Apple HLS and x264 CRF VBR

[TEB]

hi, anyone got any experience on how strict the HLS protocol is on the VBR parts? By using CRF with a max cap, the avg and max values are way outside of the required HLS values.. Anyone got any experience here? For Web and Android its no problem, so if u have seen issues, do u have seperate ladders for each eco-system ?

br Te

[Blue_MiSfit]

The HLS authoring guidelines are one thing, and what devices are capable of is another.

I've typically adhered to capped VBR (e.g. maxrate = 1.1x bitrate and bufsize = 2x bitrate), but I know others do CRF + VBV with HLS with no problems.

Apple generally has very good ABR algorithms, so I'd imagine this will all work pretty well.

[TEB]

ok thx!
110% variance is bearly outside the CBR domain...
I just did a test on Han Solo from a Pro-res source@ CRF19 at 15mbps MAX cap, it ended up on 2.9mbps and 8.2 max peak...
Unfortunately our plattform cant support HLS yet, so does anyone know of a good HLS reference player with backend where one can test ones test content ? (it will support it in 6mnths... )

[Blue_MiSfit]

video.js is a very popular javascript player that supports HLS and DASH as well as DRM bindings via EME to whatever is supported on the browser.

bitmovin is a great commercial player with really nice people working on it

I also know of THEOplayer and JWPlayer, but don't have experience with either.

You can also just drop m3u8 playlists into safari on macOS and it will play :)