Everything You Need to Know About AV1 Codec

“AV1 is actually insanely good already. Why is not not used more broadly? Did a few encodes of trailers with x264, x265 and av1, and I was honestly completely blown away by av1.”

Testimony of this Reddit user emphasizes the amazing quality of the AV1 codec. Though its potential is great, many people still know nothing about it currently. In this guide, we'll explain everything you need to know about AV1. Also, you’ll learn why AV1 is set to alter video streaming and storage, regardless of your level of knowledge of video encoding.

Part 1: What is AV1 Codec?

Designed by Alliance for Open Media (AOMedia), AV1 is a brand-new video codec. A codec is a device for compressing and decompressing video data, hence reducing their size and facilitating sharing without compromising quality. First launched in 2018 and backed by big tech giants including Google, Microsoft, and Netflix, AV1 was created to be a free and open substitute for previous codecs such HEVC (H. 265).

Advantages of Using AV1 Codec

• AV1 may produce video files far smaller than more conventional codecs without sacrificing quality. This allows you to broadcast excellent videos even with slow internet speed.
• AV1 is royalty-free unlike several other codecs. This makes adoption of it less expensive for businesses since anyone can use it without paying license fees.
• AV1 is made to be relevant for a long time since it is made to function with contemporary technologies and change with future developments.
• Many well-known browsers and platforms, like YouTube, Chrome, and Firefox, now accept AV1, hence you may view AV1 movies on these sites without any problems.
• AV1 can help to prolong battery life on mobile devices since it is tuned to lower power usage during video playback.

Thanks to its effective compression and free-to-use paradigm, AV1 is poised to become the benchmark for video streaming and storage going forward. Faster streaming with reduced data use and even higher video quality should be expected as more devices and platforms embrace AV1.

Part 2: AV1 VS Other Codecs

Here is a table and comparison that should give you a clear understanding of how AV1 stands out among other codecs. It will help you decide which one to use based on your needs.

AV1 (AOMedia Video 1)

• Strengths: Offers the best compression efficiency, making video files smaller without losing quality. It is royalty-free, making it cost-effective for widespread use.
• Weaknesses: Slower encoding speed due to complex algorithms, but this is improving with hardware support.

H.264 (Advanced Video Coding)

• Strengths: Widely supported across all devices and platforms. Fast encoding and decoding speeds.
• Weaknesses: Older technology with less efficient compression compared to newer codecs. Requires licensing fees.

H.265 (High Efficiency Video Coding)

• Strengths: Better compression efficiency than H.264, providing smaller file sizes for the same quality. Increasingly supported in modern devices.
• Weaknesses: Requires licensing fees, and encoding can be slower.

VP9

• Strengths: Good compression efficiency and is royalty-free. Widely used on Google platforms like YouTube and supported by major browsers.
• Weaknesses: Slightly less efficient than AV1 in terms of compression, but still better than H.264.

Part 3: How to Use AV1 Codec: Step-by-step Guide

Using the AV1 codec to encode videos might sound complicated, but with the right tools and steps, you can do it easily. Here's a simple guide for you:

1. Choose a reliable Encoding Software like FFmpeg. It is a powerful command-line tool for video processing. Download and install it.
2. Make sure you have the video file you want to encode in AV1 format ready on your computer.
3. On Windows, open the Command Prompt. For macOS or Linux, launch the Terminal.
4. Use the cd command to navigate to the folder containing your video file.
5. Enter the following command, replacing input.mp4 with the name of your video file and output.av1 with the desired output image name.

   

6. FFmpeg will start encoding your video to AV1 format. This process might take some time depending on the size of your video and your computer's performance.
7. Once the encoding is finished, locate the output file on your computer.
8. Play the video using a media player that supports AV1, such as VLC or a web browser like Chrome or Firefox.

Part 4: How to Fix Damaged AV1 Codec Video Files?

Video files running the AV1 codec occasionally may get corrupted or damaged. Many things could cause this, including hardware problems, power outages, or halted downloads. A corrupted video file may play either hardly at all or incorrectly. Still, you can solve these problems with the correct tool.

Repairit Video Repair is among the finest tools available for fixing broken AV1 video files. Designed to repair corrupted video files, Repairit Video Repair is a powerful yet simple tool. It helps repair your videos so they play flawlessly once more and supports an array of video formats including AV1. Videos in formats including MP4, MOV, AVI, and more can be repaired.

Repairit also provides an advanced repair mode for seriously damaged videos. This option helps to increase the repair quality by means of a sample video from the same device.

Steps to Repair Damaged AV1 Codec Video Files with Repairit

Step 1. Open the software, then click on the +Add button to import the damaged AV1 video files you want to repair.

Step 2. Press the Repair button to initiate the process.

Step 3. Once the repair is complete, you can preview the repaired videos to ensure they are fixed. If the file is severely corrupted, use its Advanced Repair feature. You just need to add a sample MP4 video.

Step 4. After advanced repairing, click Save to download the repaired videos to your desired location.

Conclusion

Generally speaking, AV1 codec is a strong and quick video codec with great compression and quality free of license costs. AV1 has the potential to become a new standard for video streaming and storage as more devices and platforms enable it.