H.264, H.265 and H.265 + video codecs. Pros and cons

H.264, H.265 and H.265 + video codecs. Pros and cons

H.265

The first versions of H.264 video compression codecs appeared in 2013. Today, the Н.265 format has confidently entered the video surveillance market and dictates its own terms. Many manufacturers produce equipment that supports this video compression format.

H.265 / HEVC

The H.264 compression format, unlike previous MJPEG and MPEG-4 codecs, enables you to efficiently solve the problem of streaming a large number of high-definition video streams.

Using H.264 in IP video surveillance systems provides high image quality with less data, requires less network bandwidth, and fewer hard drives to store video files. However, there is also a downside of fat. Using H.264 places heavy loads on IT equipment.

To increase the efficiency of the use of computing resources, developers apply various methods. For example, transfer part of the operations to the video card. Thanks to this, the video card can take care of part of the decoding calculations. The use of this feature provided a reduction in processor load up to two times, and the possibility of using processors of lower power, and therefore the cost.

Transferring decoding operations to a video card also allows you to save not only on the server, but also on the client side of the video surveillance system. To use this function, in the configuration of the client part of the software, you must specify where to perform the processing: on the central processor or on the video card.

To reduce the load on IT equipment, video analysis technology of compressed video streams from IP cameras without their complete decoding is also used. The use of this technology leads to an increase in data processing speed, thereby reducing the load on the central processor. In addition, the decrease can reach an average of 4 times.

Thanks to this, it is possible to connect 4 times more cameras to one server. Another option to save is the use of less powerful processors and, therefore, more budgetary, and a decrease in the cost of the server equipment.

Another disadvantage of the H.264 codec is that most web and mobile clients for video surveillance systems do not support this format and, to receive a video image, a procedure is required to transcode the video stream into MJPEG. Such an operation is resource intensive and places additional loads on computing resources.

H.264 processing is possible with sufficiently powerful computing resources of a mobile device. If resources are insufficient, the video stream is automatically switched to the MJPEG format. And the user himself can independently choose the format of the video transmission.

As you can see, the H.264 codec used for video surveillance has many pros and cons. However, a heavy load on computing resources often nullifies all benefits.

The new H.265 format supports even more uploads. It uses stronger and more advanced video compression algorithms in its work. With the same visual quality, the new H.265 codec represents an approximately double reduction in file size compared to its H.264 predecessor. This saves a lot of space on the disk space of video recorders and servers. And half the bit rate reduces traffic on video transmission networks.

Thanks to more powerful compression mechanisms, the H.265 codec does an excellent job of encoding high and high definition video over 8K UHD (8192 × 4320). In addition, for high-quality video playback at 4K codec resolution, a transmission speed of only 50MB / s is required.

It is important that H.265 compress the video almost without loss, the quality of the compressed video is kept at a high level. Special compression algorithms eliminate artifacts inherent in H.264, such as graininess or blurry edges of moving objects.

But the main advantage of the H.265 codec is that the volume of video processed according to the new standard turned out to be almost 85% lower than when using H.264. However, the H.265 codec requires more powerful elements and processors in the hardware.

Moving towards increasing video compression, the H.265 + codec recently appeared on the market that allows you to reduce the bit rate of video cameras, which in turn reduces the cost of implementation and uses fewer matrices of disk for storing video files.

H.265 + improves the compression ratio through three key technologies: predictive encoding technology, background noise suppression technology.

What is the future of the video compression standard? Differences between H.264 and H.265

Recordings available on the Internet and real-time broadcasts have become two of the main sources of communication today. H.264 is one of the video compression formats that enables this visual and digital revolution. Just analyze the amount of time you spend in front of broadcast channels or portals. In 2017, the average number of hours observed daily worldwide is one billion. In 2016, 500 million hours were counted. In just one year, the results doubled.

H.265 vs H.264

If the H.264 video compression format is capable of supporting and offering quality to so many people every day of the year, the same is true for surveillance and monitoring technologies. Video compression is as important for YouTube as it is for an IP CCTV system. Basically, video compression is done using technologies that allow captured data to be intelligently transmitted. To do this, they reduce the amount of information that is similar and that would be just an additional burden on the files.

H265 vs H264

The Importance of Standards in Video Compression

Video compression uses techniques that will make files less burdensome, without interfering with the quality and, above all, the accuracy of the information. Precisely because it prioritizes the maintenance of visual characteristics, it is so essential to know what technologies are used. Choosing one format or another can directly affect the sharpness and loading of images. Since you don’t need to keep all the data, the suggestion is to use an industry standard. Until then, H.264, also called advanced video encoding (AVC), is the predominant one.

H.264 is considered one of the most adaptable and high-level formats. However, there is already what would be its evolution, H.265 or High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC). Both are standardized and approved by the responsible institutions. That is, they are two official standards. Before talking about the benefits that H.265 adds to video compression, it’s important to note that both are standards that will make partners and vendors maintain identical prerequisites. What guarantees compatibility and more options for the clients.

H.264: what are the advantages of video compression?

Video compression is based on a technology that analyzes images captured within frames. It is like looking at a photo and identifying what data is relevant and what is not. For example, if there are an equal number of frames that are not noticeable, they are discarded. For that to happen, there is a forecast that uses a “comparison basis”. The deleted image is opposed to what serves as a parameter and, with that, one perceives what is altered. Only changes in relation to the base frame remain. Those with the same values ​​are not considered in the encoding, which reduces the size and number of pixels.

When using macroblock comparison, where each frame is decomposed and compared until it finds compatibility or modifications. Therefore, the similar ones are eliminated, or rather, the frame of reference is maintained. In H.264, macroblocks are used, with the division of images and, consequently, their segmentation into more blocks. Replays are considered redundancies and pixels do not count within video compression. What has changed with H.265?

H.265: what is the main change?

H.265 has a potential for video compression that significantly outperforms H.264, using less bandwidth and maintaining quality delivery. For this reason, you can stream higher-level content with the same amount of bandwidth that the other uses to do the same with more compact data.

There has been an evolution in compression, streaming and support capabilities, although H.265 uses the same video compression technique explained above. Macroblocks that make comparisons between divided frames of the same frame with a standard reference. So why is such a relevant technological advance?

The key issue for H.265 is the strategic use of macroblocks. There is also compatibility between similar pixels between frames, but with greater flexibility. There is no fixed area, it all depends on the type of image and your need. Greater attention to detail is paid only when necessary, making video compression even higher and more effective by reducing pixels and bytes.

In H.264, macroblocks do not exceed a 16-pixel standard, which are not best suited for certain situations and images. In H.265, there is an increase in the size of the blocks up to 64 pixels.