Convert video files to AV1 for web use

Part of optimizing pagespeed on your website comes down to the details. For example, a video in your header is beautiful, but is it actually stopping you from ranking higher on Google?
Google will critically sort slow websites and de-prioritize them in their search results, so prioritizing modern formats or an external CDN for your video files is a good plan!

Convert video files using Handbrake

Download HandBrake from their official website. It should be rather easy to setup on both Mac and PC.

1. Start by loading your source material

Handbrake will take almost any format as source.

2. Select your target format

We want to convert to AV1 format. This can be achieved in both MP4 and WEBM containers. We recommend you select MP4 as your container:
Select "Web optimized", "Align A/V Start and optionally , select "Passthru Common Metadata".

3. Configuring the Encoder

Go to the Video tab, and select AV1 (SVT) from the drop down menu.
These are the setting that generally return the smallest and acceptable quality for background videos in the header:
  • Framrate (FPS): Same as source
  • Varable Framerate
  • Encoder Preset 4 (If your computer can handle this, otherwise increase until encoding time becomes bearable)
  • Encoder Tune: SSIM
  • Encoder Profile: Main
  • Encoder Level: 4.1
  • Fast decode
  • Avg. bitrate: 800kbps
  • Multi-Pass Encoding

4.  Remove subtitles and audio (Optional)

If you don't need audio in your video file, if, for example, you are using the video for background playback - you can advantageously remove it.
Simply go to the Audio tab, and click the remove icon on the right hand side of the audio track.

5. Start Encode!

Wait for the encode to finish and playback the file. If the quality is acceptable, you can upload this to your website.
If the quality is unacceptable, you can increase the bitrate by 200kbps at a time, until you get an acceptable result.
Attached Files
AV1 for background video.json
404kb