How to shrink transcode cleanup misc video files using handBrake handBrakeCLI

By the power of LINUX the FlatPak Version or “Handbrake” includes the “CLI” Version “HandbrakeCLI” as well! That said it is way faster to do batch work like that.

Check out the CLI help/options by running:

flatpak run --command=HandBrakeCLI fr.handbrake.ghb --help 2>&1 | less

To “cleanup” or “shrink” a large video file into something more portable i often use this command line example:

flatpak run --command=HandBrakeCLI fr.handbrake.ghb  \
        --preset "Very Fast 1080p30"                 \
        --audio-lang-list eng,ger                    \
        --mixdown stereo                             \
        --crop-mode none                             \
        -i "yourSourceFile"                          \
        -o "yourDestinationFile.mkv"

— Axel Werner 2025-11-11 18:21