MainConcept Accelerates HEVC Encoding With NVIDIA RTX GPUs

Posted by MainConcept

MainConcept GmbH, a leading technology provider specializing in codecs and streaming for broadcast and OTT, announced that its latest release of HEVC / H.265 Video Encoder SDK will dramatically increase encoding speed by leveraging functions of the NVIDIA Video Codec, available with the latest Turing architecture-powered NVIDIA RTX GPUs.

MainConcept licenses codec technologies, such as Software Development Kits (SDKs) and ready-to-use products, to the professional broadcast and OTT market. Software vendors, including Adobe, Autodesk, Sony and MAGIX use the flexible libraries from the MainConcept Codec SDK to build video transcoders, live encoders, editing applications, streaming servers and cloud services.

Up until now, MainConcept users had the choice between using either MainConcept’s proven algorithms or opting for best encoding speed through pure hardware encoding to achieve the highest quality video. The new release adds a hybrid encoding mode, allowing the user to get the best of both worlds. MainConcept software controls the encoding power of the GPU, thereby drastically reducing CPU load to allow finer-grained control over the encoding process. This unique approach accelerates the most frequently used operating points for OTT encoding, where high density and pristine video quality is required.

“We are pleased to see the new encoding features and APIs added to the Turing family,” said Deacon Johnson, SVP of Sales at MainConcept. “This new generation of GPUs enables us to implement the hybrid solution that we’ve always dreamed of. The speed and quality increase at OTT-relevant encoding sizes and bitrates is what the market has been waiting for.”

“Combining MainConcept’s expertise in bitrate handling and encoding quality with the processing power offered by the NVIDIA Video Codec creates an exciting solution for OEMs,” said Andrew Page, Manager of M&E Advanced Technology at NVIDIA.

Hybrid GPU Encoding is available in MainConcept HEVC SDK 11.0, scheduled to release at the NAB 2019 in Las Vegas.―BCS Bureau