feat: adds minimum resolution of 144p

README.md

@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ A demo is available at https://demo.mediacms.io
 - **Configurable actions**: allow download, add comments, add likes, dislikes, report media
 - **Configuration options**: change logos, fonts, styling, add more pages
 - **Enhanced video player**: customized video.js player with multiple resolution and playback speed options
-- **Multiple transcoding profiles**: sane defaults for multiple dimensions (240p, 360p, 480p, 720p, 1080p) and multiple profiles (h264, h265, vp9)
+- **Multiple transcoding profiles**: sane defaults for multiple dimensions (144p, 240p, 360p, 480p, 720p, 1080p) and multiple profiles (h264, h265, vp9)
 - **Adaptive video streaming**: possible through HLS protocol
 - **Subtitles/CC**: support for multilingual subtitle files
 - **Scalable transcoding**: transcoding through priorities. Experimental support for remote workers
@@ -93,20 +93,14 @@ There are two ways to run MediaCMS, through Docker Compose and through installin
 
   A complete guide can be found on the blog post [How to self-host and share your videos in 2021](https://medium.com/@MediaCMS.io/how-to-self-host-and-share-your-videos-in-2021-14067e3b291b).
 
-## Configuration
-
-Visit [Configuration](docs/admins_docs.md#5-configuration) page.
-
-
-## Information for developers
-Check out the new section on the [Developer Experience](docs/dev_exp.md) page
-
-
 ## Documentation
 
 * [Users documentation](docs/user_docs.md) page
 * [Administrators documentation](docs/admins_docs.md) page
 * [Developers documentation](docs/developers_docs.md) page
+* [Configuration](docs/admins_docs.md#5-configuration) page
+* [Transcoding](docs/transcoding.md) page
+* [Developer Experience](docs/dev_exp.md) page
 
 
 ## Technology

cms/settings.py

@@ -186,7 +186,7 @@ CHUNKIZE_VIDEO_DURATION = 60 * 5
 VIDEO_CHUNKS_DURATION = 60 * 4
 
 # always get these two, even if upscaling
-MINIMUM_RESOLUTIONS_TO_ENCODE = [240, 360]
+MINIMUM_RESOLUTIONS_TO_ENCODE = [144, 240]
 
 # default settings for notifications
 # not all of them are implemented
@@ -497,6 +497,10 @@ USE_ROUNDED_CORNERS = True
 ALLOW_VIDEO_TRIMMER = True
 
 ALLOW_CUSTOM_MEDIA_URLS = False
+
+# ffmpeg options
+FFMPEG_DEFAULT_PRESET = "medium"  # see https://trac.ffmpeg.org/wiki/Encode/H.264
+
 try:
     # keep a local_settings.py file for local overrides
     from .local_settings import *  # noqa

docker-compose.yaml

@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ services:
       POSTGRES_DB: mediacms
       TZ: Europe/London
     healthcheck:
-      test: ["CMD-SHELL",  "pg_isready -d $${POSTGRES_DB} -U $${POSTGRES_USER}", "--host=db", "--dbname=$POSTGRES_DB", "--username=$POSTGRES_USER"]
+      test: ["CMD-SHELL", "pg_isready -d $${POSTGRES_DB} -U $${POSTGRES_USER}"]
       interval: 10s
       timeout: 5s
       retries: 5
@@ -81,6 +81,6 @@ services:
     restart: always
     healthcheck:
       test: ["CMD", "redis-cli","ping"]
-      interval: 30s
+      interval: 10s
-      timeout: 10s
+      timeout: 5s
       retries: 3

docs/transcoding.md

@@ -0,0 +1,50 @@
+# Transcoding in MediaCMS
+
+MediaCMS uses FFmpeg for transcoding media files. Most of the transcoding settings and configurations are defined in `files/helpers.py`.
+
+## Configuration Options
+
+Several transcoding parameters can be customized in `cms/settings.py`:
+
+### FFmpeg Preset
+
+The default FFmpeg preset is set to "medium". This setting controls the encoding speed and compression efficiency trade-off.
+
+```python
+# ffmpeg options
+FFMPEG_DEFAULT_PRESET = "medium" # see https://trac.ffmpeg.org/wiki/Encode/H.264
+```
+
+Available presets include:
+- ultrafast
+- superfast
+- veryfast
+- faster
+- fast
+- medium (default)
+- slow
+- slower
+- veryslow
+
+Faster presets result in larger file sizes for the same quality, while slower presets provide better compression but take longer to encode.
+
+### Other Transcoding Settings
+
+Additional transcoding settings in `settings.py` include:
+
+- `FFMPEG_COMMAND`: Path to the FFmpeg executable
+- `FFPROBE_COMMAND`: Path to the FFprobe executable
+- `DO_NOT_TRANSCODE_VIDEO`: If set to True, only the original video is shown without transcoding
+- `CHUNKIZE_VIDEO_DURATION`: For videos longer than this duration (in seconds), they get split into chunks and encoded independently
+- `VIDEO_CHUNKS_DURATION`: Duration of each chunk (must be smaller than CHUNKIZE_VIDEO_DURATION)
+- `MINIMUM_RESOLUTIONS_TO_ENCODE`: Always encode these resolutions, even if upscaling is required
+
+## Advanced Configuration
+
+For more advanced transcoding settings, you may need to modify the following in `files/helpers.py`:
+
+- Video bitrates for different codecs and resolutions
+- Audio encoders and bitrates
+- CRF (Constant Rate Factor) values
+- Keyframe settings
+- Encoding parameters for different codecs (H.264, H.265, VP9)

