Shrinking videos using the x265 (HEVC) encoder allows for a significant reduction in file size—often up to 50% compared to x264—while maintaining comparable visual quality. This efficiency is due to advanced compression techniques like variable block sizes and coding tree units. Core Compression Principles
Part 6: The Future – Is Shrinkingx265 Still Relevant?
With the rise of AV1 (AOMedia Video Codec) and VVC (H.266), is x265 shrinking a dying art?
"The black levels," he muttered the next morning, zooming into a space scene at 400%. "Look. The banding. It's there. In the shadow of the endurance. You can see the squares."
Shrinking video with x265 is an exercise in managing the "invisible." By leveraging 10-bit depth "Slow" preset CRF of 20–24
Extra Options (put in "Advanced Options" box):
The Baseline Command
x265 --input source.y4m --output compressed.hevc --preset medium --crf 22 --profile main10 --no-sao --no-strong-intra-smoothing --aq-mode 3 --aq-strength 1.2 --deblock -2:-2
Start with the source. Use veryslow. Denoise grain. Test on dark scenes. And remember: a 5GB x265 that you actually watch is infinitely better than a 50GB remux that stays on a shelf because your drive is full.
The Verdict: Size Isn’t Everything
x265 is a tool, not a religion. Used wisely, it gives us 4K streaming, efficient backups, and smaller downloads without screaming compromise. Used obsessively—as a shrink-at-all-costs weapon—it degrades the very art it tries to preserve.
Project Status Report: "Shrinking x265"
