Exploring Technology - Issue #8 VVC Codec – The Future of Video Compression or Just Too Complex?

Let’s Play a Quick Game

Think of your favorite 4K movie.

Now imagine streaming it using just half the data—without losing even a pixel of clarity.

Feels impossible, right? Well, say hello to VVC – Versatile Video Coding, the tech that aims to make this magic real.

But behind this magic lies complexity, controversy, and competition.

So, is VVC the codec king of tomorrow—or is it too tangled to triumph?

Let’s decode the decoder.

What Exactly is a Codec? (Quick Refresher!)

If you’re thinking “I’ve heard of codecs like H.264 or H.265… but what are they really?”—here’s a simple analogy:

A codec is like a super-smart zipper

It compresses your giant video files into something manageable, then decompresses them when you play it back—saving bandwidth, storage, and time.

Now, VVC (H.266) is the newest and smartest zipper in the drawer.

Meet VVC: Compression Superhero with a Brainy Edge

Developed by JVET (Joint Video Experts Team), VVC was finalized in July 2020. It’s designed to outperform its predecessor HEVC (H.265) by a stunning 50%—meaning:

Same video quality, at half the size.

Or: Double the quality in the same bandwidth.

That’s a game-changer for:

- 4K and 8K streaming

- HDR and high frame rate (HFR) content

- Virtual reality, 360° video, and immersive AR

- Cloud gaming and remote collaboration tools

Ask yourself:

Would you watch more 8K content if it didn’t eat your data like popcorn?

Inside VVC: Why It’s So Powerful

Versatile Video Coding (VVC or H.266) isn't just about saving space—it’s about doing it intelligently. Think of it as a Swiss Army Knife of compression techniques—modular, adaptive, and fine-tuned to the type of content you’re watching or streaming.

Let’s unpack the tech, step-by-step:

1. Quad-Tree Plus Multi-Type Tree (QT+MTT): Adaptive Block Partitioning

In older codecs like AVC and even HEVC, video frames were divided into simple square blocks for processing. But VVC adds flexibility and intelligence here.

QT+MTT allows frames to be split into asymmetrical, rectangular blocks.

These blocks adapt in size and shape depending on scene complexity.

 Analogy:

It’s like cutting fabric for a dress—not every piece is square. VVC shapes each piece (block) perfectly based on the contours of the scene.

Result: More efficient compression—especially in high-detail or mixed-complexity scenes.

2. 67 Intra Prediction Modes: Next-Level Guesswork

Intra prediction is how the codec guesses what a block looks like using information from neighboring pixels.

- AVC had 9 prediction modes.

- HEVC had 35.

- VVC has 67.

> Why does it matter?

The more prediction modes, the better it can mimic edges, curves, textures, and lighting variations.

> Interactive Prompt:

Try watching a high-contrast animation scene. The clarity and smoothness you see—that’s VVC’s prediction game at work.

3. Bi-Directional Optical Flow (BDOF): Motion Mastery

When a video frame changes—say someone waves or walks—VVC can track that movement better than older codecs.

BDOF refines how movement is understood between frames.

It doesn’t just look at “where” things moved, but “how fast” and “how smoothly.”

Analogy:

Instead of playing spot-the-difference between two images, VVC watches the transition, like a flipbook artist understanding movement, not just frames.

Bonus: Better motion prediction means fewer errors, less data, smoother playback.

4. Advanced Filtering Techniques: Cleaning Without Losing Quality

VVC uses a suite of smart filters to clean up visual noise and enhance detail:

ALF (Adaptive Loop Filter): Applies a custom blur/sharpen filter to each region, adapting to content.

CCALF (Cross-Component ALF): Improves chroma (color) using luma (brightness) data.

SAO (Sample Adaptive Offset): Corrects common artifacts like ringing or blurring at edges.

Result: Cleaner images at lower bitrates. Especially useful in dim scenes, nature videos, and high-motion sports.

5. Multiple Transform Kernels: Customized Math for Every Scene

Every codec transforms pixel blocks into mathematical frequency data to compress them (think: JPEG). VVC doesn’t use a one-size-fits-all method.

Supports DCT-II, DST-VII, and DCT-VIII transforms.

Applies different transforms based on the size and content of each block.

Analogy:

It’s like using different musical instruments to match a song’s mood. Some scenes need a violin (fine detail), others need drums (broad strokes).

Benefit: Less redundant data, more precision.

6. Multiple Reference Pictures: Time Travel for Video Frames

VVC can store and refer to more previous or future frames than older codecs when compressing the current one.

This technique is called MRP (Multiple Reference Pictures).

Helps in scenes where the background or objects stay similar for many frames.

Interactive Prompt:

Remember the slow zoom-in on a character in a drama? VVC remembers the background and just adjusts the actor’s expression—saving space.

7. Sub-Pixel Motion Compensation: Precision Engineering

VVC can detect and compensate for movement even smaller than a pixel—a feature called fractional motion compensation.

This is huge for high-res video where even a tiny shift matters.

Bottom Line:

VVC doesn’t just compress harder—it compresses smarter, cleaner, and closer to how the human eye sees.

Feeling the Power?

If you’re a:

- Streamer, you get crisp visuals at half the bitrate.

- Gamer, less lag, sharper motion.

- Cinematographer, you retain your vision’s detail—without needing terabytes of storage.

But Here's the Catch: Complexity Overload?

With great power comes… great processing demands.

VVC encoding is 10x more computationally heavy than HEVC.

Decoding is 2–4x more complex.

Live encoding or mobile playback? Still a stretch.

Unless you’re using powerful hardware or dedicated encoders, VVC could feel like trying to fly a fighter jet on a scooter’s engine.

Royalty & Licensing: The Elephant in the Room

This is where VVC stumbles—it's not free.

Multiple companies claim patents.

Licensing is split across MPEG LA, Access Advance, and more.

That means confusion, cost, and risk for developers and manufacturers.

Question for you:

Would you choose a better product if it came with legal and financial strings attached?

Royalty-Free Rivals: The Competition Heats Up

Meet the challengers that are lean, fast, and… free.

1. AV1 – The Darling of Big Tech

Backed by Google, Netflix, Amazon, and others.

Already integrated into YouTube, Chrome, Firefox, and some smart TVs.

Free to use, no royalty headaches.

2. LCEVC – The Sneaky Booster

Created by V-Nova.

Works on top of existing codecs like AVC or AV1.

Adds efficiency without high CPU demands.

3. AV2 (Coming Soon)

Still in development.

Expected to outpace VVC—royalty-free again.

So… Should You Bet on VVC?

YES, if you are:

A video streaming giant or broadcaster handling 8K or immersive video.

A telecom company optimizing delivery on 5G networks.

A media archive where storage cost is a pain point.

NO, if you are:

A startup or open-source enthusiast.

A web platform needing browser support.

Focused on real-time low-latency environments.

Looking Ahead: VVC’s Role in the Future

VVC might not become the everyday hero like AVC or AV1—but it may dominate premium use cases, especially where bandwidth is expensive and quality can’t be compromised.

It’s like the DSLR of video codecs—overkill for selfies, but essential for a feature film.

Before You Go… Let’s Talk!

What do you think?

Would you adopt VVC if it meant halving your video bandwidth?

Or would you stick with AV1 and its royalty-free freedom?

Comment below or connect with me on LinkedIn.

Let’s build a smarter tech community—one codec at a time.