Kvazaar 2.3.2-1
Kvazaar is an open-source encoder designed for H.265/HEVC (High Efficiency Video Coding), developed by the Ultra Video Group.
This command-line tool (CLI) transforms large video files into compact, streamable formats while preserving visual quality that rivals commercial encoders costing thousands.
What is Kvazaar?
Kvazaar is the leading open-source H.265/HEVC video encoder developed by Ultra Video Group - which is also behind the development of uvg266, an encoder for the emerging Versatile Video Coding (VVC)/H.266 standard.
Why Choose Kvazaar for Video Encoding?
Massive File Size Reduction: Compress 4K videos up to 50% smaller than H.264 while maintaining identical visual quality.
A 10GB video becomes 5GB without viewers noticing any difference.
Zero Cost, Maximum Performance: Unlike expensive commercial encoders, Kvazaar is completely free under the BSD 3-clause license.
No subscriptions, no limitations, no hidden costs.
Professional Results: Trusted by streaming platforms, video conferencing solutions, and broadcast professionals worldwide.
Kvazaar handles everything from 320p web videos to 4K cinema content.
Cross-Platform Compatibility: Works seamlessly on Windows, macOS, and Linux systems.
Perfect for developers, content creators, and video professionals regardless of their operating system.
Real-Time Encoding: Achieves real-time HEVC encoding speeds up to 4K resolution on modern processors, making it ideal for live streaming applications.
Who Uses Kvazaar?
- Streaming Platforms: Reduce bandwidth costs while delivering high-quality video.
- Video Conferencing: Enable smooth HD calls with lower data usage.
- Content Creators: Compress YouTube, Twitch, and social media uploads.
- Broadcasters: Professional-grade encoding for television and online distribution.
- Developers: Integrate H.265 encoding into applications and workflows.
Quick Start Guide:
After downloading, encode your first video with this simple command:
kvazaar -i input.yuv --input-res 1920x1080 -o output.265
Technical Specifications:
- Format Support: H.265/HEVC encoding.
- Input Formats: YUV, Y4M, and more.
- Bit Depth: 8-bit and 10-bit support.
- Resolution: Up to 4K and beyond.
- Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux.
- Architecture: x86, x64, PowerPC, ARM.
System Requirements:
- Minimum: 2GB RAM, dual-core processor.
- Recommended: 8GB RAM, quad-core processor for 4K encoding.
- Disk Space: A few MB installation.
The Ultra Video Group continuously updates Kvazaar with performance improvements and new features.
Version 2.3.2 doesn't introduce major new features but includes several important fixes — most notably improvements to 10-bit encoding and cost calculation for SMP and AMP blocks. As a result of the corrected AMP cost calculation, AMP is now enabled in the veryslow preset.
For full details, see the Kvazaar v2.3.2 release notes.
Whether you're encoding a single video or processing thousands of files in batch operations, Kvazaar scales to meet your needs.
The modular architecture supports parallelization across multiple CPU cores, maximizing your hardware's potential.
