Encoding settings for content?

I am looking for some guidance on the best way to batch encode content for distribution through a channel. I am wondering if people have had success with any particular tools and if they might share. Our starting content is 1280x720, 3000 kbps, and MP4 so we have a good starting point. I am looking at producing potentially 3 other bit-rates per the documentation (3000k, 1800k, 900k, 400k) and want to run it via batch.

I have been looking at ffmpeg and HandbrakeCLI, but if anyone has suggestions or eve n some of their own scripts to share, then I would appreciate it greatly.