES
Is the color bit depth allowed to be 8 bit? NO (dev in progress)
Is the color bit depth allowed to be 10 bit? YES (dev in progress)

In all other scenarios, is the candidate video file skipped? YES

[CraigWatt]

Bear alias:

/* 240p to 720p - bt2020? - h264-10bit - POSSIBLE TRANSFORMS ONLY -----BEAR----- */
ALIAS="bear"
  BEAR_LOCATION=NOT RELEVANT TO DISCUSSION
  BEAR_CRITERIA_CODEC_NAME="h264"
  BEAR_CRITERIA_BITS="10"
  BEAR_CRITERIA_COLOR_SPACE="bt709"
  BEAR_CRITERIA_RESOLUTION_MIN_WIDTH="352"
  BEAR_CRITERIA_RESOLUTION_MIN_HEIGHT="240"
  BEAR_CRITERIA_RESOLUTION_MAX_WIDTH="1280"
  BEAR_CRITERIA_RESOLUTION_MAX_HEIGHT="720"

  BEAR_SCENARIO="NO_VALID_COLOR_SPACE_DETECTED"
  BEAR_FFMPEG_COMMAND=SKIP

  BEAR_SCENARIO="RES_TOO_LOW"
  BEAR_FFMPEG_COMMAND=SKIP

  BEAR_SCENARIO="CODEC_JUST_RIGHT RES_JUST_RIGHT COLOR_SPACE_JUST_RIGHT"
  BEAR_FFMPEG_COMMAND="ffmpeg -nostdin -i $vfo_input -c copy -sn -movflags faststart -strict -2 $vfo_output"

  BEAR_SCENARIO="RES_TOO_HIGH"
  BEAR_SCENARIO="TBA"

  BEAR_SCENARIO="480p_OR_HIGHER BELOW_HALF_HD"
  BEAR_FFMPEG_COMMAND="TBA"

  BEAR_SCENARIO="240p_OR_HIGHER BELOW_480p"
  BEAR_FFMPEG_COMMAND="TBA"

  BEAR_SCENARIO="ELSE"
  BEAR_FFMPEG_COMMAND=ERROR

[CraigWatt]

Wolf alias:

/* 721p to 1080p - unspecified - h264-8bit OR 10bit - CANDIDATES ONLY -----WOLF----- */
ALIAS="wolf"
  WOLF_LOCATION=NOT RELEVANT TO DISCUSSION
  WOLF_CRITERIA_CODEC_NAME="h264"
  WOLF_CRITERIA_BITS="10"
  WOLF_CRITERIA_COLOR_SPACE="bt2020nc"
  WOLF_CRITERIA_RESOLUTION_MIN_WIDTH="1281"
  WOLF_CRITERIA_RESOLUTION_MIN_HEIGHT="721"
  WOLF_CRITERIA_RESOLUTION_MAX_WIDTH="1920"
  WOLF_CRITERIA_RESOLUTION_MAX_HEIGHT="1080"

  WOLF_SCENARIO="CODEC_JUST_RIGHT RES_JUST_RIGHT NO_VALID_COLOR_SPACE_DETECTED"
  WOLF_FFMPEG_COMMAND="ffmpeg -nostdin -i $vfo_input -c copy -sn -movflags faststart -strict -2 $vfo_output"

  WOLF_SCENARIO="ELSE"
  WOLF_FFMPEG_COMMAND=SKIP

Is the video codec allowed to be h264? YES
Is the range between 721p & 1080p? YES
Is the color space allowed to be unspecified? YES
Is the color space allowed to be bt709? NO
Is the color space allowed to be bt2020nc? NO
Is the color bit depth allowed to be 8 bit? YES (dev in progress)
Is the color bit depth allowed to be 10 bit? YES (dev in progress)

In all other scenarios, is the candidate video file skipped? YES

[CraigWatt]

Ox alias:

/* 721p to 1080p - bt709 - h264-8bit OR 10bit - CANDIDATES ONLY -----OX----- */
ALIAS="ox"
  OX_LOCATION=NOT RELEVANT TO DISCUSSION
  OX_CRITERIA_CODEC_NAME="h264"
  OX_CRITERIA_BITS="10"
  OX_CRITERIA_COLOR_SPACE="bt709"
  OX_CRITERIA_RESOLUTION_MIN_WIDTH="1281"
  OX_CRITERIA_RESOLUTION_MIN_HEIGHT="721"
  OX_CRITERIA_RESOLUTION_MAX_WIDTH="1920"
  OX_CRITERIA_RESOLUTION_MAX_HEIGHT="1080"

  OX_SCENARIO="CODEC_JUST_RIGHT RES_JUST_RIGHT COLOR_SPACE_JUST_RIGHT"
  OX_FFMPEG_COMMAND="ffmpeg -nostdin -i $vfo_input -c copy -sn -movflags faststart -strict -2 $vfo_output"

  OX_SCENARIO="ELSE"
  OX_FFMPEG_COMMAND=SKIP

Is the video codec allowed to be h264? YES
Is the range between 721p & 1080p? YES
Is the color space allowed to be unspecified? NO
Is the color space allowed to be bt709? YES
Is the color space allowed to be bt2020nc? NO
Is the color bit depth allowed to be 8 bit? YES (dev in progress)
Is the color bit depth allowed to be 10 bit? YES (dev in progress)

In all other scenarios, is the candidate video file skipped? YES

[CraigWatt]

Frog alias:

