AV1 codec support

[Juan Pablo Mendiola]

Hi, 

I tried to fond some discussion about this topic, but i couldn't find any.

i would like to know if AV1 codec is supported into Qlab, and if it can be used on a Macbook Pro M1 Max. In my tests i could run AV1 videos into VLC coded in Handbrake, but not into Qlab.

I guess AV1 has a big dependence of a physical decoder to run optimized to not overcharge  the gpu or cpu.

I believe since M3 silicon processors Apple included the decoder into the SoC.

I would like to read some words of the Qlab and video masters around here.

Thank you in advance.

[micpool]

AV1 is really intended for  streaming  and uses high levels of data compression to allow streaming of 4K content at bitrates that would normally be limited to  SD content. Support in M3 chips is mainly to allow high quality streaming of things like Netflix to browsers on phones and tablets over 5G. I'm not sure how useful or relevant it is to media  playback in QLab or any other Video playback software but as a general principle any codec which has a very demanding resource need for decoding is considered unndesirable for playback from Media servers, large files with minimum requirements for  decoding are far more suitable. 

Mic

[Juan Pablo Mendiola]

Thaks for your response, Mic.

I get it. My intention is not to use it for the show, but for the creation process and rehearsals and tests.

I'm thinking about the work in progress workflow. Sending quick (high quality) mockups with really small files back and forth for quick tests and corrections would be great. 

In my (quick and not deep) tests with the compression at a maximin quality bitrates the differences in file weights between ProRes and AV1 are really, really impressive, keeping a great quality. One huge downside: not Alpha Channel. But for the projects without alpha channel needs, i thought it could be a great option.

In our projects, the graphics department working from their studio introduces on the workflow 3 bottlenecks: 

- 1. time to render (it is what it is according to the machines, resolution, codecs, etc) No regrets.

- 2. time to upload the files on their side (some can be really huge files)

- 3. time to download the files on our side (the stage). Sometimes the network connection at the place we are working is not the best when doing a residence. This can make the pace of production very much resentful.

Another big problem is the accumulation of versions of huge files until the decision is made for selecting the final files.

And not always we have great internal ssd which can have all these versions (plus another shows), as we all know. And moving in and out the files to an external drive is really time consuming and delays the tests.

I know we have other options that we're still using. But since we have a new very good option to maintain small files with enormous quality (AV1) and new machines (M3, M4, M4 pro, M4 Max) support those files, my question / contribution was in the direction of incorporating new options that make our workflow faster and with a good level of quality while we are creating and doing the tests.

Once we have selected the final files, we can take the time to upload/download the huge files, or take a drive to transfer them to an external disc and then transfer them to the show machine.

One of the things i love the most of Qlab is the extremely quick you can do some prototype and quick test. The quicker is the whole workflow the greater is the love (and the dependence).

jp

[micpool]

M3 + M4 AV1 support only has hardware acceleration for decoding, not encoding, and the encode times can be very long. Overall, I'm not sure it's going to save that much time. 

AV1 is really a replacement for VP9, another codec intended for streaming. I don't think I've ever considered using that for using that  in a QLab production workflow.

Surely, improving the speed of internet access at both ends,  and getting more storage will be more time-saving and far less costly than upgrading everything to M3 processors and losing compatibility with 99%  of Macs in current use.

Mic

[Juan Pablo Mendiola]

Makes absolute sense. 

Is truth is that is more affordable improving the speed of internet access than upgrading all the systems in a production.

When new tech options appear, sometimes we are blinded by wanting to find out how to implement them at all costs (marketing victims) and there are certainly other points to focus on.

Thanks Mic

jp