In various embodiments, a manifest customization application generates presentations of media titles for playback. The manifest customization application selects a first set of video streams from multiple sets of video steams that are associated with a media title and included in a media package video streams based on a first preference associated with a user. The manifest customization application selects a first set audio streams from multiple sets of audio streams included in the media package based on a second preference associated with the user. The manifest customization application generates a recommended presentation based on the first set of video streams and the first set of audio streams. The manifest customization application generates a manifest file that allows the media title to be played back in accordance with at least the recommended presentation.