Please wait while we enable your Account

0%

Contacting Amazon Web Services
Deploying Cloud Servers, Storage, Transcoding & Database Servers
Deploying Global CDN
Deploying Firewall & Enabling Security Measures
Deploying the CMS & Admin Module
Deploying Website, Mobile & TV Apps framework
Creating your FTP account
Finishing up all the modules
Preparing for launch

AV1-HEVC-VP9: Which is the best quality video codec for online streaming

Ankit Jena Published on : 05 July 2019
video codec

 

Today, video stats account for 80 percent of global consumer internet traffic.

Online streaming has become an integral part of our daily lives, transforming the way we consume video content. Whether we’re binge-watching our favorite series, catching up on the latest news, or indulging in breathtaking 4K videos, the quality of the streaming experience matters more than ever before. Behind the seamless playback lies a crucial factor – video codecs.

Video codecs play a pivotal role in compressing and decompressing video files, ensuring efficient data transmission over the internet while maintaining visual fidelity. Among the leading contenders in the quest for optimal streaming quality are AV1, HEVC (H.265), and VP9. These codecs have been shaping the future of online video streaming, vying for the top spot as the ultimate solution.

And as per survey predictions, by 2021 video will be responsible for an unprecedented 85% of total internet consumption worldwide.

In order to handle this intense delivery load and at the same time, distribute videos seamlessly across the internet, the video streaming companies have started adopting advanced video compression tools, also known as Video Codecs. Using high-level coding formats, the service providers are unblemishedly condensing the large video files for smooth delivery across multiple online channels.

Fact you must know

“Streaming and Chilling would never have been coined together without the invention of video codecs. It’s like, codecs are the reason, viewers comfortably stream their favorite videos even with limited bandwidth.”

No doubt, Codecs play a key role in the distribution of digital videos online.

However, choosing the right video codec involves a lot of confusion, as the options are available in plenty. But don’t worry, here in this blog, our primary goal is to educate readers about video codecs and discuss the best-quality codecs for video streaming.

 

What is a Video Codec?

A video codec is a ready-made software program that is used for compressing and decompressing video streams. Mainly content aggregators, distributors, and streaming service owners integrate video codec in their applications to tightly compress the high-definition videos into a more manageable size, ensuring seamless content storage as well as delivery.

The best thing about using video codec is, no compromise with the video quality during the compression and decompression process. It’s simple, codecs are in charge of interpreting all the data and content stored in the video files and controlling how the video is streamed on the user’s screen.

Presently, AVC is the most commonly used video codec because of it’s open-sourced and royalty-free configurations.

 

Video codec

 

Role of codec in Video streaming

Viewers love streaming videos online, especially when there is no buffering or lag issues. They simply prefer to stream high-definition videos in maximum resolution.

Now considering the above fact technically, high-quality video streams involve high bit-rate and more data storage. Such files require a lot of processing power to encode and a high-speed internet connection to download for playback.

Fact you must know

“When a file streams at thirty-frames per second (high-quality video file), the requirement for storage space and bandwidth balloons quickly. If the streaming platform, delivering the video, fails to meet the requirements, then there are high chances, the end-users will experience trouble in watching the videos online.”

Well, here comes the need for video codecs, as those are exclusively designed to deal with such problems.

use of video codec in video streaming

At the core, codecs are advanced video compression tools that work on encoding and decoding algorithms. In order to deliver uninterrupted video streams on user’s screen, codecs eliminate out certain un-necessary data from the videos and reduce the file size without hampering its overall quality.

Once compressed, all the components of video are wrapped into a specific file format, termed as Containers. Generally, the containers store video codecs, audio codecs, closed captioning, and other important metadata, supporting multiple file formats such as MKV, MP4, WMV, AVI, MOV, QT, and AVCHD.

For more details on video containers, read our blog How to Choose the Best Video Container Format for Live Streaming.

Depending on the other video codec that is installed in the user’s device, the container then determines which programs are compatible for the stream and accordingly distributes components for decompression. Further, the video codec at the user-end decodes the file and ensures seamless streaming.

