Post favorite settings for h.264/mkv and why

[000destruct0]

i know people don't like to use the word 'best' in these forums, but i'd like to know what other people's favorite settings are for mkv encoding (megui, automkv, etc), and for what purpose they use the files - archiving, watching on computer, watching on tv, etc.
i've been getting my feet wet playing around with megui and automkv and can't seem a happy place with all the settings (bitrate, profiles, filters, etc.), so i'd like to know what some people prefer in terms of settings.
i've looked around the forums to find places where people have given such recommendations, but can't seem to find any info.

[J_Darnley]

x264 --crf 18 --pass 1 --stats "%~dp1\%~n1.stats" --keyint 250 --min-keyint 1 --bframes 3 --b-pyramid --ref 16 --deblock -2,-1 --qpmin 5 --partitions "all" --direct auto --weightb --me umh --subme 7 --b-rdo --mixed-refs --bime --8x8dct --trellis 2 --no-fast-pskip --no-dct-decimate --aq-strength 0.3 --progress --no-psnr --no-ssim --threads auto --thread-input --sar 64:45 --output "%~dp1\%~n1.mkv" "%~dp1\%~n1.avs"

I'm no expert on x264 settings and how they really affect the encoding process. I just took an expert's settings and tweaked them to suit what I wanted. I think (too much tweaking happened to remember) this is just Sharktooth's HQ-Insane preset for MeGUI changed with crf and aq and a few other things. I know the stats aren't nessecary but I like to see what range of frame quantisers was obtained. I use this for archiving and watching on my PC. Only standard definition PAL DVDs at the moment. I've got another setup for animated content, it has more b-frames, higher aq strength and different deblock settings.

[Dark Shikari]

Here's the settings used on the default mode in my H.264 encoding GUI:

--trellis 2 --merange 64 --subme 6 --bframes 16 --ref 3 --b-pyramid --partitions all --aq-strength 0.5 --8x8dct --me umh --bime --no-psnr --no-ssim --b-rdo --mixed-refs --direct auto --weightb --progress --threads 4 --crf 30 --deblock 0:0

The --bframe 16 obviously isn't necessary; I just figure I'll let the encoder decide whatever is best. The rest of the settings I've found are good enough that any higher is nearly useless; using --ref 6, --no-fast-pskip, and --subme 7 result in a 2-4% improvement in quality (SSIM measurement) with no change in filesize; not worth the resulting double in encoding time.

The --crf 30 I've found to be plenty good enough for videos made with FRAPS in most cases; its more important to have a small file to download than one with flawless quality.

For movies I use --crf 23.

[nullstuff]

...profile: sharktooth's hq-slower, matrix: *.mp4 guy's high detail, resolution: 640, size: enough to obtain a bitrate >1100 and a qf >0.22 (usually 1120 or 1493 mb, with 1 audio track stereo LC-AAC@96-ABR), purpose: archiving/pc watch. that's enough for me.

-- nullstuff