Video transcoding program HandBrake gains support for AV1 codec

The popular open source video encoding program HandBrake has support for the AV1 codec since version 1.6.0. Encoding can be done in software, where the CPU does the work, or with hardware acceleration. In that area, only the Intel Arc video cards are currently supported.

Not only the Intel Arc video cards are able to encode AV1; Nvidia’s RTX 4000 video cards can do that too, and AMD’s RX 7000 series isn’t lagging behind either. However, it is up to the HandBrake developers to also build in that support and it is included in version 1.6.0 not in yet. Intel’s upcoming Meteor Lake and Arrow Lake CPUs are also expected to encode AV1, at up to 10-bit.

The AV1 codec is the product of AOMedia, the Alliance for Open Media. This includes both Google and Apple, along with many other big names, such as Netflix, Facebook, LG, Microsoft and Samsung. The codec is positioned to compete with codecs such as HEVC and VVC, also known as H.265 and H.266. A big difference between the two is that AV1 is royalty free, or at least it should be. Royalties must also be paid for the use of H.264.