> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://mintlify.com/yuliskov/SmartTube/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Video Codecs

> Understanding video codecs in SmartTube - AV1, VP9, and AVC codec comparison, hardware support, and which codec to choose for your device

Video codecs are the algorithms used for video compression. SmartTube supports multiple codecs, each with different hardware requirements and compression efficiency.

## Codec Comparison

Choosing the right codec for your device is important for smooth playback and optimal bandwidth usage.

| Codec | Recommendation | Hardware Support | Compression & Bitrate | Quality |
| :- | :- | :- | :- | :- |
| **AV01** (AV1) | Best choice, **if your device supports it** | First devices started coming in **2020** | **Best** (e.g. 1.6 Mbps) | Same |
| **VP9** | **Best choice on most devices** | Most devices **since 2015** | **Better** (e.g. 2.1 Mbps) | Same |
| **AVC** | Only for old or slow hardware | **All** devices | Good (e.g. 2.7 Mbps) | Same |

<Info>
  Examples taken from the video-only track at 1080p @ 25fps. At the same resolution, **a lower bitrate is better!** YouTube explicitly targets the **same quality** regardless of codec.
</Info>

## Understanding Bitrate and Quality

At the same resolution, a **lower bitrate is better!** YouTube explicitly targets the **same quality** regardless of the codec. Here's why:

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Lower Bitrate = Better" icon="chart-line">
    Newer codecs achieve the same quality with less data, reducing bandwidth usage and saving the environment.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Same Quality" icon="equals">
    YouTube ensures all codecs provide the same visual quality at the same resolution - the difference is only in efficiency.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

<Warning>
  Older codecs have a higher bitrate only because they are less efficient. On YouTube, you **do not** get better quality by simply choosing a higher bitrate. AVC usually has the highest bitrate - this is bad, not good.
</Warning>

## Which Codec to Choose

<Steps>
  <Step title="Check Your Device Year">
    Determine when your Android TV or TV box was manufactured:

    * **2020 or newer**: Try AV01 first
    * **2015-2019**: Use VP9
    * **Before 2015**: Use AVC
  </Step>

  <Step title="Test Playback">
    Play a video and monitor for:

    * Smooth playback without stuttering
    * No frame drops
    * Quick buffering
  </Step>

  <Step title="Adjust If Needed">
    If you experience issues:

    * Press the **HQ** button in the bottom-left corner
    * Select **Video formats**
    * Choose the next older codec (AV01 → VP9 → AVC)
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Hardware Support Requirements

### AV01 (AV1)

<Accordion title="Devices with AV1 Support">
  **Hardware decoding required** - Most TVs and TV boxes do not offer hardware support for AV01.

  * First devices with AV1 support appeared in 2020
  * Provides the best compression (lowest bitrate)
  * Cannot play at all without hardware support
  * Most devices currently cannot play AV01

  <Warning>
    If you get "the video profile is not supported" error, your device does not support AV01. Switch to VP9 instead.
  </Warning>
</Accordion>

### VP9

<Accordion title="Devices with VP9 Support">
  **Best choice for most devices** - Hardware support widely available.

  * Supported on most devices since 2015
  * Excellent compression efficiency
  * Can work without hardware support on powerful CPUs (but may be slow)
  * High resolutions (4K) might be slow on cheap TV boxes without hardware support

  <Tip>
    VP9 is the recommended codec for the vast majority of Android TV devices currently in use.
  </Tip>
</Accordion>

### AVC (H.264)

<Accordion title="Universal AVC Support">
  **Supported on all devices** - Use only when newer codecs don't work.

  * Universal compatibility across all Android devices
  * Higher bitrate = more bandwidth usage
  * Less efficient compression
  * Best for old or slow hardware that cannot handle VP9
</Accordion>

## Troubleshooting Codec Issues

<Accordion title="Error: Unknown codec or Can't download video">
  **Solution:**

  1. Wait 5 seconds for the video to play
  2. Press the play button
  3. Check if you have a USB audio device attached (may cause issues)
  4. Verify your disk storage is not full
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="Error: &#x22;The video profile is not supported&#x22;">
  **Solution:**

  1. Press the **HQ** button in the bottom-left corner
  2. Select **Video formats**
  3. Select anything other than AV01 (choose VP9 or AVC)

  This error means AV01 is not supported on your device.
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="AV01 does not play / VP9 is slow">
  **Explanation:**

  * AV01 is very new - most TVs and TV boxes **do not** have hardware support
  * Devices without hardware support **cannot** play AV01 at all
  * VP9 may be slow on devices without hardware acceleration
  * High resolutions (4K) require official 4K support for smooth playback

  **Solution:** Switch to VP9 (if using AV01) or AVC (if using VP9).
</Accordion>

## Best Practices

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Use Newest Supported Codec" icon="microchip">
    Always use the newest codec that works smoothly on your device for better compression and lower bandwidth.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Test Performance" icon="gauge-high">
    After selecting a codec, play videos at your typical resolution to ensure smooth playback.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Don't Chase Bitrate" icon="ban">
    Higher bitrate does not mean better quality on YouTube - it only means less efficient compression.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Consider Bandwidth" icon="wifi">
    Newer codecs use less bandwidth for the same quality, helping with slower internet connections.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Codec Selection in Settings

To manually select a video codec:

1. While playing a video, press the **HQ** button (bottom-left corner)
2. Select **Video formats**
3. Choose your preferred codec: AV01, VP9, or AVC
4. The selection will be remembered for future videos

<Tip>
  You can set default video quality presets in **Settings** → **Video player** → **Video presets** to automatically use your preferred codec and resolution.
</Tip>