New Codec 2022 Lessons Added to Streaming Media 101 Course

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Just a quick note that I’ve updated the course, Streaming Media 101: Technical Onboarding for Streaming Media Professionals, with new codec lessons for H.264, VP9, HEVC, AV1, VVC, LCEVC, and EVC. Each lesson, which vary in length from 12 to 20 minutes, covers the topics shown in the agenda below.

The lessons are designed to bring the students up to date on the strengths and weaknesses of each codec and the deployability status of newer codecs. The lessons are succeeded by existing lessons, New Rules for Codec Deployments, which covers the impact of the Alliance for Open Media on codec adoption, and New Codec Breakeven; When to Consider Adopting a New Codec, which analyzes real-world factors to be considered when adopting a new codec. Many companies are considering adding new codecs like AV1 and VVC; this curriculum provides an excellent framework for making this decision.

Codecs Strengths and Weaknesses

Moving on to the new lessons, each starts with a brief description of the codec, then how its quality compares to others. Then a note on unique selling propositions (AR/VR for VVC), royalty status, and key stakeholders that will help drive adoption. Then I cover how costly each codec is to encode and live origination and transcoding options.

Then I discuss the playability side, starting with whether the codec will play in software. If so, I identify where it’s supported by browsers or the operating system, which simplifies deployment. If the codec requires hardware for playback, I discuss when hardware will be available.

For the newer codecs like AV1, VVC, LCEVC, and VVC, you’ll learn when they should be ready for prime time in browsers, mobile devices, and smart TVs and OTT devices. Each lesson concludes with a look at codec utilization statistics from two codec reports, so you’ll get my views and two others.

All lessons are immediately available to current registered students. The VVC 2022 lesson is available as a free lesson in the front of the course, though you’ll have to register to view it. Here’s a link to the course.