VP8/VP9
What is VP8/VP9?
VP8 and VP9 are open-source video compression formats developed by Google, designed to provide efficient video compression while remaining royalty-free. These codecs represent important steps in the evolution toward open video standards, with VP9 offering compression efficiency comparable to H.265/HEVC while maintaining its open-source nature. Compressor provides full support for both VP8 and VP9 encoding out of the box, reflecting our dedication to comprehensive open-source video compression solutions.
Open Source Video Compression
VP8 and VP9 represented Google's push to create free, open video formats for everyone to use. Unlike formats that require paying licensing fees, these codecs are free to use in any software. VP9 was particularly significant - it matches the quality of commercial formats like H.265 while using about the same amount of data.
Compressor supports these formats alongside newer ones, giving users the freedom to choose between different compression options. This openness helped make high-quality video more accessible - VP9 is now used by YouTube, Netflix, and many other streaming services to deliver billions of videos daily.
Did You Know?
Google spent over $120 million to acquire VP8 in 2010, then immediately made it free for everyone to use. This bold move helped break the monopoly of paid video codecs. Before VP8, websites had to pay licensing fees to use video compression. Google's decision to make VP8 (and later VP9) free and open source helped make video streaming more accessible to everyone - from small websites to major platforms. Today, these formats deliver billions of videos daily without any licensing costs.
Technical Features
Modern implementations leverage various advanced capabilities:
Motion Tracking
VP8 and VP9 predict how objects move between frames to save data. Instead of storing each frame fully, they track movements and changes. VP9 is particularly good at this - it can follow complex motions like rotating objects or camera zooms using sophisticated prediction models. This helps achieve better compression than VP8, especially for high-motion content like sports or action scenes.
Smart Compression
These codecs adjust their compression strategy based on what's happening in the video. They might use more data for complex scenes with lots of movement, and less for simpler scenes like talking heads. VP9 can even divide frames into different regions and compress each differently - preserving quality for important areas while compressing backgrounds more heavily.
Consistent Quality
Both formats balance quality and file size throughout the video. VP9 typically achieves about 50% better compression than VP8 at the same quality level. This improved efficiency is why YouTube chose VP9 as its primary codec for HD and 4K videos - it delivers high quality while using less bandwidth than earlier formats.
Performance Impact
- Compression Efficiency: VP9 achieves compression ratios similar to H.265, while VP8 competes with H.264 in terms of efficiency.
- Processing Requirements: Both formats balance compression efficiency with reasonable processing demands, though VP9 typically requires more resources than VP8.
- Compatibility Range: Broad support across modern browsers and devices makes these formats reliable choices for web video delivery.
FAQs
Are VP8/VP9 still relevant with AV1 available?
While AV1 offers superior compression, VP8/VP9 remain important for compatibility with older systems and devices. Compressor supports all these formats, allowing users to choose the best option for their specific needs.
Why does Compressor support multiple open formats?
We believe in providing our users with comprehensive compression options while supporting open standards. Supporting VP8, VP9, and AV1 ensures maximum compatibility and efficiency for all use cases.
How do VP8/VP9 compare to proprietary codecs?
VP9 achieves compression efficiency similar to H.265, while being open-source and royalty-free, making it an attractive alternative for many applications.