Netflix’s Advantages in Using FGS
Film grain synthesis (FGS) is a topic that we have covered several times, as its use should enable a more ‘film-like’ look for the viewer, while offering better encoding efficiency for the content provider. We were interested to see a LinkedIn post from a specialist in the field that reported that Netflix may be gaining a 30% bit rate advantage by using the technology while also avoiding a ‘“synthetic” and plasticky’ look that it had previously had using the AV1 codec.
At IBC recently, Qualcomm and Interdigital showed FGS using the VVC codec. VVC allows FGS, while AV1 mandates the technology. However, competitors point out that the FGS in AV1 is very basic and not as sophisticated as the options in VVC. AV1 has only a simple, 4×4 block for synthesis while the system from Interdigital and the Fraunhofer HHI allows more options. Given that AOpen, which develops the AV1 codec, has published a specification for improved FGS and is also releasing the AV2 specification shortly, we should see some new developments.
