Encoding

One of the most fundamental encoding decisions is the size of the Group of Pictures (GOP) or the frequency of I-frames within an encoded file. I-frames, also known as keyframes, are the starting points for groups of pictures, consisting of I-, B-, and P-frames. Traditionally, the GOP size is directed by adaptive bitrate streaming considerations, such as ensuring an I-frame …

Here are three things to know about 2-pass x265 encoding with FFmpeg.  If you’re using -pass 1 and -pass 2 in your command string, it’s probably not working. You must use x265-params 0:pass=1 and then x265-params 0:pass=2 in the second pass. In the way we absolutely love about FFmpeg, there’s no error message if you use -pass 1/-pass 2; it …

I’m running some 1-pass vs. 2-pass comparison testing with x265. Unlike with x264 (see tests here), there’s a substantial performance penalty for running 2-pass with minimal quality benefit. I tried the no-slow-firstpass=1 setting, which only accelerated two-pass by about 14%. Here are the results from a single test file. I don’t want to process them all if there’s a magic …

Learn how thread count impacts video quality, encoding speed, and costs in FFmpeg workflows. Master configurations for optimal production and testing results.

I’m pleased to announce a new free course, MA35D & FFmpeg Quick Start: Essential Skills and Expert Tips. As the title suggests, the course will get you up and running quickly and help you configure the MA35D for optimal throughput and quality for your application. The first few lessons describe how to access the MA35D’s hardware options for decoding, encoding, …

When choosing a preset for VOD transcoding, it almost always makes sense to use the highest-quality preset, because any increase in encoding costs will typically be recouped via bandwidth savings delivered by the more efficient encoding. I covered that analysis in detail here. Note that this conclusion assumes that you deliver at a certain quality level and will boost the …

I was reminded of this recently as I prepared for a talk on AV1 readiness at the upcoming United Cloud Tech Talk. Though quality is only a single factor, I wanted to nail the quality comparisons for the talk, but didn’t have time to produce all the iterations myself. It’s been a while since I benchmarked H.264, HEVC, AV1, and …

In a recent interview available on YouTube, Jan Ozer sat down with Fred Dawson, an industry journalist and principal at Dawson Communications, to discuss his whitepaper for Motion Spell titled “GPAC: Ultra Media Technology Breaks Barriers to Next Gen Streaming.” Released in conjunction with GPAC’s 21st anniversary, the whitepaper illuminates how GPAC UltraMedia technology is setting new benchmarks for cost …

The Streaming Learning Center is pleased to announce the addition of four new lessons on video monetization to Streaming Media 101: Technical Onboarding for Streaming Media Professionals. These new lessons provide essential knowledge for all encoding professionals and cover crucial aspects of monetizing video content effectively. Course creator Jan Ozer explained the additions. “Monetization drives the business. Encoding professionals must …

Announcing session 2 of Streaming Summer Bootcamp: Learn to Produce H.264 Video. Thu, Jul 11, 2024, 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM. The session is to be produced on LinkedIn Live: Click to register. The free webinar will cover: • What H.264 is and its origins • What x264 is and why it’s important • How x264 compares to other H.264 …