So, this is how a video codec acts both at the source end (during encoding) to compress the video file and before playback (during decoding) to decompress it.

Now though you are clear about what is a video codec and how it works, let’s have a look at the most efficient & performance oriented video codecs in the OTT space.

 

Most Commonly Used Video Codecs

 

H.264/AVC

 

video codec

 

H.264 or AVC (Advanced Video Coding) is a widely supported legacy codec that enables playback on both out-dated and new devices. Because of its motion-compensation-based video compression standards, AVC is highly recommended for recording, compression, and distribution of video files across multiple devices including Laptops, Mobile Phones, Desktops, Tablets, Smart TVs, and gaming consoles.

Apart from streaming market, H.264 holds a significant penetration in Cable Broadcasting and Blu-Ray disk distributions. Mostly, AVC is combined with AAC audio codec and is stored in 3GP, MOV, F4V, TS, and MP4 Containers.

The most exciting benefit of integrating H.264 is the distribution of 50% smaller files as compared to previous generation codecs – MPEG-2 and H.263.

 

Pros of H.264/AVC

  • High Compression Efficiency: H.264 offers excellent compression efficiency, which means it can reduce the size of video files without significant loss of quality. This compression is vital for streaming video content over the internet, as it minimizes bandwidth requirements and ensures smoother playback.

  • Broad Device Compatibility: H.264 has gained widespread support across various devices, including smartphones, tablets, computers, smart TVs, and streaming devices. Its widespread compatibility makes it a practical choice for delivering video content to a diverse audience.

  • Low Latency: H.264 allows for relatively low latency in real-time applications, such as video conferencing and live streaming. This reduced latency enhances the interactive nature of such applications by minimizing delays between input and output.

  • Video Quality: Despite being an older codec, H.264 can still provide impressive video quality, especially when used at higher bitrates. It strikes a good balance between file size and visual fidelity, making it suitable for both high-definition and standard-definition video content.

  • Industry Standard: H.264 is widely recognized and supported as an industry-standard video codec, ensuring that content encoded using this codec can be played back on most devices and platforms.

  • Hardware Acceleration: Many modern devices have hardware decoding support for H.264, which offloads the decoding process from the CPU, resulting in improved energy efficiency and reduced power consumption during video playback.

  • Adaptive Bitrate Streaming: H.264 is well-suited for adaptive bitrate streaming, where the video quality is adjusted dynamically based on the viewer’s internet connection speed. This adaptive streaming capability allows for smoother playback and a better user experience, especially on varying network conditions.

  • Decoding Efficiency: H.264’s decoding process is relatively less computationally intensive compared to some other codecs, making it well-suited for devices with limited processing power or battery life.

 

Applications of H.264/AVC

  • Online Video Streaming: H.264 is widely used for streaming video content over the internet. It allows for efficient compression of video files, reducing bandwidth requirements and ensuring smooth playback on various devices and internet connections.

  • Video Conferencing: H.264 is a popular choice for real-time video conferencing applications. Its low latency and high-quality video delivery enable smooth and clear video communication between participants.

  •  Video Hosting Platforms: Many video hosting platforms, such as Muvi Flex, YouTube and Vimeo, use H.264 to encode and deliver user-uploaded videos. Its compatibility with a wide range of devices ensures a seamless viewing experience for users across different platforms.

  • Digital Television: H.264 is commonly used for digital television broadcasting, including over-the-air, cable, satellite, and internet-based TV services. It allows broadcasters to transmit high-quality video content efficiently over limited bandwidth channels.

  • Video-on-Demand (VOD) Services: H.264 is a preferred codec for video-on-demand services like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney+. It enables these platforms to deliver high-definition and 4K video content while minimizing buffering and ensuring a pleasant viewing experience.

  • Video Surveillance: H.264 is widely used in video surveillance systems for compressing and storing surveillance footage. Its ability to efficiently reduce file sizes without compromising video quality allows for extended storage and easier data management.

  • Video Communication Applications: H.264 is employed in various video communication applications, such as video calling on messaging platforms, online webinars, and virtual meetings. It ensures smooth video transmission even under varying network conditions.

