With Sonarr V4+, Custom Formats are much more advanced/powerful than with the release profiles, although this also means a Custom Format is much more complicated to setup.
- [How to import Custom Formats](/Sonarr/sonarr-import-custom-formats){:target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"}. Where I will try to explain how to import the Custom Formats.
- [How to upgrade Custom Formats](/Sonarr/sonarr-how-to-update-custom-formats){:target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"}. Where I will try to explain how to upgrade your existing Custom Formats.
- [How to setup Quality Profiles](/Sonarr/sonarr-setup-quality-profiles){:target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"}. Where I will try to explain how to make the most use of Custom Formats and show some personal examples that I'm using. You can use these to get an idea on how to setup your own.
[From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dolby_Atmos){:target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"}
Dolby Atmos is a surround sound technology developed by Dolby Laboratories. It expands on existing surround sound systems by adding height channels, allowing sounds to be interpreted as three-dimensional objects.
[From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dolby_TrueHD){:target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"}
Dolby TrueHD is a lossless, multi-channel audio codec developed by Dolby Laboratories for home video, used principally in Blu-ray Disc and compatible hardware.
[From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DTS-HD_Master_Audio){:target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"}
DTS-HD Master Audio is a multi-channel, lossless audio codec developed by DTS as an extension of the lossy DTS Coherent Acoustics codec (DTS CA; usually itself referred to as just DTS). Rather than being an entirely new coding mechanism, DTS-HD MA encodes an audio master in lossy DTS first, then stores a concurrent stream of supplementary data representing whatever the DTS encoder discarded. This gives DTS-HD MA a lossy "core" able to be played back by devices that cannot decode the more complex lossless audio. DTS-HD MA's primary application is audio storage and playback for Blu-ray Disc media.
FLAC stands for Free Lossless Audio Codec, an audio format similar to MP3, but lossless, meaning that audio is compressed in FLAC without any loss in quality. This is similar to how Zip works, except with FLAC you will get much better compression because it is designed specifically for audio
[From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dolby_Digital_Plus){:target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"}
Dolby Digital Plus, also known as Enhanced AC-3 (and commonly abbreviated as DD+ or E-AC-3, or EC-3) is a digital audio compression scheme developed by Dolby Labs for transport and storage of multi-channel digital audio. It is a successor to Dolby Digital (AC-3).
DTS-ES (DTS Extended Surround) includes two variants, DTS-ES Discrete 6.1, and DTS-ES Matrix 5.1, depending on how the sound was originally mastered and stored.
[From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advanced_Audio_Coding){:target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"}
Advanced Audio Coding (AAC) is an audio coding standard for lossy digital audio compression. Designed to be the successor of the MP3 format, AAC generally achieves higher sound quality than MP3 at the same bit rate.
[From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opus_(audio_format)){:target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"}
Opus is a lossy audio coding format developed by the Xiph.Org Foundation and standardized by the Internet Engineering Task Force, designed to efficiently code speech and general audio in a single format, while remaining low-latency enough for real-time interactive communication and low-complexity enough for low-end embedded processors.Opus replaces both Vorbis and Speex for new applications, and several blind listening tests have ranked it higher-quality than any other standard audio format at any given bitrate until transparency is reached, including MP3, AAC, and HE-AAC
Dolby Vision is a content mastering and delivery format similar to the HDR10 media profile.
Dolby Vision is a proprietary, dynamic HDR format developed by Dolby Labs. By adjusting the picture on a scene-by-scene (and even frame-by-frame) basis, it lets you see more detail with better color accuracy. It is constantly making adjustments so that each image on the screen is optimized.
Dolby Vision is a content mastering and delivery format similar to the HDR10 media profile.
Dolby Vision is a proprietary, dynamic HDR format developed by Dolby Labs. By adjusting the picture on a scene-by-scene (and even frame-by-frame) basis, it lets you see more detail with better color accuracy. It is constantly making adjustments so that each image on the screen is optimized.
Dolby Vision is a content mastering and delivery format similar to the HDR10 media profile.
Dolby Vision is a proprietary, dynamic HDR format developed by Dolby Labs. By adjusting the picture on a scene-by-scene (and even frame-by-frame) basis, it lets you see more detail with better color accuracy. It is constantly making adjustments so that each image on the screen is optimized.
Dolby Vision is a content mastering and delivery format similar to the HDR10 media profile.
Dolby Vision is a proprietary, dynamic HDR format developed by Dolby Labs. By adjusting the picture on a scene-by-scene (and even frame-by-frame) basis, it lets you see more detail with better color accuracy. It is constantly making adjustments so that each image on the screen is optimized.
