ffmpeg -i input.mkv -c:v libx265 -preset medium -crf 19 \ -x265-params "aq-mode=3:aq-strength=1.0:no-sao=1:deblock=-2,-2:limit-sao=1:rskip=2" \ -c:a aac -b:a 384k -c:s copy output.mkv | Flag | Value | RARBG Reasoning | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | -preset | medium | Slower than fast , but yields 15% better compression. Slow was too time-consuming for mass encoding. | | -crf | 19 | The "golden value." 18 is visually lossless but larger; 20 shows slight macroblocking in dark scenes. 19 was the compromise. | | aq-mode | 3 | Adaptive Quantization mode 3 (Auto-Variance). Essential for preserving detail in dark areas (a weakness of early x265). | | aq-strength | 1.0 | Mild. Stronger values (1.4) flatten texture. RARBG kept it moderate to retain face details. | | no-sao | 1 | Disables Sample Adaptive Offset. Controversial: SAO smooths artifacts but blurs edges. RARBG turned it off to keep sharpness. | | deblock | -2,-2 | Aggressive deblocking filter. Removes blocking artifacts but can soften fine detail. This gave RARBG encodes their "clean" look. | | rskip | 2 | Early CU size decision. Speeds up encoding by 40% with minimal quality loss—essential for their workflow. | Part 3: The "Anime vs. Live Action" Fork RARBG handled anime differently than live-action. If you study their releases, you’ll notice two distinct profiles. For Live Action (Grainy / Noisy sources) Grain is the enemy of x265. RARBG used a light denoise filter via -vf hqdn3d to tame grain before encoding.
For nearly two decades, RARBG was a titan in the digital torrenting world. While the site shut down in 2023, its legacy lives on through its meticulously crafted internal releases. Among tech-savvy archivists and home theater enthusiasts, one question remains persistent: What encoding settings did RARBG use for their x265 (HEVC) releases? Rarbg X265 Encoding Settings
| Source Resolution | Source Type | CRF Value | Average Bitrate (Typical) | File Size (90-min film) | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | Movie | 18 | 8-12 Mbps | 8-12 GB | | 1080p | Movie (Clean) | 19 | 3,500 - 5,000 kbps | 2.5 - 3.5 GB | | 1080p | Movie (Grainy) | 20 | 6,000 - 8,000 kbps | 4 - 6 GB | | 720p | Movie | 21 | 1,500 - 2,500 kbps | 1.2 - 1.8 GB | | 1080p | Anime | 18 | 2,500 - 3,500 kbps | 1.8 - 2.5 GB | ffmpeg -i input
-c:a libopus -b:a 128k -ac 2 x265 has notorious pitfalls. Here is how RARBG's settings mitigated them: 19 was the compromise