Encoding

alt

Compute Your Own Bjontegaard Functions (BD-Rate)

Figure 1. BD-rate savings from AV1 as published by Facebook. When Facebook compared the AV1 codec to VP9 and two flavors of H264, their researcher precisely stated, “In terms of PSNR, the average BD-rate savings of AV1 relative to x264 main, x264 high and libvpx-vp9 were 51.0%, 47.0% and 29.9%, respectively.” This means that AV1 delivered the same quality as …

Read More »

Download Handout from Encoding Live and VOD for HEVC in HLS

This was a pre-conference workshop; here’s the description, download the handout below. Note that there are two sets of handouts, one from Jan, the other from RealEyes. W3. Encoding Live & VOD For HEVC/HLS Monday, May 7: 1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. Apple’s support for HEVC in HLS is a groundbreaking event that opens up hundreds of millions of HEVC-capable players. …

Read More »

Download Handout – Comparing Per-Title Encoding Options

Another of my sessions at Streaming Media. Here’s the description, download PDF below. T203. HOW-TO: Comparing Per-Title Encoding Options Wednesday, May 9: 1:45 p.m. – 2:45 p.m. Per-title encoding techniques customize the encoding ladder to match the encoding complexity of the source, saving bandwidth on easy-to compress videos and ensuring the quality of more complex footage. Codec specialist Jan Ozer …

Read More »

Download Handout – Multi-Distribution of Live Video

One of my three sessions at Streaming Media East. Here’s the description; link to handout below. Note: one issue that came up during the discussion was the ability for systems to handle multiple language and captions. After the presentation, I heard from a representative from Go Easy Live who stated, “As additional informational, I confirm that we are able to …

Read More »

Encoding 2018: Codecs & Packaging For PCs, Mobile, & OTT/STB/Smart TVs – Handout

My first presentation at Streaming Media East. A complete lesson-based rewrite from previous workshops. Here’s the description, the download link is below. As video resolutions increase and target playback platforms multiply, video producers must leave their H.264/HLS/HDS comfort zone and expand into HEVC, VP9, and MPEG-DASH. This workshop is divided into multiple segments by target platform to teach you the …

Read More »

Details Regarding Per-Title Bakeoff at Streaming Media East

I know time is short, but I’ve gotten in touch with most vendors that offer this feature and am posting this (and using social media) so the word is out. Anyone who wants to participate, there’s still time. Here’s the description of the session: T203. HOW-TO: Comparing Per-Title Encoding Options Wednesday, May 9: 1:45 p.m. – 2:45 p.m. Per-title encoding …

Read More »

Tutorial on HEVC in HLS and the New Beamr Transcoder

While at NAB, I produced a short video with Beamr CTO Dror Gil and Dirk Griffioen from Unified Streaming, which sells a variety of streaming-related software, including modules for ABR packaging. The primary topic was encoding and packaging with HEVC in HLS. Dror also gave a brief demo of Beamr’s new Transcoder product. During the talk, we covered sub-topics like the suggested encoding …

Read More »

NAB Roundup: What I Learned About the Launch of AV1

From a Streaming Media perspective, NAB 2018 was all about the launch of the AV1 codec from the Alliance for Open Media. While at the show, I spoke with many different people from many different companies about the launch, and about other codec-related announcements at the show. You can read all about that in my article entitled, NAB Roundup: The …

Read More »

Facebook Introduces New 360°/VR Video Quality Metric

VR and 360° video has all of the compression-related issues of flat video, and then some. Facebook’s new metrics, called SSIM360 and 360QVM, might simplify quality analysis for developers in the future, particularly if Facebook open sources the metrics. In a blog post called “Quality Assessment of 360° Video View Sessions,” Facebook will announce two objective quality metrics—SSIM360 and 360QVM—that the company …

Read More »

ZPEG Engine for x264 Cuts Video Data Rate by 21% Without Artifacts

With streaming video data rates, less is always more, unless of course, lower data rates mean visible artifacts. I just finished a review of the ZPEG Engine for x264, which produced bitrate savings of 21% without blocks, banding, mosquitoes, or other problems that would be noticeable by typical viewers. This was an average saving; the data rate reduction in some …

Read More »