This controls the quality. RARBG typically used 21 or 22 for 1080p content. Lower numbers mean higher quality but larger files.
But what was actually happening under the hood? Now that the site is gone, let’s reverse-engineer the settings that made a 1.5GB RARBG rip look better than a 4GB release from competitors. Rarbg X265 Encoding Settings
Their settings were a masterclass in balancing: This controls the quality
ffmpeg -i input_source.mkv \ -c:v libx265 -preset slow -crf \ -pix_fmt yuv420p10le \ -x265-params "aq-mode=3:no-sao=1:ref=6:bframes=8:psy-rd=1.5" \ -c:a aac -b:a \ output_rarbg_style.mp4 Use code with caution. Copied to clipboard Contextual Notes Rarbg X265 Encoding Settings
RARBG wasn't just encoding video; they were engineering an experience. They treated every GB of storage as sacred and every pixel as important.