AVC/H.264: Ultra-fast encode-decode in broadcast-quality: MainConcept

AVC/H.264 is an ideal choice for maximum compatibility with nearly any video device or service, from ingest to playout. And, MainConcept AVC/H.264 is the best choice for superior visual quality, blazingly fast performance and reliability you can trust. MainConcept AVC/H.264 SDK delivers maximum flexibility straight out of the box, offering feature-rich options for OTT Streaming and Broadcast, robust low-latency support, and it is compliant with all profiles for professional 4:2:2 10-bit video production.

The latest version combines MainConcept’s renowned AVC/H.264 software encoding and decoding technology with the high performance of today’s GPU hardware processing from AMD, Intel, NVIDIA and Qualcomm. MainConcept EVA (Easy Video API) enables complete NVIDIA GPU media processing pipelines for encoding, decoding and transcoding eliminating the need to repeatedly copy frames between CPU and GPU. Regardless of whether you target speed or quality, MainConcept EVA always enables the right processing for your workflow. Users get a one-stop solution for both software and hardware processing from MainConcept.

Product Highlights

Pre-configured encoding profiles
Numerous ready-to-use encoding templates, including streaming formats like DASH-264, Apple HLS, HTML5 and Blu-ray Disc, and professional camcorders like Sony XAVC and Panasonic AVC-ULTRA are included in the SDK.

Featuring MainConcept Easy Video API (EVA)
Software as well as hardware-based AVC/H.264 encoding and decoding compatible with Intel CPUs (3rd Generation Intel Core Processors and newer), Intel ARC GPUs, NVIDIA, Qualcomm Adreno and AMD GPUs using the time-saving and cost-effective MainConcept EVA. The simplified API calls in the AVC/H.264 encoder and decoder reduce the number of frames copied and held in memory. When using NVIDIA GPUs, EVA eliminates the need to shift frames between CPU and GPU memory. Moreover, the fully GPU-enabled color conversion and scaling module is built into all encoders and decoders.

Optimized decoding
Optimized AVC/H.264 decoding with improved multi-instance behavior for broadcast and professional production formats up to 10-bit 4:2:2 in software or powered by dedicated NVIDIA GPUs (Blackwell architecture) using NVDEC.

SVR360*
Go beyond the resolution limits in AVC/H.264 and encode 360/VR spheres in virtually unlimited resolution, to transmit the best possible quality—regardless of the projection method and zoom level of the viewing device.

Frame-Accurate Smart Rendering*
Encoder wrapper component providing AVC/H.264 Smart Rendering functionality for frame-accurate editing, cutting, and smart copy, including professional camcorder profiles from Sony and Panasonic.

Stream-analyzing API*
VESA API support in AVC/H.264 Decoder allows in-depth analysis of stream parameters, such as buffer, picture, slice, macroblock levels, and many more.

HDR conversion
Output in SDR or two HDR formats, you can also convert between the formats in real-time. PQ/HDR-10 to HLG, HLG to PQ/HDR-10, PQ/HDR-10 to SDR conversion as well as full support for SMPTE-2086 metadata complete the decoder’s feature set.

^*Optional features

Related Products

SDKs: Dolby Digital Plus SDK (Professional), OTT Content Creation, Transcoding SDK
Technologies: ARM, GStreamer, Hardware Encoding with Intel QSV, AutoMatch Encoding, MainConcept EVA
Applications: FFmpeg Plugins, MainConcept Live Encoder

We are the experts in professional production video coding

MainConcept offers the industry-leading codec for AVC/H.264 4:2:2 10-bit production formats for professional cameras from Sony, Panasonic, Canon and others. We offer encoder and decoder libraries to process Sony XAVC, Panasonic P2 AVC-ULTRA, Canon XF, RP2027 AVC-Intra, XAVC XDF-01 and many more on x86 and ARM platforms running Windows, macOS or Linux OS. Powered by MainConcept EVA, our AVC/H.264 codecs also enable 4:2:2 10-bit processing on NVIDIA Blackwell hardware.

Highest flexibility with MainConcept EVA – Easy Video API

Deploy our AVC/H.264 software and AMD, NVIDIA, Qualcomm and Intel GPU hardware encoders as well as decoder via MainConcept’s Easy Video API to save integration time and costs. Compliant with Qualcomm Adreno, AMD Radeon GPUs, Intel ARC GPUs and Core Ultra processors as well as NVIDIA’s RTX 50xx series, freeing the CPU from heavy video tasks. The AVC/H.264 video encoder and decoder can even output frames directly from a hardware surface when using hardware processing on NVIDIA devices.

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AVC/H.264 Encoder SDK

AVC Video Encoder package supporting up to 4:2:0 8-bit, up to level 5.2 (4K60). Direct access to AMD AMF, NVIDIA NVENC and Intel QSV if present on the system ((Windows & Linux x86 only). Includes related audio and multiplexing components for formats that use MPEG-Transport Stream like Blu-ray, or MP4/MOV.

AVC/H.264 Encoder SDK Broadcast

AVC Video Encoder package that enables support for 4:2:2 10-bit (plus 4:2:0 8-bit), up to level 6.2 (8K) in software as well as NVIDIA Blackwell hardware. Direct access to AMD AMF, NVIDIA NVENC and Intel QSV if present on the system ((Windows & Linux x86 only). Includes audio and multiplexing components for formats such as MPEG-2 Transport Stream, MP4/MOV, and MXF formats like P2 and XAVC.

Encoder Addons

SVR360 for AVC/H.264 Encoder Broadcast	Allows encoding in virtually unlimited resolution, specifically designed to meet the needs of 360/VR applications.
AVC/H.264 Smart Rendering	Available for AVC/H.264 Encoder SDK and AVC/H.264 Encoder SDK Broadcast. Provides functionality for frame-accurate editing, cutting, and smart copy to speed up conversion of AVC source content.

AVC/H.264 Decoder SDK

AVC Video Decoder package that supports up to 4:2:0 8-bit video up to level 5.2 (4K60), and audio and demultiplexing components for formats that use MPEG-TS or MP4/MOV. Direct access to AMD AMF, NVIDIA NVDEC, Qualcomm Adreno and Intel QSV if present on the system (Windows & Linux x86 only).

AVC/H.264 Decoder SDK Broadcast

AVC Video Decoder package that enables support for 4:2:2/4:4:4 10-bit and 12-bit video and unlimited resolution, with audio and demultiplexing components for formats that use MPEG-2 Transport Stream, MP4/MOV, and MXF like XAVC, P2 and more. Direct access to AMD AMF, NVIDIA NVDEC, Qualcomm Adreno and Intel QSV if present on the system (Windows & Linux x86 only).