High CPU use can be normal during a HandBrake hardware encode
Selecting a hardware video encoder does not move every processing stage to the GPU. Filters, audio, subtitle handling and muxing can still require CPU work.
The journal
The viewing journal — page 69
Practical reading about streaming, devices and the decisions behind a better prepared setup.
HandBrake encoding frames per second is a work rate, not playback speed
Encoding FPS describes how quickly processing advances. Compare it with source FPS to estimate work time while keeping the programme duration concept separate.
Choose noise alone when profiling an Audacity voice recording
A noise profile containing wanted speech teaches the filter to remove some of that speech. Check the material being removed before processing the whole recording.
Audacity Truncate Silence can break an audio file’s alignment with video
Shortening pauses changes the timeline. Keep synchronised tracks together and check later events before replacing an audio track underneath an existing video.
Check stereo balance before normalising Audacity channels independently
Normalising the left and right channels independently can change their balance. Choose paired processing when the existing stereo relationship is intentional.
Audacity Repair needs a tiny damaged region with surrounding audio
Repair interpolates a very short fragment. Its documented 128 sample limit and need for neighbouring audio make it unsuitable for replacing a missing sentence.