We’re sharing how we’re enabling production and delivery of AV1 for Facebook Reels and Instagram Reels. We believe AV1 is the most viable codec for Meta for the coming years. It offers higher quali…
Overview
The article discusses how Meta has integrated the AV1 codec into Facebook Reels and Instagram Reels, highlighting its advantages in video quality and bandwidth efficiency. It details the collaborative efforts with the open-source community to optimize AV1 for large-scale deployment, as well as the challenges faced in client-side decoding, particularly on mobile devices.
What You'll Learn
1
How to optimize AV1 encoding for mobile video applications
2
Why AV1 is preferred over previous codecs like AVC and VP9
3
When to use different AV1 encoder presets for quality and speed
Prerequisites & Requirements
- Understanding of video codecs and compression techniques
- Familiarity with open-source video encoding tools(optional)
Key Questions Answered
What are the benefits of using AV1 for video streaming?
AV1 offers higher video quality at lower bit rates compared to older codecs like AVC and VP9, achieving about 30% better coding efficiency. This allows users to enjoy high-quality video while reducing storage costs and network congestion, making it ideal for platforms like Facebook and Instagram.
How does Meta optimize AV1 for mobile devices?
Meta collaborates with the open-source community to enhance AV1 encoder and decoder implementations, focusing on real-world performance for mobile devices. They utilize software decoders like dav1d and libgav1, ensuring compatibility across various Android and iOS devices, while also addressing challenges in hardware support.
What challenges does Meta face in AV1 decoding on mobile devices?
The primary challenge is the lack of AV1 hardware decoders in most mobile phones, necessitating reliance on software decoders. This can lead to increased latency and performance issues, especially on lower-end devices, which Meta addresses through extensive testing and optimization of decoder configurations.
What improvements were observed after deploying AV1 on Facebook Reels?
After deploying AV1, playback FB-MOS improved by approximately 0.6 points within the first week, and the average bit rate was reduced by 12%. This indicates enhanced video quality and efficiency, leading to better user experience on iPhones.
Key Statistics & Figures
Playback FB-MOS improvement
0.6 points
Observed within the first week after AV1 deployment on iPhones.
Average bit rate reduction
12%
Measured for all Facebook Reels videos played on iPhones after AV1 implementation.
AV1 watch time coverage
70%
Achieved during the first week of AV1 rollout on iPhones.
Technologies & Tools
Video Codec
Av1
Used for encoding and delivering video content on Facebook Reels and Instagram Reels.
Software Decoder
Dav1d
Integrated for AV1 decoding on iOS and Android platforms.
Software Decoder
Libgav1
Used in Android SDK for AV1 decoding.
Key Actionable Insights
1Utilize AV1 encoding to significantly improve video quality while reducing bandwidth usage.By switching to AV1, platforms can enhance user experience with high-quality video delivery, especially important for mobile users with limited data plans.
2Implement adaptive bitrate streaming to optimize video playback across varying network conditions.This technique allows users to receive the best possible video quality based on their current bandwidth, minimizing buffering and enhancing engagement.
3Leverage open-source tools like dav1d for AV1 decoding to ensure compatibility across diverse devices.Using established open-source decoders can help streamline the integration process and improve performance on platforms with varying hardware capabilities.
Common Pitfalls
1
Underestimating the performance requirements for AV1 decoding on mobile devices can lead to poor user experience.
Many mobile devices lack hardware support for AV1, necessitating reliance on software decoders that may not perform well on lower-end models. Testing and optimizing for various device capabilities is crucial.
Related Concepts
Video Codec Optimization
Adaptive Bitrate Streaming
Open-source Video Encoding Tools