files/helpers.py

@@ -34,12 +34,6 @@ BUF_SIZE_MULTIPLIER = 1.5
 KEYFRAME_DISTANCE = 4
 KEYFRAME_DISTANCE_MIN = 2
 
-# speed presets
-# see https://trac.ffmpeg.org/wiki/Encode/H.264
-X26x_PRESET = "medium"  # "medium"
-X265_PRESET = "medium"
-X26x_PRESET_BIG_HEIGHT = "faster"
-
 # VP9_SPEED = 1  # between 0 and 4, lower is slower
 VP9_SPEED = 2
 
@@ -55,6 +49,7 @@ VIDEO_CRFS = {
 VIDEO_BITRATES = {
     "h264": {
         25: {
+            144: 150,
             240: 300,
             360: 500,
             480: 1000,
@@ -67,6 +62,7 @@ VIDEO_BITRATES = {
     },
     "h265": {
         25: {
+            144: 75,
             240: 150,
             360: 275,
             480: 500,
@@ -79,6 +75,7 @@ VIDEO_BITRATES = {
     },
     "vp9": {
         25: {
+            144: 75,
             240: 150,
             360: 275,
             480: 500,
@@ -596,17 +593,13 @@ def get_base_ffmpeg_command(
     cmd = base_cmd[:]
 
     # preset settings
+    preset = getattr(settings, "FFMPEG_DEFAULT_PRESET", "medium")
+
     if encoder == "libvpx-vp9":
         if pass_number == 1:
             speed = 4
         else:
             speed = VP9_SPEED
-    elif encoder in ["libx264"]:
-        preset = X26x_PRESET
-    elif encoder in ["libx265"]:
-        preset = X265_PRESET
-    if target_height >= 720:
-        preset = X26x_PRESET_BIG_HEIGHT
 
     if encoder == "libx264":
         level = "4.2" if target_height <= 1080 else "5.2"
@@ -730,7 +723,7 @@ def produce_ffmpeg_commands(media_file, media_info, resolution, codec, output_fi
         return False
 
     if media_info.get("video_height") < resolution:
-        if resolution not in [240, 360]:  # always get these two
+        if resolution not in settings.MINIMUM_RESOLUTIONS_TO_ENCODE:
             return False
 
     #    if codec == "h264_baseline":

files/migrations/0010_alter_encodeprofile_resolution.py

@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+# Generated by Django 5.1.6 on 2025-07-05 11:49
+
+from django.db import migrations, models
+
+
+class Migration(migrations.Migration):
+    dependencies = [
+        ('files', '0009_alter_media_friendly_token'),
+    ]
+
+    operations = [
+        migrations.AlterField(
+            model_name='encodeprofile',
+            name='resolution',
+            field=models.IntegerField(blank=True, choices=[(2160, '2160'), (1440, '1440'), (1080, '1080'), (720, '720'), (480, '480'), (360, '360'), (240, '240'), (144, '144')], null=True),
+        ),
+    ]

files/models.py

@@ -73,6 +73,7 @@ ENCODE_RESOLUTIONS = (
     (480, "480"),
     (360, "360"),
     (240, "240"),
+    (144, "144"),
 )
 
