HandBrake Web

intermediate

Web-based video transcoder.

Overview

HandBrake is a powerful, open-source video transcoder that has been the go-to solution for converting video files between formats since 2003. Originally developed to rip DVDs, HandBrake has evolved into a comprehensive video processing tool that supports virtually every modern codec and container format, including H.264, H.265/HEVC, VP9, AV1, MP4, MKV, and WebM. The software excels at reducing file sizes while maintaining visual quality through advanced encoding algorithms and preset configurations optimized for different devices and streaming platforms. This Docker configuration wraps HandBrake in a web-accessible VNC interface using jlesage's containerized implementation, transforming the desktop application into a server-based transcoding solution. The setup includes automated batch processing capabilities through a watch folder system, where videos dropped into the monitored directory are automatically converted using predefined settings. The container handles the entire workflow from input detection through final output, eliminating the need for manual intervention in repetitive transcoding tasks. Media professionals, content creators, and home server enthusiasts will find this stack particularly valuable for building centralized video processing workflows. Unlike desktop HandBrake installations that require direct system access, this web-based approach enables remote transcoding management, batch processing automation, and integration with media server ecosystems like Plex or Jellyfin. The combination of HandBrake's proven transcoding engine with automated folder monitoring creates a hands-off solution for maintaining consistent video formats across large media libraries.

Key Features

VNC-based web interface accessible through any browser without client software installation
Automated batch transcoding with configurable watch folder monitoring and processing queues
Support for hardware-accelerated encoding via Intel Quick Sync Video and AMD VAAPI when GPU devices are mounted
Extensive preset library including device-specific profiles for Apple TV, Roku, Android, and streaming platforms
Advanced video filters including deinterlacing, denoising, cropping, and subtitle burning capabilities
Multi-format container support with automatic stream mapping for video, audio, and subtitle tracks
Queue management system allowing multiple simultaneous transcoding jobs with priority scheduling
Comprehensive codec support including modern formats like H.265 HEVC, VP9, and AV1 for maximum compression efficiency

Common Use Cases

1Home media server optimization for converting large video collections to consistent formats and bitrates
2Content creation workflows requiring batch processing of recorded footage or downloaded source material
3Automated video preprocessing for streaming platforms with specific encoding requirements
4Remote transcoding services for teams working with video content across different locations
5Legacy format conversion for digitizing old DVD collections or proprietary video formats
6Bandwidth optimization by creating multiple quality versions of source videos for adaptive streaming
7Archive management for reducing storage requirements while preserving acceptable video quality

Prerequisites

Minimum 4GB RAM for HD video processing, 8GB+ recommended for 4K content transcoding
Sufficient storage space as transcoding typically requires 2-3x the source file size during processing
Port 5800 available for web interface access and VNC client connections
Understanding of video codecs, containers, and quality settings for optimal preset configuration
GPU drivers and device access configured if planning to use hardware acceleration features
Directory permissions properly set for Docker container access to watch and output folders

For development & testing. Review security settings, change default credentials, and test thoroughly before production use. See Terms

docker-compose.yml

1services: 
2  handbrake: 
3    image: jlesage/handbrake:latest
4    container_name: handbrake
5    restart: unless-stopped
6    ports: 
7      - "5800:5800"
8    environment: 
9      USER_ID: 1000
10      GROUP_ID: 1000
11      TZ: UTC
12      AUTOMATED_CONVERSION_PRESET: "Very Fast 1080p30"
13      AUTOMATED_CONVERSION_FORMAT: mp4
14    volumes: 
15      - handbrake_config:/config
16      - /path/to/watch:/watch
17      - /path/to/output:/output
18
19volumes: 
20  handbrake_config:

.env Template

.env

1# Configure automated conversion settings

Usage Notes

1Docs: https://github.com/jlesage/docker-handbrake
2Access web UI at http://localhost:5800 (VNC-based interface)
3Drop files in /watch folder for automatic conversion
4Converted files output to /output, originals in /storage
5Presets: AUTOMATED_CONVERSION_PRESET sets encoding quality
6Hardware encoding: mount /dev/dri for Intel QSV/AMD VAAPI

Quick Start

terminal

1# 1. Create the compose file
2cat > docker-compose.yml << 'EOF'
3services:
4  handbrake:
5    image: jlesage/handbrake:latest
6    container_name: handbrake
7    restart: unless-stopped
8    ports:
9      - "5800:5800"
10    environment:
11      USER_ID: 1000
12      GROUP_ID: 1000
13      TZ: UTC
14      AUTOMATED_CONVERSION_PRESET: "Very Fast 1080p30"
15      AUTOMATED_CONVERSION_FORMAT: mp4
16    volumes:
17      - handbrake_config:/config
18      - /path/to/watch:/watch
19      - /path/to/output:/output
20
21volumes:
22  handbrake_config:
23EOF
24
25# 2. Create the .env file
26cat > .env << 'EOF'
27# Configure automated conversion settings
28EOF
29
30# 3. Start the services
31docker compose up -d
32
33# 4. View logs
34docker compose logs -f

One-Liner

Run this command to download and set up the recipe in one step:

terminal

1curl -fsSL https://docker.recipes/api/recipes/handbrake/run | bash

Troubleshooting

Blank web interface or connection refused: Verify port 5800 is properly mapped and not blocked by firewall rules
Watch folder not detecting new files: Check volume mount paths and ensure Docker container has read permissions on source directories
Transcoding fails with codec errors: Verify source video format is supported and adjust AUTOMATED_CONVERSION_PRESET to compatible settings
Hardware encoding not working: Ensure GPU device is mounted with --device=/dev/dri and appropriate drivers are installed on host system
Out of disk space errors during processing: Monitor available storage as HandBrake requires temporary space equal to output file size during encoding
Permission denied writing to output folder: Verify USER_ID and GROUP_ID environment variables match host system ownership of mounted volumes

Community Notes

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handbrake

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