 

H.265/HEVC

 

video codec

 

H.265 or HEVC (High-Efficiency Video Coding) is termed as the spiritual successor of AVC. It delivers 25% to 50% better compression efficiency with improved or same-level of video quality. Similar to AVC, it supports 8K UHD resolution, but comparatively delivers smaller files that require low bandwidth for streaming.

Considering the content capturing systems in next-generation HDTV displays, HEVC is designed with advanced video coding layers, parallel processing tools, motion vector predictions, and other essential coding extensions.

Presently, H.265 video codec is competing with the open-sourced and royalty-free AV1 coding format and it’s Main10 profile has been incorporated into nearly all supporting hardware.

 

Pros of H.265/HEVC

H.265/HEVC (High Efficiency Video Coding) is a video compression standard that offers several advantages over its predecessor, H.264/AVC. Here are some of the key pros of H.265/HEVC:

  • Higher Compression Efficiency: H.265/HEVC provides significantly better compression efficiency, allowing for the same video quality at approximately half the bit rate compared to H.264/AVC. This results in reduced file sizes, lower bandwidth requirements, and improved streaming quality, making it ideal for video streaming and video conferencing applications.

  • Improved Video Quality: With H.265/HEVC, you can achieve higher video quality at the same bit rate as H.264/AVC. Alternatively, you can maintain similar video quality while using lower bit rates, saving storage and transmission resources.

  • Support for Higher Resolutions: H.265/HEVC supports higher resolutions, including 4K and even 8K, which is particularly important as higher-resolution content becomes more prevalent in the market.

  • Better Handling of High-Motion Sequences: H.265/HEVC excels in handling high-motion sequences, such as sports events or action scenes, by efficiently compressing complex motion without compromising the quality.

  • Reduced Bandwidth Consumption: The improved compression efficiency of H.265/HEVC results in reduced bandwidth consumption, making it cost-effective for video streaming and other bandwidth-sensitive applications.

  • Support for Parallel Processing: H.265/HEVC supports parallel processing, which allows for faster video encoding and decoding, making it more suitable for real-time applications and video processing in modern devices.

  • Wide Industry Adoption: H.265/HEVC has gained wide industry acceptance and support from various hardware and software vendors, ensuring compatibility and availability of supporting devices and software.

  • 3D Video and VR Support: H.265/HEVC includes provisions for efficient encoding of 3D video content and virtual reality (VR) applications, making it suitable for immersive media experiences.

  • Future-Proofing: As higher resolutions and new video technologies emerge, H.265/HEVC’s superior compression efficiency and scalability make it well-equipped to handle the demands of future video applications.

 

Applications of H.265/HEVC

  • Video Streaming: H.265/HEVC is widely used in video streaming services like Netflix, YouTube, and Amazon Prime Video. Its ability to reduce bandwidth consumption while maintaining high video quality allows for smoother streaming experiences, especially for users with limited internet bandwidth.

  • Video Conferencing: Video conferencing platforms, such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Google Meet, leverage H.265/HEVC to provide high-quality video communication. This enables better video transmission over the internet, reducing the strain on network resources and enhancing the overall meeting experience.

  • Video Surveillance: H.265/HEVC is increasingly used in video surveillance systems. The improved compression efficiency helps reduce storage requirements, enabling more extended retention periods for surveillance footage and making it easier to manage large amounts of video data.

  • Broadcasting: Broadcasting companies utilize H.265/HEVC to deliver high-definition and ultra-high-definition (UHD) content to viewers. This allows broadcasters to transmit higher-quality video within existing bandwidth constraints.

  • Video Gaming: In gaming, H.265/HEVC can be used for video clips, cutscenes, and game streaming. It helps maintain high-quality visuals while minimizing the impact on system resources.

  • Medical Imaging: H.265/HEVC’s efficient compression makes it valuable in medical imaging applications, such as storing and transmitting high-quality images and videos from medical devices and diagnostics.

