fix(encoder): ask for CBR — the capped-VBR triad was never a constant rate

The stream was configured as "@8 Mbps" and averaged 5.1. The cause is the argument
set, not the machine and not YouTube: `-b:v K -maxrate K -bufsize 2K` is capped
VBR. Measured on the bundled BtbN build with a static 640x480 frame at -b:v 2000k:

  default rate control   9,858 bytes / 8 s  =     9 kbps
  -rc cbr            2,001,989 bytes / 8 s  = 1,951 kbps
  -rc vbr                9,858 bytes / 8 s  =     9 kbps

On high-motion testsrc2 the same target produced 2006 kbps (CBR) against 1741
(VBR): VBR undershoots by however easy the picture is, and a composited scene
with a still background is very easy.

Spelling is per encoder, verified rather than assumed:
- h264_nvenc, h264_amf: `-rc cbr`.
- h264_qsv: nothing. It has no `-rc`, and libavcodec/qsvenc.c (select_rc_mode,
  FFmpeg d263fce2b2) selects MFX_RATECONTROL_CBR when bitrate == maxrate — which
  the triad already sets. Passing -rc here would be an unknown option.
- libopenh264: nothing. `-rc_mode bitrate` changed no measurable output on this
  build (3,832 vs 3,830 bytes), so it stays out rather than adding a line whose
  effect nobody can demonstrate.

Reference: YouTube's encoder spec requires CBR
(support.google.com/youtube/answer/2853702).

668 tests pass, build 0 warnings.
This commit is contained in:
2026-11-12 07:57:36 -08:00
parent 37ef74eb8d
commit 700c7a8c23
3 changed files with 54 additions and 0 deletions
+20
View File
@@ -77,9 +77,29 @@ public static class FfmpegArgs
args.AddRange(["-vf", $"scale={options.Width}:{options.Height}:flags=bilinear,setsar=1"]);
}
args.AddRange(["-c:v", videoEncoder]);
AddRateControl(args, videoEncoder);
args.AddRange(["-b:v", $"{options.BitrateKbps}k", "-maxrate", $"{options.BitrateKbps}k",
"-bufsize", $"{options.BitrateKbps * 2}k"]);
args.AddRange(["-g", gop.ToString(), "-keyint_min", gop.ToString(),
"-sc_threshold", "0", "-bf", "0", "-pix_fmt", "yuv420p"]);
}
/// <summary>
/// Constant bitrate, spelled the one way each encoder understands.
///
/// <para><b>Why this is not a shared flag:</b> the <c>-b:v/-maxrate/-bufsize</c> triad is capped VBR,
/// not CBR — measured 2026-11-12 on the bundled BtbN build, a static frame at <c>-b:v 2000k</c>
/// produced <b>9 kbps</b> with NVENC's default rate control and <b>1951 kbps</b> with <c>-rc cbr</c>.
/// That is the gap behind an @8 stream that averaged 5.1 Mbps.</para>
///
/// <para>Per encoder: NVENC and AMF take an explicit mode. QSV has no <c>-rc</c> and already selects
/// CBR when <c>bitrate == maxrate</c> (<c>libavcodec/qsvenc.c</c>, <c>select_rc_mode</c>). OpenH264's
/// <c>-rc_mode bitrate</c> made no measurable difference on this build, so it is deliberately not
/// passed. YouTube's encoder spec requires CBR (support.google.com/youtube/answer/2853702).</para>
/// </summary>
private static void AddRateControl(List<string> args, string videoEncoder)
{
if (videoEncoder is "h264_nvenc" or "h264_amf")
args.AddRange(["-rc", "cbr"]);
}
}