diff --git a/pandora/app/config.py b/pandora/app/config.py
index 772662034..c26ede1f1 100644
--- a/pandora/app/config.py
+++ b/pandora/app/config.py
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ from django.contrib.auth.models import User
 import ox.jsonc
 from ox.utils import json
 
-from archive.extract import supported_formats, AVCONV
+from archive.extract import supported_formats, AVCONV, avconv_version
 from item.utils import get_by_id
 
 
@@ -142,6 +142,7 @@ check the README for further details.
 
 ''' % AVCONV)
 
+        settings.AVCONV_VERSION = avconv_version()
         settings.CONFIG = config
         admin = len(settings.CONFIG['userLevels']) - 1
         if not 'syncdb' in sys.argv \
diff --git a/pandora/archive/extract.py b/pandora/archive/extract.py
index a54548c03..a01b84d83 100644
--- a/pandora/archive/extract.py
+++ b/pandora/archive/extract.py
@@ -62,6 +62,13 @@ def supported_formats():
         'mp4': 'libx264' in stdout and 'libvo_aacenc' in stdout,
     }
 
+def avconv_version():
+    p = subprocess.Popen([AVCONV],
+            stdout=subprocess.PIPE, stderr=subprocess.PIPE)
+    stdout, stderr = p.communicate()
+    version = stderr.split(' ')[2].split('-')[0]
+    return version
+
 def stream(video, target, profile, info, avconv=None):
     if not os.path.exists(target):
         ox.makedirs(os.path.dirname(target))
@@ -198,24 +205,31 @@ def stream(video, target, profile, info, avconv=None):
                 '-qdiff', '4'
             ]
             '''
-            video_settings += [
-                '-vcodec', 'libx264',
-                '-flags', '+loop+mv4',
-                '-cmp', '256',
-                '-partitions', '+parti4x4+parti8x8+partp4x4+partp8x8+partb8x8',
-                '-me_method', 'hex',
-                '-subq', '7',
-                '-trellis', '1',
-                '-refs', '5',
-                '-bf', '0',
-                '-flags2', '+mixed_refs',
-                '-coder', '0',
-                '-me_range', '16',
-                '-sc_threshold', '40',
-                '-i_qfactor', '0.71',
-                '-qmin', '10', '-qmax', '51',
-                '-qdiff', '4'
-            ]
+            if settings.AVCONV_VERSION >= '9':
+                video_settings += [
+                    '-vcodec', 'libx264',
+                    '-preset:v', 'medium',
+                    '-profile:v', 'baseline',
+                ]
+            else:
+                video_settings += [
+                    '-vcodec', 'libx264',
+                    '-flags', '+loop+mv4',
+                    '-cmp', '256',
+                    '-partitions', '+parti4x4+parti8x8+partp4x4+partp8x8+partb8x8',
+                    '-me_method', 'hex',
+                    '-subq', '7',
+                    '-trellis', '1',
+                    '-refs', '5',
+                    '-bf', '0',
+                    '-flags2', '+mixed_refs',
+                    '-coder', '0',
+                    '-me_range', '16',
+                    '-sc_threshold', '40',
+                    '-i_qfactor', '0.71',
+                    '-qmin', '10', '-qmax', '51',
+                    '-qdiff', '4'
+                ]
     else:
         video_settings = ['-vn']
 
diff --git a/pandora/settings.py b/pandora/settings.py
index b6d798e93..374fbfb49 100644
--- a/pandora/settings.py
+++ b/pandora/settings.py
@@ -151,6 +151,7 @@ LOGGING = {
 
 AUTH_PROFILE_MODULE = 'user.UserProfile'
 AUTH_CHECK_USERNAME = True
+AVCONV_VERSION = 0
 
 #=========================================================================
 #Pan.do/ra related settings settings