The Alliance for Open Media, an organization that includes technology giants such as Amazon, Apple, Google, Intel, LG, Microsoft, Nvidia, Samsung and others, has announced a newer, better-performing version of the open-source AV1 video codec.
The AV1 codec was first released by AOMedia, as the Alliance is known, back in 2018. It was designed as a royalty-free alternative to the HEVC codec, which was – and still is – the most dominant video codec for 4K resolution and high dynamic range content. However, AV1 has gotten some traction, with the likes of Netflix and YouTube both adopting it for some of their video streams.
Given that it’s now seven years old, the AV1 codec is perhaps looking a little bit dated, and all the more so when we consider that the Versatile Video Coding or VVC codec, the successor to HEVC, has been around since 2020. So it’s a case of better late than never with the arrival of AV1’s successor.
The new codec is somewhat predictably being called AV2, and it is supposed to represent a “generational leap” in open video coding performance. AOMedia says it’s the answer to the world’s growing streaming demands and will provide substantially better performance in terms of compression than its predecessor.
“AV2 provides enhanced support for AR/VR applications, split-screen delivery of multiple programs, improved handling of screen content, and an ability to operate over a wider visual quality range,” AOMedia said in its announcement. “AV2 marks a milestone on the path to an open, innovative future of media experiences.”
Unfortunately, AOMedia did not provide any performance specifications, so we cannot yet say how much better AV2 will be than AV1, but the good news is that we won’t have to wait long to find out, with public release slated for later this year.
Once AV2 becomes available, it should be adopted pretty quickly. AOMedia says 53% of its members will switch to the new codec within 12 months of its launch, while 88% plan to do so within two years.
That said, its adoption will also depend on how soon TV, media player, personal computer and other device makers implement support for the AV2 codec. If the hardware doesn’t support it, then users won’t be able to take advantage of it.
Nonetheless, AOMedia’s executive director Dr. Pierre-Anthony Lemieux said he’s confident that uptake of AV2 should be fairly quick, due to its open-source nature. “We believe innovation thrives when it’s open,” he explained.
