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Cavernize user guide

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Cavernize command-line arguments

If the first parameter is a file name, that file will be loaded when Cavernize opens. This makes drag-and-drop possible. Unless overridden here, the settings from the last application launch will be used. The possible command-line arguments are:

Main arguments

Argument Parameter Short Description
-help - -h Lists all available commands.
-input File path -i Opens a content file.
-format Format ID -f Selects the output audio codec. Valid options are:
  • AC3: AC-3 (mediocre, supports SPDIF, needs FFmpeg)
  • EnhancedAC3: Enhanced AC-3 (mediocre, supports HDMI ARC, needs FFmpeg)
  • Opus: Opus (transparent, small size, needs FFmpeg)
  • FLAC: Free Lossless Audio Codec (lossless, large size, needs FFmpeg)
  • PCM_LE: PCM, integer (lossless, larger size)
  • PCM_Float: PCM, floating point (needless, largest size)
  • ADM_BWF: ADM Broadcast Wave Format (compact)
  • ADM_BWF_Atmos: ADM Broadcast Wave Format (Dolby Atmos)
  • DAMF: Dolby Atmos Master Format
  • LimitlessAudio: Limitless Audio Format
Default: PCM_LE. More information about the codecs can be found in the Audio format info section.
-target Layout ID -t Selects the channel layout. For standard layouts, multiple formats are allowed, for example, "5.1.2 side", "5.1.2", and "512" are all accepted and refer to the same layout. If multiple options, like 5.1.2 front and 5.1.2 side are available for the same query (in this case: for "5.1.2"), the side layout will be used. All options that are listed in the Render target dropdown are valid, even shortened the way that was shown before. The "Cavern Driver" layout can be shortened to "Cavern". Default: 5.1.2 side.
-output File path -o Starts a render to the given file.

Rendering arguments

-mute_bed - -mb Mutes the bed channels that are fixed to a position. Since some formats treat channels as objects, and sometimes even move them, this might not work perfectly.
-mute_gnd - -mg Mutes all objects that aren't elevated.
-speaker_virt - -sv Virtualizes and downmixes elevated objects to ground-only layouts.
-surround_swap - -ss Swaps the side and rear surround outputs with each other.

Upconversion arguments

-matrix on/off -mx Turns 7.1-creation from channel-based sources with less channels on or off.
-upconvert on/off -u Turns height generation from regular content up to 7.1 on or off. Each main channel (except the center) will have its own height channel, creating up to 7.1.6 mixes.
-effect percentage -e Sets height generation effect strength for the upconverter in percent.
-smooth percentage -s Sets generated object movement smoothness for the upconverter in percent.

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Helpers

-tracks - -trk List each track contained in the loaded file.

Hidden arguments

Audio format info

Codec Output containers Native[1] Object-based Max channels[2] Audio quality LFE quality
Limitless Audio Format LAF 4 billion Lossless Lossless
ADM Broadcast Wave Format WAV 128 Raw Raw
Dolby Atmos Master Format Atmos 128 Raw Raw
PCM MKV, WAV, LAF 65536 (64) Raw Raw
FLAC MKV 8 Lossless Lossless
Opus MKV 255 (64) Transparent Transparent
Enhanced AC-3 MKV 16 (8) Mediocre Poor
AC-3 MKV 6 Mediocre Poor

[1] - The entire conversion process is done with Cavern's internal codec pack and FFmpeg isn't required.
[2] - FFmpeg's limits are in brackets when they differ from the format's maximum.