 

AV1

 

video codec

 

AV1 is truly the next-generation video coding format developed by Alliance for Open Media (AOM), along with the support of Google, Amazon, Cisco, Microsoft, Mozilla, and Netflix. It is an open, royalty-free video codec, which is specifically designed to improve the encoding and decoding efficiency by 30% over HEVC’s performance.

Because of its low computational footprints and quick hardware optimization abilities, AV1 delivers highest-quality real-time videos, scalable to any modern device at any bandwidth.

The algorithms used in AV1 are quite more advanced than HEVC. This newer codec is intended for use in WebRTC and HTML5 Web Video together with Opus audio codec format.

 

Pros of AV1

AV1 is a video codec developed by the Alliance for Open Media (AOMedia), which offers several advantages over existing video codecs. Here are some of the key pros of AV1:

  • Improved Compression Efficiency: AV1 provides significantly better compression efficiency compared to previous codecs, such as H.264/AVC and VP9. It can deliver the same video quality at a lower bit rate, reducing file sizes and bandwidth consumption.

  • Royalty-Free and Open Source: AV1 is a royalty-free and open-source video codec, meaning that anyone can use it without incurring licensing fees. This aspect promotes broader adoption and ensures that content creators and developers can freely implement and distribute AV1 in their projects

  • Industry Support: AV1 has garnered support from major technology companies, including Google, Amazon, Microsoft, Apple, Netflix, and more. This support ensures the availability of hardware and software implementations, fostering its adoption across various platforms and devices.

  • Scalability: AV1 is designed to be scalable, making it suitable for a wide range of applications, from mobile devices to high-end professional video production. It can efficiently handle resolutions from SD (Standard Definition) to 4K and beyond.

  • Future-Proofing: AV1 is designed to be forward-looking and is expected to handle emerging video formats and technologies effectively. This future-proofing aspect is crucial as video resolutions and formats continue to evolve.

  • Adaptive Streaming: AV1 supports adaptive streaming, allowing video streaming services to adjust video quality dynamically based on the viewer’s internet connection speed and device capabilities. This ensures smoother playback and reduced buffering.

  • High-Quality Video: AV1’s improved compression efficiency leads to higher video quality at lower bit rates, making it ideal for high-resolution content and applications where preserving visual fidelity is essential.

  • Support for HDR and WCG: AV1 includes native support for High Dynamic Range (HDR) and Wide Color Gamut (WCG), allowing for enhanced visual experiences with more vibrant colors and a broader range of brightness levels.

  • Efficient Parallel Processing: AV1 takes advantage of modern hardware capabilities, including multi-core CPUs and GPUs, to enable faster video encoding and decoding through parallel processing.
  • Wide Device Support: As AV1 gains popularity, more devices and software players are adding support for AV1, making it accessible to a growing audience.

 

Applications of AV1

  • Video Streaming Services: AV1 is widely used by online video streaming platforms to deliver high-quality video content to users over the internet. It allows these platforms to reduce bandwidth consumption while maintaining excellent video quality, resulting in smoother streaming experiences for viewers.

  • Live Streaming: AV1’s compression efficiency makes it well-suited for live streaming events, sports, concerts, and other real-time broadcasts. It enables broadcasters to deliver high-resolution video to a large audience with reduced network load.

  •  Video Conferencing: With the rise of remote work and virtual meetings, AV1 is being adopted in video conferencing applications. It helps improve the quality of video calls while minimizing data usage, making it an ideal choice for bandwidth-constrained environments.

  • OTT (Over-The-Top) Devices: AV1 is finding its way into OTT devices such as smart TVs, set-top boxes, and media streaming sticks. By supporting AV1 playback, these devices can provide users with access to high-quality video content without consuming excessive internet bandwidth.

  • Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR): AV1’s ability to handle high-resolution video makes it suitable for VR and AR applications, where immersive video experiences demand high-quality visuals.

  • Video on Demand (VOD) Platforms: AV1 enables VOD platforms to offer a broad range of content with reduced storage requirements and enhanced video quality. This benefits both content creators, who can deliver high-quality videos, and end-users, who experience better streaming performance.

