Comparison of video codecs

Video Codecs are needed to provide digital video data for certain applications and store in a container file. Some of the programs listed are not strictly speaking codecs because either the encoder ( encode / compress) or the decoder ( decode / decompress ) are missing. However, they are usually subsumed under the term codec anyway.

Lossy video codecs

The compression of video information reduces the need for transmission capacity and disk space considerably, plus the video information is simplified with compression algorithms and summarized. However, less important information is discarded.

MPEG video codecs

  • MPEG -1 Part 2 ( ISO 11172 ): Typical Use: Video CD ( VCD ) and MPEG- 2 Part 2 (ISO 13818 ) or H.262: 8 -bit color, 4:2:0 color sub-sampling, limited to 25 Mbps data transfer rate, typical uses are: Super Video CD ( SVCD), MVCD, KVCD, DVD, DVB, HDTV Cinema Craft Encoder (CCE ) ( Encoder)
  • TMPGEnc (encoder)
  • Cleaner (encoder)
  • Compressor (encoder)
  • Ligos LSX (encoder)
  • Bbmpeg (encoder)
  • Elecard (decoder)
  • Libmpeg2
  • QuEnc
  • HC encoder
  • Cinema Craft Encoder (CCE ) ( Encoder)
  • Ligos LSX (encoder)
  • TMPGEnc (encoder)
  • FFmpeg
  • Xvid: Free under the GNU General Public License
  • 3ivx 3ivx Technologies
  • Jomigo HDX4
  • Nero AG and Nero Digital Ateme
  • FFmpeg
  • CoreAVC
  • CyberLink H.264
  • Nero AG and Nero Digital Ateme
  • QuickTime H.264
  • X264 encoder: free under the GNU General Public License
  • HC encoder
  • FFmpeg (decoder)
  • FFmpeg (decoder)

Other codecs with program implementation and provider

  • Apple Pixlet
  • BBC Dirac: patent - and royalty - free codec dirac -research
  • Schrödinger
  • FFmpeg (decoder)
  • FFmpeg
  • FFmpeg (decoder)
  • FFmpeg ( decoder only for VC -1)
  • FFmpeg (decoder)
  • FFmpeg ( decoder only for RV30 and RV40 )
  • FFmpeg ( decoder only for SVQ3 )
  • VP6: typical usage in flash video files from Flash 8 FFmpeg (decoder)
  • FFmpeg (decoder)
  • Libvpx
  • FFmpeg (decoder)
  • Libtheora

HD video codecs ( not MPEG)

  • Apple Intermediate Codec: 8 -bit color, 4:2:0 color sub-sampling, intra- frame codec
  • Apple ProRes 422: 10 -bit color, 4:2:2 color sub-sampling, intra-frame FFmpeg (decoder)
  • FFmpeg
  • FFmpeg (decoder)
  • FFmpeg (decoder)

Lossless Video Codecs

Lossless Video Codecs preserving the original quality. They work without lossy compression and thus need usually more space.

  • Avid Meridien FFmpeg
  • FFmpeg ( both an implementation of the original codecs, as well as a further development )
  • AVIzlib
  • AVImszh
  • FFmpeg
  • FFmpeg (decoder)
Digital container format Video-CD Super Video CD#MVCD Dirac (video compression format) Indeo Cinepak RealVideo Sorenson codec VP7 VP8 DNxHD codec AVC-Intra HDCAM HuffYUV Lagarith FFV1
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