**HDR10+ enhances upon a pre-existing HDR10 base layer allowing backwards compatibility with HDR10 devices. It adds dynamic metadata for the devices that support it.**
[From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-dynamic-range_video){:target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"}
HDR10+, also known as HDR10 Plus, is an HDR video format, announced on 20 April 2017. It is the same as HDR10 but with the addition of a system of dynamic metadata developed by Samsung. It is free to use for content creators and has a maximum $10,000 annual license for some manufacturers. It has been positioned as an alternative to Dolby Vision without the same expenses.
**HDR10 is the most basic HDR format used in consumer media and is supported by all HDR-supported devices. It adds static metadata upon the PQ10 format.**
[From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-dynamic-range_video){:target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"}
HDR10 Media Profile, more commonly known as HDR10, is an open HDR standard announced on 27 August 2015 by the Consumer Technology Association. It is the most widespread of the HDR formats. It is not backward compatible with SDR displays. It is technically limited to a maximum of 10,000 nits peak brightness; however, HDR10 content is commonly mastered with a peak brightness between 1000 and 4000 nits.
HDR10 lacks dynamic metadata. On HDR10 displays that have lower color volume than the HDR10 content (e.g. lower peak brightness capability), the HDR10 metadata provides information to help the display adjust to the video. The metadata, however, is static and constant with respect to each individual video and doesn't inform the display exactly how the content should be adjusted. The interaction between display capabilities, video metadata, and the ultimate output (i.e. the presentation of the video) is mediated by the display, with the result that the original producer's intent may not be preserved.
[From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-dynamic-range_video){:target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"}
High-dynamic-range video (HDR video) is video having a dynamic range greater than that of standard-dynamic-range video (SDR video).HDR video involves capture, production, content/encoding, and display. HDR capture and displays are capable of brighter whites and deeper blacks. To accommodate this, HDR encoding standards allow for a higher maximum luminance and use at least a 10-bit dynamic range (color depth, compared to 8-bit for non-professional and 10-bit for professional SDR video) in order to maintain precision across this extended range.
**PQ10 is the most basic HDR format which all other common formats are based upon. It is the barebones SMPTE 2084 specification and has no metadata.**
[From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-dynamic-range_video){:target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"}
PQ10, sometimes simply referred as the PQ format, is an HDR format that can be used for both video and still images. It is the same as the HDR10 format without any metadata. It uses the PQ transfer function, Rec. 2020 color primaries and a bit depth of 10-bits. It is not backward compatible with SDR.
**HLG does not use dynamic metadata and is backwards compatible with SDR devices. It is mostly used in broadcasting.**
[From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-dynamic-range_video){:target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"}
HLG10, commonly simply referred as the HLG format, is an HDR format that can be used for both video and still images. It uses the HLG transfer function, Rec. 2020 color primaries, and a bit depth of 10 bits. The format is backwards compatible with SDR UHDTV but not with older SDR displays that do not implement the Rec. 2020 color standards. It doesn't use metadata and is royalty free.
A hybrid release means any combination of sources (video + audio) and not a direct encode of a single source. Generally you can be sure that any hybrid that has been put together is the best quality release of a particular title.
[From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remaster){:target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"}
For the software term, see Software remastering.
Remaster (also digital remastering and digitally remastered) refers to changing the quality of the sound or of the image, or both, of previously created recordings, either audiophonic, cinematic, or videographic.
You will need to add the following to your new Custom Format when created in your Quality Profile (`Setting` => `Profiles`) and then set the score to `-1000` or even `-10000`
!!! Danger "Don't use this together with [{{ sonarr['cf']['x265-no-hdrdv']['name'] }}](/Sonarr/sonarr-collection-of-custom-formats/#x265-no-hdrdv), Only ever include one of them :warning:"
x264 is a *free software library* and *application* for encoding video streams into the [H.264/MPEG-4 AVC](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H.264){:target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"} compression format, and is released under the terms of the [GNU GPL](https://www.gnu.org/licenses/old-licenses/gpl-2.0.html){:target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"}.
If you want maximum compatibility and have much better direct play support then use x264 for 720p/1080p.
x265 is a *free software library* and *application* for encoding video streams into the [H.265/MPEG-H HEVC](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H.265){:target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"} compression format, and is released under the terms of the [GNU GPL](http://www.gnu.org/licenses/old-licenses/gpl-2.0.html){:target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"}.
These groups take the original release, then they add their own preferred language (ex. Portuguese) as the main audio track (AAC 2.0), What results after renaming and FFprobe that the media file will be recognized as Portuguese AAC audio. It's a common rule that you add the best audio as first.
Also they often even rename the release name in to Portuguese.
