HEVC Video Codecs Comparison 2018
Thirteen MSU Video Codecs Comparison
MSU Graphics & Media Lab (Video Group)
If you want to receive a notification when a new part of 2018 report is released, please subscribe to updates |
- 2018 report parts
- Video codecs that are tested in 2018
- Express Report for NAB (Released!)
- Objectives and testing tools
- Codec analysis and tuning for codec developers and codec users
- Thanks
- Contact information
2018 Report Parts
Express Report for NAB |
HTML speed-quality charts for Fast and Universal use-cases on about 30% of test video sequences set. |
Fast Use-Cases Report | Full PDF report for Fast and Universal use-cases on all test video sequences |
Main Report | Fast use-cases report completed with Ripping use-case and new metrics |
4K Report | Comparison on high-resolution video sequences |
Ultra Ripping + AV1, VP9 | Comparison on extremely slow presets |
Subjective Report | Subjective comparison conducted on Subjectify.us platform |
Global Codecs Trends | Re-comparison of previously participated codecs versions on one platform and set of video sequences |
Video Codecs that are Tested in 2018
A total of 19 codecs are tested this year (9 codecs take part in private participation). The following 10 codecs will be represented in public reports:
Express Report for NAB
With a great respect for the participants who sent us the presets long before the deadline which is set for April, 25, we made an express comparison and now publish the first results of these codecs
For the future comparisons, we are going to increase the number of tested codecs in this express report, by setting up earlier dates for submitting codecs and presets.
List of disclaimers
- We have tested about a half of 2018 public competitors for which we have already received encoding settings. The other participating codecs will be analyzed after the end of April when we receive encoding settings from them.
- As our deadline for submitting encoding settings is set to the end of April the results in next reports may change from the current "express" comparison when all presets will satisfy the limitations for encoding speed.
- The current comparison was conducted on 11 video sequences, which is about 30% of this year test set. The remaining videos represent other specific video classes, so overall results might change when testing on the whole video set.
- For now, we publish Y-SSIM, Y-PSNR and Y-VMAF metrics.
Objectives and Testing Tools
HEVC codec testing objectives
The main goal of this report is the presentation of a comparative evaluation of the quality of new HEVC codecs and codecs of other standards using objective measures of assessment. The comparison was done using settings provided by the developers of each codec. Nevertheless, we required all presets to satisfy minimum speed requirement on the particular use case. The main task of the comparison is to analyze different encoders for the task of transcoding video – e.g., compressing video for personal use.Test Hardware Characteristics
- CPU: Intel Socket 1151 Core i7 8700K (Coffee Lake) (3.7Ghz, 6C12T, TDP 95W)
- Mainboard: ASRock Z370M Pro4
- RAM: Crucial CT16G4DFD824A 16GB DIMM DDR4 2400MHz CL15
- OS: Windows 10 x64
- Fast/High Density – 1080@60fps
- Universal/Broadcast VQ – 1080p@25fps
- Ripping/Pristine VQ – 1080p@1fps and SSIM-RD curve better than x264-veryslow
Video Sequences Selection
We have updated video database from which we choose sample videos for encoders' comparison. In this year, we analyzed 539765 videos hosted at Vimeo looking for 4K and FullHD videos with high bitrates (50 Mbps was selected as a lower bitrate boundary). This enabled us to find and download 942 new 4K videos and 2346 new FullHD videos.
We also completed list of selected sequences with high-quality videos from media.xiph.org.
Codec Analysis and Tuning for Codec Developers and Codec Users
Computer Graphics and Multimedia Laboratory of Moscow State University:
Strong and Weak Points of Your Codec
Independent Codec Estimation Comparing to Other Codecs for Different Use-cases
Encoder Features Implementation Optimality Analysis
We perform encoder features effectiveness (speed/quality trade-off) analysis that could lead up to 30% increase in the speed/quality characteristics of your codec. We can help you to tune your codec and find best encoding parameters.Thanks
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
Contact Information
![]() |
Subscribe to 2018 report updates
Call for HEVC codecs 2018 See all MSU Video Codec Comparisons
MSU video codecs comparisons resources:
- Introduction to Video Codecs Comparison
- Lossless Video Ñodecs Comparison 2004 (October 2004)
- MPEG-4 SP/ASP Video Codecs Comparison (March 2005)
- JPEG 2000 Image Codecs Comparison (September 2005)
- First Annual MPEG-4 AVC/ H.264 Video Codecs Comparison (January 2005)
- Second Annual MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 Video Codec Comparison (December 2005)
- Subjective Comparison of Modern Video Codecs (February 2006)
- MPEG-2 Video Decoders Comparison (May 2006)
- WMP and JPEG2000 Comparison (October 2006)
- Third Annual MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 Comparison (December 2006) (All versions for free!)
- Lossless Video Codecs Comparison 2007 (March 2007)
- Fourth Annual MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 Comparison (December 2007) (All versions for free!)
- Options Analysis of MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 Codec x264 (December 2008)
- Fifth MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 Comparison (May 2009) (All versions for free!)
- Sixth MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 Comparison (May 2010)
- Seventh MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 Comparison (May 2011)
- Eighth MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 Comparison (May 2012)
- Ninth MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 Comparison (Dec 2013)
- Tenth Video Codec Comparison (HEVC) (Oct 2015)
- Eleventh Video Codec Comparison (HEVC) (Aug 2016)
- Eleventh Video Codec Comparison (HEVC) (Aug 2017) (New!)
- Codec Analysis for Companies:
Other Materials
Video resources:



Last updated: 11-April-2018 |
|
Project updated by
Server Team and MSU Video Group
Project sponsored by YUVsoft Corp.
Project supported by MSU Graphics & Media Lab