Almost half a year after the major 7.0 release, the highly anticipated FFmpeg 7.1 “Peter” release is finally here, bringing a host of updates and optimizations. Here they are.
One of the standout advancements in this latest version is the maturation of the VVC (Versatile Video Coding) decoder. Initially introduced as an experimental feature in version 7.0, the VVC decoder has undergone extensive optimizations and is now stable enough for broad adoption.
This development is particularly timely as the codec begins to gain recognition and support from broadcast standardization bodies, signaling a potential shift in industry standards.
Moreover, FFmpeg 7.1 introduces support for the native AAC USAC decoder, a component of the xHE-AAC coding system increasingly favored by streaming websites for its robust volume normalization metadata.
Another critical update is the inclusion of MV-HEVC decoding support. This tool, essential for processing stereoscopic content, caters to the emerging market of advanced mobile phones and VR headsets that produce such formats.
The release now also supports LC-EVC decoding through an external library. This addition allows for an enhancement metadata layer to improve the quality of existing codecs, substantially boosting video processing quality. But there’s more!
FFmpeg 7.1 introduces support for Vulkan encoding with H264 and HEVC codecs, a significant step towards creating more integrated workflows. This update enables fully Vulkan-based decode-filter-encode pipelines, presenting a significant improvement by allowing for the efficient handling of Vulkan frames without the need to download or display them externally.
The release also shines in terms of internal enhancements. Notably, the improvements made to handle full-range images stand out, addressing long-standing issues with color range data paths and negotiations that began over a decade ago.
This refinement ensures that color range is now correctly and consistently forwarded to filters, encoders, and muxers, setting the stage for more sophisticated negotiations in future updates.
Lastly, the support for cropping metadata within Matroska and MP4 formats marks an important step not only for archival purposes but also in supporting AV1 hardware encoders, which require this signaling due to the codec’s limitations.
As always, the developers recommend that users, distributors, and system integrators upgrade to this latest release to take full advantage of these new capabilities and improvements unless they already use the current git master.
Refer to theย release announcementย for detailed information about all changes, or visit the changelog to learn more about all novelties.
