Video Commander

FFmpeg Batch Encoding for macOS

Video Commander includes a built-in job queue. Add your files, configure codec and quality settings, and the app processes the whole batch while you do something else — with per-job progress and a system notification when each one finishes.

Video Commander batch encoding — multiple jobs running with per-job progress

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How Batch Encoding Works

Select your files

Drag in as many source files as you need. Each file becomes a separate job in the queue.

Configure encoding settings

Choose codec, quality, resolution, audio, filters, and stream mapping — applied to all files in the batch.

Submit and walk away

Video Commander works through the queue sequentially. A system notification fires when each job completes.

Select Files and Review Settings

Drag in your source files, review the encoding settings for each job, and submit the batch — all in a single window without leaving the app.

Video Commander — selecting multiple files for batch encoding

Video Commander — reviewing and submitting a batch encode job

Batch Encoding Capabilities

Add multiple source files to a single encode queue
Per-job progress tracking with speed, bitrate, fps, and ETA
Sequential queue processing — set up and walk away
System notification when each job finishes
Container and codec compatibility validation before jobs start
Filter UI for building FFmpeg filter chains without hand-editing
Stream mapping to select audio, video, and subtitle tracks

Batch Encoding GUI vs FFmpeg CLI

Task	FFmpeg CLI	Video Commander
Encode multiple files	for f in *.mp4; do ffmpeg -i "$f" ...; done	Add files to queue, press Submit
Track individual job progress	Read stdout per process	Per-job progress bar with speed and ETA
Get notified when done	Append && notify-send or osascript	Automatic system notification
Build a filter chain	Hand-write -vf "scale=...,crop=..." flags	Visual filter builder UI
Catch codec/container mismatches	FFmpeg error at runtime	Validation before job starts
Inspect the output	Run ffprobe separately	Inspect result in the same app

The same FFmpeg encoding quality, without scripting the queue yourself.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does batch encoding work in Video Commander?: You add multiple source files to the encode queue, configure codec and quality settings, then submit the batch. Video Commander processes jobs sequentially, tracks per-job progress, and sends a system notification when each job completes.
What codecs are supported for batch encoding?: Video Commander supports H.264 (AVC), HEVC (H.265), AV1, and VP9 for video, and AAC, Opus, and MP3 for audio — all via FFmpeg under the hood.
Does it validate settings before starting a batch?: Yes. Video Commander checks that the selected codec is compatible with the chosen output container before any job starts, surfacing incompatibilities with a clear explanation rather than a cryptic FFmpeg error mid-run.
Does Video Commander use FFmpeg for encoding?: Yes. All encoding is done by FFmpeg, so you get the same output quality and codec support — just without writing commands.
Is it free?: Video Commander is free for personal use. A paid license is required for commercial use.

Start Batch Encoding with FFmpeg

Video Commander runs locally on macOS. Free for personal use. Supports Apple Silicon and Intel.