HEVC/H.265 and Low Latency High Quality Streaming

Technology continues to make advances in video codecs and streaming. One method of streaming video is with the new H.265 or HEVC (High Efficiency Video Codec). The advantages include transmission of better quality video at a fraction of the payload size as H.264 or MP4. Although Mp4 still has its advantages and uses today including support in a large number of devices. H.265 requires specially compiled distributions of software on computers that will encode and decode the video. Bounce Multimedia has extensively studied H.265 and built infrastructure that allows transmitting quickly and reliability the video signal with error correction ensuring error free video transmission.

One of the biggest hurdles is processor encoding power, latency, and quality. With H.264 there is less processor usage, but longer delay due to the intermediary frames that are assembled, this is known as GOP or group of pictures. This is what determined compression level and quality. Relatively speaking the longer the GOP the better the quality but the longer the latency as the processor analyzes the previous frames to create a better picture. That is why the quality is not so great on platforms such as Zoom or Skype or Facebook Messenger, inherently they sacrifice quality to create less delay and have a lower GOP.

H.265 is different and doesn't rely as heavily on past frames if configured correctly in the software. Using hardware acceleration methods such as video cards designed and optimized to handle the video signals, you will find latency can be reduced, quality improved, and a more robust product can be built since the heavily lifting isn't handled by the computer processor(s).

Many companies have claims that they are streaming experts, but are unsure of the consequences and advantages that can be had with tweaking settings of advanced video encoders. The difference is easy to see in the final product... streaming your signal with the best audio and video possible to your viewers is what Bounce Multimedia promises. Contact us to discuss your streaming challenges and how we can help overcome them for your next project.