 CODECS = (
@@ -896,7 +897,7 @@ class Media(models.Model):
         """
 
         res = {}
-        valid_resolutions = [240, 360, 480, 720, 1080, 1440, 2160]
+        valid_resolutions = [144, 240, 360, 480, 720, 1080, 1440, 2160]
         if self.hls_file:
             if os.path.exists(self.hls_file):
                 hls_file = self.hls_file

fixtures/encoding_profiles.json

@@ -1 +1 @@
-[{"model": "files.encodeprofile", "pk": 19, "fields": {"name": "h264-2160", "extension": "mp4", "resolution": 2160, "codec": "h264", "description": "", "active": false}}, {"model": "files.encodeprofile", "pk": 22, "fields": {"name": "vp9-2160", "extension": "webm", "resolution": 2160, "codec": "vp9", "description": "", "active": false}}, {"model": "files.encodeprofile", "pk": 16, "fields": {"name": "h265-2160", "extension": "mp4", "resolution": 2160, "codec": "h265", "description": "", "active": false}}, {"model": "files.encodeprofile", "pk": 4, "fields": {"name": "h264-1440", "extension": "mp4", "resolution": 1440, "codec": "h264", "description": "", "active": false}}, {"model": "files.encodeprofile", "pk": 5, "fields": {"name": "vp9-1440", "extension": "webm", "resolution": 1440, "codec": "vp9", "description": "", "active": false}}, {"model": "files.encodeprofile", "pk": 6, "fields": {"name": "h265-1440", "extension": "mp4", "resolution": 1440, "codec": "h265", "description": "", "active": false}}, {"model": "files.encodeprofile", "pk": 7, "fields": {"name": "h264-1080", "extension": "mp4", "resolution": 1080, "codec": "h264", "description": "", "active": true}}, {"model": "files.encodeprofile", "pk": 8, "fields": {"name": "vp9-1080", "extension": "webm", "resolution": 1080, "codec": "vp9", "description": "", "active": false}}, {"model": "files.encodeprofile", "pk": 9, "fields": {"name": "h265-1080", "extension": "mp4", "resolution": 1080, "codec": "h265", "description": "", "active": false}}, {"model": "files.encodeprofile", "pk": 10, "fields": {"name": "h264-720", "extension": "mp4", "resolution": 720, "codec": "h264", "description": "", "active": true}}, {"model": "files.encodeprofile", "pk": 11, "fields": {"name": "vp9-720", "extension": "webm", "resolution": 720, "codec": "vp9", "description": "", "active": false}}, {"model": "files.encodeprofile", "pk": 12, "fields": {"name": "h265-720", "extension": "mp4", "resolution": 720, "codec": "h265", "description": "", "active": false}}, {"model": "files.encodeprofile", "pk": 13, "fields": {"name": "h264-480", "extension": "mp4", "resolution": 480, "codec": "h264", "description": "", "active": true}}, {"model": "files.encodeprofile", "pk": 14, "fields": {"name": "vp9-480", "extension": "webm", "resolution": 480, "codec": "vp9", "description": "", "active": false}}, {"model": "files.encodeprofile", "pk": 15, "fields": {"name": "h265-480", "extension": "mp4", "resolution": 480, "codec": "h265", "description": "", "active": false}}, {"model": "files.encodeprofile", "pk": 3, "fields": {"name": "h264-360", "extension": "mp4", "resolution": 360, "codec": "h264", "description": "", "active": true}}, {"model": "files.encodeprofile", "pk": 17, "fields": {"name": "vp9-360", "extension": "webm", "resolution": 360, "codec": "vp9", "description": "", "active": false}}, {"model": "files.encodeprofile", "pk": 18, "fields": {"name": "h265-360", "extension": "mp4", "resolution": 360, "codec": "h265", "description": "", "active": false}}, {"model": "files.encodeprofile", "pk": 2, "fields": {"name": "h264-240", "extension": "mp4", "resolution": 240, "codec": "h264", "description": "", "active": true}}, {"model": "files.encodeprofile", "pk": 20, "fields": {"name": "vp9-240", "extension": "webm", "resolution": 240, "codec": "vp9", "description": "", "active": false}}, {"model": "files.encodeprofile", "pk": 21, "fields": {"name": "h265-240", "extension": "mp4", "resolution": 240, "codec": "h265", "description": "", "active": false}}, {"model": "files.encodeprofile", "pk": 1, "fields": {"name": "preview", "extension": "gif", "resolution": null, "codec": null, "description": "", "active": true}}]
+[{"model": "files.encodeprofile", "pk": 19, "fields": {"name": "h264-2160", "extension": "mp4", "resolution": 2160, "codec": "h264", "description": "", "active": false}}, {"model": "files.encodeprofile", "pk": 22, "fields": {"name": "vp9-2160", "extension": "webm", "resolution": 2160, "codec": "vp9", "description": "", "active": false}}, {"model": "files.encodeprofile", "pk": 23, "fields": {"name": "h264-144", "extension": "mp4", "resolution": 144, "codec": "h264", "description": "", "active": true}}, {"model": "files.encodeprofile", "pk": 16, "fields": {"name": "h265-2160", "extension": "mp4", "resolution": 2160, "codec": "h265", "description": "", "active": false}}, {"model": "files.encodeprofile", "pk": 4, "fields": {"name": "h264-1440", "extension": "mp4", "resolution": 1440, "codec": "h264", "description": "", "active": false}}, {"model": "files.encodeprofile", "pk": 5, "fields": {"name": "vp9-1440", "extension": "webm", "resolution": 1440, "codec": "vp9", "description": "", "active": false}}, {"model": "files.encodeprofile", "pk": 6, "fields": {"name": "h265-1440", "extension": "mp4", "resolution": 1440, "codec": "h265", "description": "", "active": false}}, {"model": "files.encodeprofile", "pk": 7, "fields": {"name": "h264-1080", "extension": "mp4", "resolution": 1080, "codec": "h264", "description": "", "active": true}}, {"model": "files.encodeprofile", "pk": 8, "fields": {"name": "vp9-1080", "extension": "webm", "resolution": 1080, "codec": "vp9", "description": "", "active": false}}, {"model": "files.encodeprofile", "pk": 9, "fields": {"name": "h265-1080", "extension": "mp4", "resolution": 1080, "codec": "h265", "description": "", "active": false}}, {"model": "files.encodeprofile", "pk": 10, "fields": {"name": "h264-720", "extension": "mp4", "resolution": 720, "codec": "h264", "description": "", "active": true}}, {"model": "files.encodeprofile", "pk": 11, "fields": {"name": "vp9-720", "extension": "webm", "resolution": 720, "codec": "vp9", "description": "", "active": false}}, {"model": "files.encodeprofile", "pk": 12, "fields": {"name": "h265-720", "extension": "mp4", "resolution": 720, "codec": "h265", "description": "", "active": false}}, {"model": "files.encodeprofile", "pk": 13, "fields": {"name": "h264-480", "extension": "mp4", "resolution": 480, "codec": "h264", "description": "", "active": true}}, {"model": "files.encodeprofile", "pk": 14, "fields": {"name": "vp9-480", "extension": "webm", "resolution": 480, "codec": "vp9", "description": "", "active": false}}, {"model": "files.encodeprofile", "pk": 15, "fields": {"name": "h265-480", "extension": "mp4", "resolution": 480, "codec": "h265", "description": "", "active": false}}, {"model": "files.encodeprofile", "pk": 3, "fields": {"name": "h264-360", "extension": "mp4", "resolution": 360, "codec": "h264", "description": "", "active": true}}, {"model": "files.encodeprofile", "pk": 17, "fields": {"name": "vp9-360", "extension": "webm", "resolution": 360, "codec": "vp9", "description": "", "active": false}}, {"model": "files.encodeprofile", "pk": 18, "fields": {"name": "h265-360", "extension": "mp4", "resolution": 360, "codec": "h265", "description": "", "active": false}}, {"model": "files.encodeprofile", "pk": 2, "fields": {"name": "h264-240", "extension": "mp4", "resolution": 240, "codec": "h264", "description": "", "active": true}}, {"model": "files.encodeprofile", "pk": 20, "fields": {"name": "vp9-240", "extension": "webm", "resolution": 240, "codec": "vp9", "description": "", "active": false}}, {"model": "files.encodeprofile", "pk": 21, "fields": {"name": "h265-240", "extension": "mp4", "resolution": 240, "codec": "h265", "description": "", "active": false}}, {"model": "files.encodeprofile", "pk": 1, "fields": {"name": "preview", "extension": "gif", "resolution": null, "codec": null, "description": "", "active": true}}]