  • Gaming: AV1 can be used to compress and deliver in-game video content, cutscenes, and cinematics in video games. This can help improve the overall gaming experience without sacrificing video quality.

  • Video Surveillance: AV1’s efficient compression is valuable in video surveillance systems, where large amounts of video data need to be stored and transmitted. It allows for longer retention periods and reduced network traffic.

 

 

VP9

 

video codec

 

VP9 is a royalty-free alternative to HEVC, developed by Google. Every chrome browser, Android phones, and even Google’s own video streaming platform YouTube, supports VP9 for seamless delivery of videos to end-users.

The codec offers better video quality at the same bit rate as HEVC and thus is highly effective for delivering 4K HD videos online. As the efficiency and performance of VP9 are pretty similar to AV1, it is often termed as AV0 (an earlier version of AV1).

 

Pros of VP9

  • Hardware Acceleration: Many modern devices and processors come with hardware acceleration support for VP9, which reduces the computational burden on software-based decoding, leading to smoother video playback and reduced power consumption on such devices.

  • Adaptive Bitrate Streaming: VP9 supports adaptive bitrate streaming, which enables seamless switching between different video quality levels based on the user’s internet connection speed, ensuring an uninterrupted viewing experience.

  • Flexible Encoding Profiles: VP9 offers multiple encoding profiles, including 4:2:0, 4:2:2, and 4:4:4 chroma subsampling, allowing content creators to choose the right profile based on their specific needs.

  • VP9-2 (AV1 Successor): VP9 has paved the way for AV1, which is considered its successor and inherits many of VP9’s strengths while further improving compression efficiency and video quality.

  • High Compression Efficiency: VP9 provides excellent compression efficiency, allowing video content to be delivered at lower bitrates without compromising visual quality. This is beneficial for streaming services and online video platforms, as it reduces bandwidth consumption and ensures smoother playback for users with slower internet connections.

 

Applications of VP9

  • Online Video Streaming: VP9 is commonly used by major online streaming platforms like YouTube and Netflix to deliver high-quality video content to their users. Its efficient compression allows for faster loading times and better video quality, especially at lower bitrates, which is essential for a smooth streaming experience.

  • Video Conferencing: VP9 is also used in video conferencing applications to compress and transmit real-time video streams over the internet. Its low latency and high-quality compression make it suitable for enabling clear and smooth video communication during virtual meetings and conferences.

  • Video Communication on Mobile Devices: With the increasing use of smartphones and tablets for video communication, VP9’s efficient compression is well-suited for delivering high-quality video content over bandwidth-constrained mobile networks.

  • WebRTC: VP9 is one of the video codecs supported by WebRTC (Web Real-Time Communication) technology, which enables real-time communication in web browsers. It allows for efficient video conferencing and other multimedia applications within web applications.

 

VVC

 

video codec

Versatile Video Coding (VVC), also known as H.266 or MPEG-I Part 3, is a video compression standard that was developed to succeed the widely used High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC or H.265). VVC was developed by the Joint Video Experts Team (JVET), which is a collaborative effort between the ITU-T Video Coding Experts Group (VCEG) and the ISO/IEC Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG). The main objective of VVC is to provide significantly improved compression efficiency over its predecessors, allowing for higher quality video at lower bitrates.

Pros of VVC

Improved Compression Efficiency: One of the primary advantages of VVC is its remarkable improvement in compression efficiency compared to previous video codecs. This means that VVC can achieve higher video quality at lower bitrates or maintain the same quality while reducing the amount of data required. This efficiency is crucial for optimizing bandwidth usage, storage requirements, and data transmission.

 

Higher Video Quality: 

VVC enables content creators and distributors to deliver videos with higher visual quality. The codec’s advanced coding tools and techniques, such as more accurate motion compensation and enhanced prediction methods, contribute to better image representation and reduced artifacts.

 

Adaptability to Various Content Types: 

VVC’s versatility allows it to handle a wide range of content types, including different resolutions, frame rates, and video genres. Whether it’s high-motion action scenes, still images, computer-generated content, or slow-paced videos, VVC can efficiently compress and encode diverse content.

