libsvtav1 Performance Preset Levels

This article provides a comprehensive overview of the performance preset levels available in the SVT-AV1 (libsvtav1) encoder. It details how these presets balance encoding speed against compression efficiency, helping you choose the optimal setting for video archiving, general distribution, or real-time streaming.

The SVT-AV1 encoder uses a numerical preset scale ranging from 0 to 13. Lower numbers prioritize compression efficiency and visual quality at the cost of slow encoding speeds. Higher numbers prioritize encoding speed, making them suitable for real-time applications at the cost of larger file sizes or lower visual quality.

Below is the breakdown of the available performance preset levels in libsvtav1:

High-Efficiency & Archival (Presets 0 – 3)

• Preset 0: The slowest preset. It is designed for research, testing, or maximum quality preservation where encoding time is not a factor. It is generally too slow for practical daily use.
• Presets 1 – 3: Very slow encoding speeds that offer excellent compression efficiency. These are ideal for high-end archival purposes where storage space must be minimized and encoding time is highly flexible.

Standard & Balanced (Presets 4 – 6)

• Preset 4: A high-quality preset that balances excellent efficiency with more manageable encoding times compared to Preset 3.
• Preset 5: Frequently considered the “sweet spot” for high-quality personal video encoding. It offers a great compromise between visual fidelity and encoding speed on modern hardware.
• Preset 6: Often used as the default preset for general distribution. It provides fast encoding speeds while still retaining the high compression efficiency advantages of the AV1 codec over older standards like HEVC or H.264.

Fast & Real-Time (Presets 7 – 10)

• Presets 7 – 8: Fast presets designed for quick turnarounds and high-framerate encoding. These presets are suitable for faster-than-real-time encoding on modern multi-core processors.
• Presets 9 – 10: Optimized for live streaming and real-time encoding. They significantly reduce CPU utilization, allowing consumer-grade hardware to stream AV1 video in real-time with acceptable visual quality.

Ultra-Fast & Low-Latency (Presets 11 – 13)

• Presets 11 – 13: The fastest available presets in libsvtav1. They are designed for ultra-low latency applications, high-throughput testing, or environments with severely limited CPU resources. These presets sacrifice significant compression efficiency to achieve maximum frame rates.