Encoders and Containers

Learn about the different encoders and containers that Topaz Video AI offers.

Video Encoders

Changing the encoder selection converts information from one format to another for standardization, speed, and/or compression.

Choose from Topaz Video AI's 14 encoders.

  • ProRes 422 Proxy
  • ProRes 422 LT
  • ProRes 422 Standard
  • ProRes 422 HQ
  • ProRes 4444 XQ
  • H264 High
  • H265 High
  • H265 Main
  • H265 Main10
  • VP9 Good
  • VP9 Best
  • AV1
  • FFV1
  • TIFF Lossless 8bit
  • TIFF Lossless 16bit
  • PNG 8bit
  • PNG 16bit
  • JPEG 8bit
  • EXR

Dynamic & Constant Bitrate Modes

Some encoding options include a Dynamic mode, which will adapt the bitrate of the output video to match the visual complexity of the scene being processed.

When available, most users should try the High or Medium setting for Dynamic mode before trying some of the constant bitrate settings.

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Apple ProRes Encoders

Apple ProRes codecs take full advantage of multicore processing and feature fast, reduced-resolution decoding modes. These codecs are intended for use with editing software and create large output files, especially with high-resolution videos.

  • ProRes codecs support SD, HD, 2K, 4K, and 5K at full resolution.
  • Best used with Apple machines and apps.

ProRes 422 Proxy

  • The lowest-bitrate variation of the ProRes codec, intended for use in editing software as a smaller version of larger files like ProRes HQ.
  • Great for environments where storage capacity and data rate are limited.

ProRes 422 LT

  • Highly compressed with roughly 70 percent of the data rate and 30 percent smaller file sizes.
  • Great for environments where storage capacity and data rate are limited.

ProRes 422 Standard

  • The original implementation of the ProRes codec, and the standard conversion format for Final Cut Pro X

ProRes 422 HQ

  • Higher-data-rate version of Apple ProRes 422 that preserves visual quality at the same high level as Apple ProRes 4444 for 4:2:2 sources.

ProRes 4444 XQ

  • The highest-quality version of Apple ProRes for 4:4:4:4 sources.
  • Very high data rate to preserve the detail in high-dynamic ranges.
  • Will create a large export file.
  • Can be used on macOS 12.0 and later with TVAI.
  • Only available on macOS.

AVC Encoders

Advanced Video Coding (AVC) is one of the most common video compression standards in use today.

H264 High

  • Most common codec for web and mobile video.
  • Great compression quality.
  • Will create slightly larger files than H265 encoders.
  • Can be played in 99.9% of web browsers, mobile devices (including the iPhone/iPad, Android), and TVs.
  • Up to 4K.
  • Recommended Container: MP4.

HEVC Encoders

High-Efficiency Video Encoding (HEVC) is an encoder that when compressed to the same bitrate as H.264, can offer higher-quality visual results.

HEVC makes 4K videos easier to download and stream in the best quality possible.

H265 Main

  • The Main profile supports 8 bits per sample.
  • Supports resolutions beyond 4K.
  • Recommended Container: MP4.

H265 High

  • More advanced encoding setting within H265 optimized for high-detail videos
  • Supports resolutions beyond 4K.
  • Recommended Container: MP4.

H265 10

  • The Main profile supports 10 bits per sample.
  • Supports resolutions beyond 4K.
  • Recommended Container: MP4.

Google VP9 Encoders

Similar to H265 when it comes to quality and compression. Recommended for embedding in webpages.

VP9 Good

  • Recommended Container: MP4.

VP9 Best

  • Recommended Container: MP4.

AV1 Encoders

Highly-efficient codec supported on NVIDIA RTX 4000 series and Intel ARC GPUs. May not play smoothly on all devices as AV1 is more system intensive than other codecs during playback.

FFV1 Encoders

Lossless compressed codec intended for use in archival workflows where large file sizes are not an issue. Supports 8, 10, and 12-bit output.

Image Sequence Encoders

You can export your video file as an image sequence. An image sequence is a set of sequentially numbered frames that can be imported to a video editing program for further editing.

TIFF

Use TIFF when you need a high-quality sequence and have the storage space to accommodate large files.

  • Lossless 8bit; 8bit output
  • Lossless 16bit; 16bit output

PNG

Use PNG when you need a high-quality image sequence. One of the best-supported uncompressed formats. Uses Lossless compression to save disk space without discarding any image information.

  • PNG 8bit; 8bit output
  • PNG 16bit; 16bit output

JPEG

Use JPEG when quality is not a priority. Widely used format and significantly smaller that TIFF and PNG.

  • JPEG 8bit; 8bit output

EXR

Use when you need a high-dynamic range, multi-channel raster file format. This format is commonly used in visual effects software.

Audio Encoders

To save the audio tracks of your video file, choose between 'Copy' and 'Convert' in the Audio section of the Output Settings panel.

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Copy mode will retain the original audio streams from the input video as long as the output container is compatible with all of the audio streams from the input.

Video AI will display a message explaining which audio codecs are conflicting with the selected container. In these cases, select 'Convert' to re-encode the audio to a compatible format.

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File Containers

A container is a file that contains your video and audio streams. Also referred to as a file extension. Topaz Video AI offers three container options; MOV, MP4, and MKV.

MOV

QuickTime file format developed by Apple. Recommended for Mac users. Lower acceptance rate when working outside of Apple apps.

MP4

MPEG-4 Part 14 (MP4) is an extremely popular video format.

Used on numerous video players; VLC, Windows Media Player, etc. Will play on the majority of well-known media players.

MKV

Matroska (MKV) is an open-source container format. Supports more video and audio codec combinations that MP4 and MOV, but is not as widely compatible with different devices and operating systems. VLC Media Player is recommended for reliable MKV playback.

  • If you see an "audio error" when using .mov or .mp4, .mkv will likely accept the audio stream without transcoding.

Troubleshooting

System Requirements