Your browser is out-of-date!

Update your browser to view this website correctly. Update my browser now

×

Alliance for Open Media ‘kickstarts’ video innovation with AV1 release

Codec delivers cross-platform, 4K UHD or higher online video, royalty-free

The Alliance for Open Media (AOMedia) has released the 1.0 version of AV1, a next-gen, royalty-free codec that claims to have a 30 per cent bit-rate efficiency edge over current technologies such as VP9 and HEVC.

The consortium says AV1 will deliver improved bandwidth efficiencies amid the move to v4K, 8K, High Dynamic Range and Wide Colour Gamut. It also coincides with the emergence of 360-degree video, virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR) apps and services that require smooth streaming.

The release of AV1 includes:

– Bitstream specification to enable the next-generation of silicon

– Unoptimised, experimental software decoder and encoder to create and consume the bitstream

– Reference streams for product validation

– Binding specifications to allow content creation and streaming tools for user-generated and commercial video

“Nearly three years after launching AOMedia, the AV1 codec addresses real bottlenecks for unleashing the highest-quality video for the entire ecosystem, allowing for better viewing experiences across all screens and data networks,” said AOMedia executive director Gabe Frost. 

“By listening to the industry’s feedback in an open and collaborative manner and bringing together leading experts to develop AV1, an entire ecosystem can begin creating video products and experiences that customers love.”