Add the source
Open the file and note resolution, frame rate, audio tracks, and subtitles.
Pick a container
MP4 with H.264 and AAC is a broadly compatible starting point.
Choose quality
For general H.264 work, start around CRF 20–23 and adjust after a preview.
Check audio
AAC at 128–192 kbps is enough for many stereo sources; preserve more when needed.
Preview a segment
Test fast motion, small text, gradients, and dialogue before a full encode.
Review the output
Check sync, subtitles, seeking, file size, and playback on the target device.
Treat presets as starting points
Source material and delivery targets differ. Record the settings that worked, along with the ShanaEncoder and FFmpeg versions.