New Rules of Codec Development

The game has changed for new codecs entering the market.

It's Time to Retire PSNR

Peak signal-to-noise ratio is poor predictor of subjective video quality. So why are PSNR comparisons used in almost all codec comparisons?

4 Keys to Evaluating Cloud Transcoding Options

Here are the four differentiating factors to focus on when assessing cloud transcoding solutions

When it Comes to Bitrates, Less is Always More

What can streaming producers do in the short-term to reduce the load during these COVID-19-related bandwidth usage spikes?

School Announcements on Ice(cast)

Some schools are moving to newscast-style video announcements. Icecast offers an effective way to deliver them efficiently and effectively.

When it Comes to Video Quality Measurements, Average Won't Cut It

Average scores can be deceiving, so be sure you're using a tool that gives you a more accurate assessment of your video quality

The Quiet Conference: At IBC 2019, No News Was Good News

Some years are revolutionary, some are evolutionary, and some are just "meh." Here's why those "meh" years are the best ones for the industry.

Announcing the Swift Death of Per-Title Encoding, 2015-2019

Once revolutionary, pre-title encoding was replaced by shot-based encoding and then context aware encoding. Here's how to evaluate vendors when choosing a solution.

Solutions Abound for High-Volume Live Video Cloud Transcoding

Streaming Media West provided a look at new options for demanding live cloud transcoding jobs. Here's a rundown for those who couldn't be there.

Creating a Recipe for Codec Success to Please All Palates

Looking back and the successes and misfires of H.264, HEVC, and VP9 show what the industry can expect from AV1 and VVC.

New Codecs Are Coming; Here's How to Evaluate Codec Evaluations

When comparing the video quality created by different codecs, consider the companies running the comparisons and the metrics they're offering.

Time to Start Testing: FFmpeg Turns 4.0 and Adds AV1 Support

AV1 delivers equivalent quality to HEVC, but with a lower data rate. For now, though, it's slow. A five-second clip took 23 hours and 46 minutes to encode.

Can AI Make the Streaming Video Experience Even Better Than TV?

Look for artificial intelligence and machine learning to improve content delivery, video compression, and viewer personalization, strengthening the entire workflow.

Per-Title Video Encoding: The Time to Get Started Is Now

Now widely available, per-title encoding makes whatever codec publishers are already using more efficient by creating a custom optimized encoding ladder.

What Does Netflix Know About Prime Time Video Streaming, Anyway?

Sometimes an industry benchmark—such as Netflix's ISP Speed Index—only tells half the story about video delivery. Before picking a codec, dig a little deeper.

Three Truths About Virtual Reality Success From a VR Novice

The creativity behind immersive VR filmmaking is only matched by the software engineering creativity that makes this type of video possible.

Comparing Quality Metrics Up and Down the Encoding Ladder

How can publishers compare video quality at different resolutions? There's the theoretically correct answer and then there's how it's generally done.

The Changing Face (and Price) of the On-Prem Video Encoder

The last few years have seen huge changes in how video encoding gets done, and that means new pricing options. Explore the various choices before making a decision.

VP9 Pricing: When Does Adding VP9 Lead to Bandwidth Cost Savings?

A conference question asks when it makes economic sense for a video provider to add a VP9 transcode? We scoped out the variables and did the math.

Is it Time Yet for 4K, H.265, and VP9 Adoption? Not So Fast

While it's fun to be on the cutting-edge of new video codecs and formats, H.264 should be every publishers' primary focus for the time being.