/* 721p to 1080p - bt709 - h264-8bit OR 10bit - POSSIBLE TRANSFORMS ONLY ----FROG------ */
ALIAS="frog"
  FROG_LOCATION=NOT RELEVANT TO DISCUSSION
  FROG_CRITERIA_CODEC_NAME="h264"
  FROG_CRITERIA_BITS="10"
  FROG_CRITERIA_COLOR_SPACE="bt2020nc"
  FROG_CRITERIA_RESOLUTION_MIN_WIDTH="1281"
  FROG_CRITERIA_RESOLUTION_MIN_HEIGHT="721"
  FROG_CRITERIA_RESOLUTION_MAX_WIDTH="1920"
  FROG_CRITERIA_RESOLUTION_MAX_HEIGHT="1080"

  FROG_SCENARIO="NO_VALID_COLOR_SPACE_DETECTED"
  FROG_FFMPEG_COMMAND=SKIP

  FROG_SCENARIO="RES_TOO_LOW"
  FROG_FFMPEG_COMMAND=SKIP

  FROG_SCENARIO="CODEC_JUST_RIGHT RES_JUST_RIGHT COLOR_SPACE_JUST_RIGHT"
  FROG_FFMPEG_COMMAND="ffmpeg -nostdin -i $vfo_input -c copy -sn -movflags faststart -strict -2 $vfo_output"

  FROG_SCENARIO="RES_TOO_HIGH"
  FROG_SCENARIO="TBA"

  FROG_SCENARIO="BELOW_FULL_HD"
  FROG_FFMPEG_COMMAND="TBA"

  FROG_SCENARIO="ELSE"
  FROG_FFMPEG_COMMAND=ERROR

[CraigWatt]

Robin alias:

/* 721p to 1080p - bt2020? - h264-10bit - CANDIDATES ONLY ----ROBIN------ */
ALIAS="robin"
  ROBIN_LOCATION=NOT RELEVANT TO DISCUSSION
  ROBIN_CRITERIA_CODEC_NAME="h264"
  ROBIN_CRITERIA_BITS="10"
  ROBIN_CRITERIA_COLOR_SPACE="bt2020nc"
  ROBIN_CRITERIA_RESOLUTION_MIN_WIDTH="1281"
  ROBIN_CRITERIA_RESOLUTION_MIN_HEIGHT="721"
  ROBIN_CRITERIA_RESOLUTION_MAX_WIDTH="1920"
  ROBIN_CRITERIA_RESOLUTION_MAX_HEIGHT="1080"

  ROBIN_SCENARIO="CODEC_JUST_RIGHT RES_JUST_RIGHT COLOR_SPACE_JUST_RIGHT"
  ROBIN_FFMPEG_COMMAND="ffmpeg -nostdin -i $vfo_input -c copy -sn -movflags faststart -strict -2 $vfo_output"

  ROBIN_SCENARIO="ELSE"
  ROBIN_FFMPEG_COMMAND=SKIP

Is the video codec allowed to be h264? YES
Is the range between 721p & 1080p? YES
Is the color space allowed to be unspecified? NO
Is the color space allowed to be bt709? NO
Is the color space allowed to be bt2020nc? YES
Is the color bit depth allowed to be 8 bit? NO (dev in progress)
Is the color bit depth allowed to be 10 bit? YES (dev in progress)

In all other scenarios, is the candidate video file skipped? YES

[CraigWatt]

Bat alias:

/* 721p to 1080p - bt2020? - h264-10bit - POSSIBLE TRANSFORMS ONLY -----BAT----- */
ALIAS="bat"
  BAT_LOCATION=NOT RELEVANT TO DISCUSSION
  BAT_CRITERIA_CODEC_NAME="h264"
  BAT_CRITERIA_BITS="10"
  BAT_CRITERIA_COLOR_SPACE="bt2020nc"
  BAT_CRITERIA_RESOLUTION_MIN_WIDTH="1281"
  BAT_CRITERIA_RESOLUTION_MIN_HEIGHT="721"
  BAT_CRITERIA_RESOLUTION_MAX_WIDTH="1920"
  BAT_CRITERIA_RESOLUTION_MAX_HEIGHT="1080"

  BAT_SCENARIO="NO_VALID_COLOR_SPACE_DETECTED"
  BAT_FFMPEG_COMMAND=SKIP

  BAT_SCENARIO="RES_TOO_LOW"
  BAT_FFMPEG_COMMAND=SKIP

  BAT_SCENARIO="CODEC_JUST_RIGHT RES_JUST_RIGHT COLOR_SPACE_JUST_RIGHT"
  BAT_FFMPEG_COMMAND="ffmpeg -nostdin -i $vfo_input -c copy -sn -movflags faststart -strict -2 $vfo_output"

  BAT_SCENARIO="RES_TOO_HIGH"
  BAT_SCENARIO="TBA"

  BAT_SCENARIO="BELOW_FULL_HD"
  BAT_FFMPEG_COMMAND="TBA"

  BAT_SCENARIO="ELSE"
  BAT_FFMPEG_COMMAND=ERROR

[CraigWatt]

_Ending this discussion as I've just realised that I don't need to encode to h264 for decoding incompatibilities. Instead I can decode more modern codecs on any streaming device really, I just need to now consider the hardware limitations of that particular device.

However this is still a good discussion to piggy back off of for reference/scaffolding vfo_config.conf files in future._

EDIT: never mind again! Looks like there ARE devices that can ONLY decode x264. Good news though is that AV1 appears to support all devices that CAN decode HEVC? Need to verify this, but so far this seems to be the case.

This confirms that it is essential to have a library of x264 video content for clients on such devices.