What is H.265, and how is it different from HEVC?
H.265, or High Efficiency Video Coding, is a new video coding standard that specifies how to decode video. What’s the difference between H.265 and HEVC? There isn’t one. Each is a different name for the same codec. The standard was defined by the Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG) and the Video Coding Experts Group (VCEG), and each calls it by a different name, but the standard is the same.
And what about x265? That’s the open-source encoding project, not the standard. It’s the most popular way to encode video to HEVC, but it’s not the only choice.
Why is the new codec necessary?
H.264 is an incredibly popular codec that forms the basis of most online video shown today. It was finalized all the way back in 2003 and really started to catch on a few years later. This leads to an inevitable question: If it’s been working for so long, and is compatible with virtually every device consumers own today, why replace it?
Efficiency is the answer. The less data a codec can use to display an image without degrading its quality, the more efficient it is. If codec A and codec B both display the same image quality, but the size of A’s file is twenty percent smaller, then A is more efficient.
Top 3 Tools That Can Encode x265 Video
If you decide to spring for x265, take a look at the latest tools when you update. The software upgrade will include UHDcode, a very handy HEVC decoder that you can use to render video frames in real time quickly and reliably. This comes in Windows DirectShow packaging but can handle all HEVC material, including 4K video. It’s a great little download and you may want to consider using it even if you decide to ultimately go with another encoder, as long as the two are compatible.
If open source isn’t really your thing and you want a more packaged toolkit with a friendly GUI, then take a look at Pavtube, which is designed to handle the H.265 format like a boss. The great thing about this tool is that it combines encoding, decoding, and converting into one piece of software, which may save you some valuable time based on your goals (plus it has big, easy buttons for amateurs). With it you can easily transcode video content, upconvert older HD video to the new format, or downsize larger videos without a loss of quality.
All this quick switching back and forth does come at a cost. The program is primarily designed for BD/DVD/video movies, and while it does have trim, crop, split, and merge functions, you will not be able to customize it to your specific situation. Also, there’s the cost. You can test the software for free but the full version will cost you around $65. But now, Pavtube Studio is holding on Year-End & Christmas Sale, when you can get this software at a 20% discount. Moreover, recently Pavtube Studio has upgraded its top-ranked Pavtube Video Converter Ultimate to version 4.9.0.0 with supporting the most advanced hardware acceleration NVIDIA CUDA & AMD APP by H.264/H.265 codec, which can give users 30x video transcoding speed than before. Learn the upgrade details.
HandBrake is another encoding tool available for users who like to choose the best parts of other programs. Like the x265 Encoder it is open source, and the latest 0.10 version upgrades to H.265 compatibility. In fact, it even supports x265 directly, as well as features from linbpx, VP8, and other sources — giving you the option to mix and match your open source cereals in the same big bowl. If you have Windows, you can also get support for QuickSync video.
In addition to borrowing the encoder, HandBrake’s method of picking out features from various services means that you need a lot of support for everything to work, which could take time. On the plus side, you can have the best of several worlds with some effort.
It is also worth noting that HandBrake is one of those useful options that can also work on Mac OS X and Ubuntu, so it’s a bit more crossplatform than other tools. However, this can come at a cost, because video transcoding speeds can vary wildly from setup to setup. HandBrake is busy updating all its components and smoothing out the bumps in the road, but it’s a work in progress, so you may not see the same results you would in something like Pavtube.
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