You will need to add the following to your new Custom Format when created in your Quality Profile (`Setting` => `Profiles`) and then set the score to `-1000` or even `-10000`
Most WEBDL from Streaming Services don't have the fallback to HDR10, What can results in playback issues like weird colors (typically a green hue) if you want to play it on a not Dolby Vision compatible setup.
Some indexers strip out the release group which could result in LQ groups getting a higher score.
For example a lot of EVO releases end up stripping the group name, so they appear as "upgrades", and they end up getting a decent score if other things match
This Custom Format will try to recognize so called Scene releases, depending on your preferences you can give it a negative score `-10000` or a positive score or just don't add it all.
This Custom Format can be used depending if you prefer or not prefer a season pack
- Give it a score of `10` if you prefer a season pack.
- Give it a score of `-10000` if you don't prefer a season pack.
-`/\bS\d+\b(?!E\d+\b)/i` season packs are preferred: however, given the folder name is ignored the error/warning/issue occurs as the file names would not be a season pack of course.
- keep in mind this is the only way to prefer season packs if you have preferred words due to the long standing bug => Preferred Words overrule season pack preference [Sonarr/Sonarr#3562](https://github.com/Sonarr/Sonarr/issues/3562){:target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"}
!!! danger "WARNING"
- This Custom Format could result in a download loop :bangbang:
- This will upgrade also your already downloaded single episodes :bangbang:
??? example "JSON - [CLICK TO EXPAND]"
```json
[[% filter indent(width=4) %]][[% include 'json/sonarr/cf/season-pack.json' %]][[% endfilter %]]
This blocks/ignores 720/1080p (HD) releases that are encoded in x265.
**But it will allow x265 releases if they have HDR and/or DV**
*Being that some NF releases won't be released as 4k, but you want to have DV/HDR releases.*
In your quality profile use the following score for this Custom Format: `{{ sonarr['cf']['x265-no-hdrdv']['trash_score'] }}`
!!! Danger "Don't use this together with [{{ sonarr['cf']['x265-hd']['name'] }}](/Sonarr/sonarr-collection-of-custom-formats/#x265-hd), Only ever include one of them :warning:"
??? example "JSON - [CLICK TO EXPAND]"
```json
[[% filter indent(width=4) %]][[% include 'json/sonarr/cf/x265-no-hdrdv.json' %]][[% endfilter %]]
- This will boost the score for Dolby Vision Releases using the original full quality Dolby Vision layer from the disc release to replace the old WEBDL HYBRID release.
NLZIET is the online service of Dutch broadcasters that provides non-stop tv, commercial-free. The streaming service brings the best of all channels straight to your preferred device and lets you see your favorite tv content in high quality on all available platforms; anytime and anywhere.
??? example "JSON - [CLICK TO EXPAND]"
```json
[[% filter indent(width=4) %]][[% include 'json/sonarr/cf/nlz.json' %]][[% endfilter %]]
Videoland is a Dutch OTT online service provider owned by RTL Nederland. Originally it was a retail chain of video rental stores. Its main competitor is Netflix.
??? example "JSON - [CLICK TO EXPAND]"
```json
[[% filter indent(width=4) %]][[% include 'json/sonarr/cf/vdl.json' %]][[% endfilter %]]
Recognize movies that include the original and the french audio. Work only after import as it need the result from FFprobe to get which audio are present. Will rename the release to keep the recognition of 'Multi' by the [Multi-Audio](#multi-audio) custom format.
??? example "JSON - [CLICK TO EXPAND]"
```json
[[% filter indent(width=4) %]][[% include 'json/sonarr/cf/multi-french.json' %]][[% endfilter %]]
International French Version. VF[1-9] or FR[1-9] indicates the number of dubs present (normally VF2 being VFF and VFQ) and is considered as an International French release.
??? example "JSON - [CLICK TO EXPAND]"
```json
[[% filter indent(width=4) %]][[% include 'json/sonarr/cf/french-vfi.json' %]][[% endfilter %]]
Indicates soundtrack in the original language, with French subtitles. It should be noted that SUBFRENCH is included inside this Custom Format. However, SUB often mean that the subtitle was embedded inside the picture (hardcoded). French releases tend to mix both, leading some VOSTFR being labelled as SUBFRENCH and SUBFRENCH as VOSTFR.
??? example "JSON - [CLICK TO EXPAND]"
```json
[[% filter indent(width=4) %]][[% include 'json/sonarr/cf/french-vostfr.json' %]][[% endfilter %]]
Action of subtitling a video for personal and non-professional purposes. The quality of FanSUBs can vary enormously (accuracy of translation, mistakes, etc.) and could lead to so called FastSUBs.
??? example "JSON - [CLICK TO EXPAND]"
```json
[[% filter indent(width=4) %]][[% include 'json/sonarr/cf/fansub.json' %]][[% endfilter %]]