tests/api/test_new_media.py

@@ -43,8 +43,8 @@ class TestX(TestCase):
         self.assertEqual(Media.objects.filter(media_type='image').count(), 1, "Media identification failed")
         self.assertEqual(Media.objects.filter(user=self.user).count(), 3, "User assignment failed")
         medium_video = Media.objects.get(title="medium_video.mp4")
-        self.assertEqual(len(medium_video.hls_info), 11, "Problem with HLS info")
+        self.assertEqual(len(medium_video.hls_info), 13, "Problem with HLS info")
 
         # using the provided EncodeProfiles, these two files should produce 9 Encoding objects.
         # if new EncodeProfiles are added and enabled, this will break!
-        self.assertEqual(Encoding.objects.filter(status='success').count(), 9, "Not all video transcodings finished well")
+        self.assertEqual(Encoding.objects.filter(status='success').count(), 10, "Not all video transcodings finished well")

tests/test_fixtures.py

@@ -24,12 +24,12 @@ class TestFixtures(TestCase):
         profiles = EncodeProfile.objects.all()
         self.assertEqual(
             profiles.count(),
-            22,
+            23,
             "Problem with Encode Profile fixtures",
         )
         profiles = EncodeProfile.objects.filter(active=True)
         self.assertEqual(
             profiles.count(),
-            6,
+            7,
             "Problem with Encode Profile fixtures, not as active as expected",
         )