 

Support for Emerging Technologies: 

VVC is designed to accommodate modern video technologies such as high dynamic range (HDR) and 360-degree videos. This is essential for delivering immersive and visually stunning experiences to users across various platforms.

 

Increased Bit Depth: 

 

VVC supports higher bit depths, which results in more accurate and nuanced color representation. This is particularly beneficial for applications that require precise color grading and reproduction, such as professional video editing and medical imaging.

 

Future-Proofing: 

The development of VVC took into account potential future advancements in hardware and software technologies. This ensures that VVC remains relevant and effective as video applications continue to evolve.

 

Flexibility in Bitrate Allocation: 

VVC’s improved compression efficiency provides content creators and distributors with more flexibility in allocating bitrates. They can allocate more bits to specific portions of the video that require higher detail and retain quality in areas that are less critical.

 

Economic Benefits: 

VVC’s ability to deliver high-quality videos at lower bit rates can lead to significant cost savings in terms of bandwidth, storage, and transmission costs. This is particularly important for streaming services, where reducing data consumption while maintaining quality is a priority.

 

Reduced Environmental Impact: 

By requiring fewer bits to deliver the same quality of video, VVC can contribute to reducing the environmental impact associated with data transmission and storage, as less energy is required for data processing and transmission.

 

Industry Standardization: 

VVC is developed and standardized by recognized industry organizations, such as ITU-T and MPEG. This ensures that VVC is well-supported and widely adopted across various industries and platforms.

 

Applications of VVC

Video Streaming Services: VVC is particularly valuable for video streaming platforms like Netflix, YouTube, and Amazon Prime Video. It allows these platforms to deliver high-quality video content to users while optimizing bandwidth usage. This is especially important as streaming services compete to offer better visual quality and user experiences.

 

Live Video Streaming: 

VVC can be utilized for live video streaming of events, concerts, sports matches, and conferences. Its ability to handle high-motion scenes and deliver improved quality at lower bitrates is advantageous for real-time content distribution.

 

Video Conferencing and Collaboration: 

VVC is beneficial for video conferencing platforms, enabling high-quality video communication with reduced data consumption. This is crucial for enhancing the clarity of video calls and minimizing latency, ensuring smooth communication.

 

Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR): 

 

VVC’s support for 360-degree videos and advanced compression can enhance the quality of VR and AR experiences. These technologies rely on immersive visuals, and VVC can help deliver more detailed and realistic content.

 

Online Gaming: 

In online gaming, where low latency is crucial, VVC’s efficient compression can help in delivering high-quality graphics and animations without causing significant delays.

 

Digital Cinema and Entertainment: 

VVC’s ability to provide superior quality video at reduced bitrates makes it a suitable option for digital cinema projection, film distribution, and digital content delivery to theaters.

 

Video Surveillance and Security: 

VVC’s efficient compression is beneficial for video surveillance systems, where large amounts of video data need to be stored and transmitted. It enables clear video footage with lower storage requirements.

 

Medical Imaging: 

VVC’s support for higher bit depths is useful in medical imaging applications, where accurate representation of images and videos is critical for diagnosis and treatment planning.

 

Video Editing and Post-Production: 

Professionals in the video editing and post-production industry can benefit from VVC’s improved compression and bit depth support. This allows for efficient storage and manipulation of high-quality video content.

 

E-Learning and Online Education: 

VVC can enhance the quality of educational videos and online courses, ensuring that learners receive clear and detailed visual content even at lower bandwidths.

 

Broadcasting and Television:

Television broadcasters can utilize VVC to transmit high-definition and ultra-high-definition content while optimizing spectrum usage and reducing transmission costs.

 

Automotive Infotainment and Connectivity: 

VVC can be integrated into automotive infotainment systems to deliver high-quality video content to passengers. It also supports in-car cameras and surveillance systems.

 

Social Media and User-Generated Content: 

Social media platforms can leverage VVC to improve the quality of user-generated videos while conserving network resources.

 

Industrial and Remote Monitoring: 

VVC can be applied in industrial settings for remote monitoring of equipment, machinery, and processes. It provides clear visuals for analyzing operational conditions.

