Introducing SVT Open Content, a piece of natural complexity
One of the most important assets to have on hand when working with the continuous improvement of any given video transcoding workflow is proper content. That is to say, digital media files that are well suited to test the outcome of a transcoding process, in order verify that whatever changes are being evaluated are actually for the better. This notion becomes even more paramount however, when the goal is to compare encoded video from different encoders created by different actors. To this end, we at the Video Core team are happy to announce that we are finally, nearly 14 years since the last iteration, releasing a new suite of freely licensed high quality media files.
We are proud to introduce the free R&D video suite:
SVT Open Content Video Test Suite 2022 — Natural Complexity
Together with the files themselves we are also offering a short and concise document detailing the content, which I had the great pleasure of writing together with some of my excellent colleagues. But instead of rephrasing what we have already written elsewhere, I will opt to shamelessly plug a piece of the abstract straight of the bat:
When evaluating the quality and performance of video encoders, high-quality video material is an obvious necessity. This may not be an issue for commercial actors, as they usually have high-quality material in their archives or through production and purchasing agreements. However, the general public does not have this luxury. As a part of our effort to engage more with the video research and development community, we (the Video Core Team at SVT) are releasing our internal test suite Natural Complexity to the video R&D community under a creative commons license.
We hope that the content proves to be as useful for the video R&D community at large as it is for us, and appreciate any and all feedback.
All of the content was captured at 3840x2160p50 using professional equipment, and the utmost care has been taken during the post-production process to ensure that the maximum amount of visual detail is retained. The media itself is stored as EXRs and JPEG2000 files, providing lossless compression that spans colour spaces from ACES to Rec. 2100 and Rec. 709.
With all that said I would like to pause here and throw out a bit of a disclaimer, as I am apt to do, and clearly specify what this content is NOT:
- Designed to be aesthetically pleasing; All of these sequences were created to test an encoders ability to handle very distinct features, rather than provide beautiful footage. Whilst some of the mezzanine files are technically colour corrected, the minimum number of modifications have been introduced to each sequence in order to maximize the luminance latitude within a given colour space.
- Presenting a narrative or story; The sequences are simple in the sense that each of them only ever present one visual angle and the camera itself is motionless. In other words, each sequence is a single shot looking in the same direction during the whole video.
It should be mentioned, as I alluded to earlier, that this is not the first time that SVT has created and freely offered test sequences meant for video coding purposes. The last time we did something similar was in the year of 2006 when content produced by Lars Haglund was released as part of the SVT High Definition Multi Format Test Set. Many of the sequences from that set have since become famous, where clips such as crowd_run and ducks_take_off are still commonly used to compare different encoders.
We sincerely hope that this suite will prove as useful to the Video R&D community at large, whether they be professionals or happy amateurs, as it has been for us. Ohh, and please do not hesitate to let us know if you have any questions and / or suggestions about the content itself.
From all of us, to all of you, Happy Transcoding!
