Shutter Encoder Is A Feature-Packed Audio / Video Transcoder

Shutter Encoder is a free and open source media transcoder for Windows and macOS, which was recently made available for Linux.

The tool can convert images, videos and audio files to many formats, burn DVDs, download web videos, and it also incorporates some basic video editing features, like replacing the audio of video files, cutting and cropping videos with a preview, and more.

Shutter Encoder uses Java along with various tools under the hood, like 7za, VLC, FFmpeg, ExifTool, MKVMerge (part of MKVToolNix), MediaInfo, DVDAuthor, youtube-dl and more.

Features:

Without conversion: Cut without re-encoding, Replace audio, Rewrap, Conform, Merge, Subtitling (create subtitles for a video), Video inserts
Sound conversion: WAV, AIFF, FLAC, MP3, AAC, AC3, OPUS, OGG
Editing codecs: DNxHD, DNxHR, Apple ProRes, QT Animation, Uncompressed YUV
Output codecs: H.264, DV PAL, XDCAM HD422, AVC-Intra 100, XAVC, HAP, H.265, VP9, AV1, OGV, MJPEG, Xvid, WMV, MPEG
Archiving codec: FFV1
Image creation: JPEG, PNG, TIF, TGA, DPX, BPM, ICO, WEBP
Burn & Rip: DVD, Blu-ray, DVD RIP
Analysis: Loudness & True Peak, Audio normalization, Cut detection, Black detection
Download web video using youtube-dl

These are all the items available in the "Choose function" drop-down menu, and most come with various options. For example when choosing H.264 from this drop-down menu (under Output codecs), you can choose to scale the video, change its video or audio bitrate, crop or cut the video, add image as watermark, add subtitles, perform color correction, force interlacing / deinterlacing, change the H.264 profile (to e.g. high 5.1), and much more.

Extras include showing the media file information (right click -> Information), like the used audio and video codecs, bitrate, etc., the ability to close Shutter Encoder or shut down the computer when the task is done.

This abundance of features can initially give the impression that Shutter Encoder is hard to use, but that's not the case at all.

Let me give you an example. Let's say you want to convert a video to MP4 using the H.264 video codec with the profile set to high 4.2, and crop the video.

To do this, start by dragging a video from your file manager and dropping it onto the Shutter Encoder window, or use the Browse button available in the upper left-hand side corner of the window to add a video.

Next, from the Choose function drop-down menu, scroll to H.264 (it's the first under Output codecs). You will now see some new options in a new panel that appears in the right-hand side of the Shutter Encoder window. From there, if you want to crop the video, click the Crop checkbox:

A new window will pop up where you can use your mouse to crop the video to the desired size. If you want to change it to a predefined, fixed-size ratio value, uncheck the Manual mode box, and you'll be able to choose a ratio from the Pre-settings drop-down. When you're done, click the OK button. You also have the alternative of selecting a predefined value under Scale, and then choose if you want to crop or adapt the video to that size.

Next, if you want to change the H.264 profile, expand the Advanced features item in the Shutter Encoder sidebar, check the box for the Force profile to option, then change the profile to what you want to use:

When you're done with the video adjustments you want to make, click the Start function button, and Shutter Encoder will begin encoding your new video.

Related from Linux Uprising:

I also recommend checking out HandBrake, a great open source video transcoder.

Download Shutter Encoder

Shutter Encoder is available to download for Windows (installer and portable version, with the latter including Java JRE), macOS and Linux. The Windows and macOS downloads open a donation link. However, you're not forced to donate in order to download and use this application. The download will start even without a donation.

On Linux the application is available as an AppImage that should work on any Linux distribution (make it executable, then double click the file to run it), and a Debian / Ubuntu DEB package. Both binaries include everything you need to run Shutter Encoder, including FFmpeg, JRE, and so on.

There's also an AUR package that Arch Linux / Manjaro users can use to install Shutter Encoder.

The source code is available on GitHub.