 

Which is the Best Video Codec for Streaming?

Let’s go straight to the point.

H.264 or AVC is an older version of video coding format. With the introduction of numerous advancements in compression techniques and new video technologies like HDR & VR, it’s for sure, integration of AVC codec will soon be replaced.

HEVC, the successor of AVC, has been in place for almost six years, but still content distributors are hesitating to adopt its compression standards, because of expensive and tedious configurations.

Google’s VP9 is a powerful codec doubtlessly, but it failed to gain widespread adoption because of its complex patent licensing process. Considering VP9’s learned-lessons, Google later decided to support the development of AOM’s royalty-free AV1.

Now talking about the latest video codec – AV1 is exclusively designed to be more performant than all the available codecs in the market. It is an open-sourced codec with hassle-free patent licensing, and the integration manages to save upto 30% of the bandwidth for the same image quality.

comparing video codecs

So, if you are looking for a next-generation performance-oriented video codec that is limited by bandwidth and licensing cost, AV1 is the perfect codec. Else, you can go with HEVC for its real-time, and low latency encoding process. But remember, as time will pass on, both the streaming industry and technological developments will ultimately shift towards AV1 and its successors.

At Muvi, we definitely believe that AV1 will have a positive impact on the streaming industry in the next five years. Considering that, we offer a fully-managed built-in streaming engine for multi-codec video delivery using dedicated servers.

Check out the configurations of our 2x faster encoding and transcoding extensions for details.

 

FAQs

 

What are AV1, HEVC, and VP9, and how do they differ from older video codecs?

AV1, HEVC (High Efficiency Video Coding), and VP9 (Google’s VP9) are modern video codecs that have been developed to improve video compression and quality compared to older codecs like H.264 (also known as AVC) and VP8. These codecs are designed to achieve better compression efficiency while maintaining high video quality, making them crucial for video streaming, online video platforms, and various other applications.

 

What advantages does HEVC offer over its predecessor, H.264, in terms of video streaming quality?

HEVC (High Efficiency Video Coding), also known as H.265, offers several key advantages over its predecessor, H.264 (Advanced Video Coding or AVC), in terms of video streaming quality. These advantages have made HEVC a popular choice for streaming high-quality video content. Here are some of the main advantages:

  • Better Compression Efficiency
  • Support for Higher Resolutions
  • Better Handling of Complex Scenes
  • Improved Error Resilience
  • HDR (High Dynamic Range) Support
  • Adaptive Streaming

 

What factors should content providers consider when choosing a video codec for online streaming?

Choosing the right video codec for online streaming is a critical decision for content providers, as it directly impacts the quality of the streaming experience, bandwidth requirements, compatibility with devices, and operational costs. When making this decision, content providers should consider several important factors:

  • Compression Efficiency
  • Compatibility
  • Playback Performance
  • Licensing Costs
  • Adaptive Streaming Support
  • Resolution and Quality Requirements

 

Which codec among AV1, HEVC, and VP9 is considered the most advanced in terms of technology?

AV1 is generally considered the most advanced video codec in terms of technology. AV1, also known as AOMedia Video 1, was developed by the Alliance for Open Media (AOMedia), which includes major tech companies like Google, Netflix, Amazon, and more. AV1 was designed to push the boundaries of video compression technology, and it offers several advancements over HEVC (H.265) and VP9.

 

video codec

Written by: Ankit Jena

Ankit is Content Writer for Muvi’s Marketing unit. He is a passionate writer with 5+ Years of Experience in Content Creation And Development. In his past time, he likes to dance, play football and google various things to quench his thirst for knowledge.

Add your comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

Try Muvi One free for 14 days

No Credit Card Required

.muvi.com
Your website will be at https://yourname.muvi.com, you can change this later.

Upcoming Webinar
April 25

8:00AM PST

Keep it Secure, Keep it Safe: Tips and Techniques to Protect Your Video Content

Streaming content security has quickly elevated to the number one priority across the industry. That’s because billions are being lost in live event revenue, such as sporting events,…...

Event Language: English
1 hour