Configure libsvtav1 Profile in FFmpeg

This article provides a quick guide on how to configure the profile parameter for the libsvtav1 (SVT-AV1) encoder in FFmpeg. You will learn about the different AV1 profiles available, the correct syntax to define them in your command-line arguments, and how to match your chosen profile with the appropriate pixel formats.

AV1 Profiles Overview

The AV1 standard defines three profiles, each specifying the bit depth and chroma subsampling capabilities that the decoder must support. SVT-AV1 maps these profiles as follows:

• Main Profile (0 or main): Supports 8-bit and 10-bit color depths with 4:2:0 chroma subsampling. This is the default profile and offers the widest device compatibility.
• High Profile (1 or high): Supports 8-bit and 10-bit color depths with 4:4:4 chroma subsampling.
• Professional Profile (2 or professional): Supports 8-bit, 10-bit, and 12-bit color depths with 4:2:2 chroma subsampling.

How to Set the Profile in FFmpeg

In FFmpeg, you configure the profile using the standard -profile:v flag. You can specify the profile using either its integer value or its string name.

Syntax

ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -c:v libsvtav1 -profile:v <profile_value> output.mkv

Examples

1. Set to Main Profile (Most Common) To encode a standard 10-bit 4:2:0 video using the Main profile:

ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -c:v libsvtav1 -profile:v main -pix_fmt yuv420p10le output.mkv

(Alternatively, you can use -profile:v 0)

2. Set to High Profile To encode a 4:4:4 video using the High profile:

ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -c:v libsvtav1 -profile:v high -pix_fmt yuv444p10le output.mkv

(Alternatively, you can use -profile:v 1)

3. Set to Professional Profile To encode a 4:2:2 video using the Professional profile:

ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -c:v libsvtav1 -profile:v professional -pix_fmt yuv422p10le output.mkv

(Alternatively, you can use -profile:v 2)

Important Compatibility Considerations

When manually setting a profile, you must ensure your pixel format (-pix_fmt) matches the profile’s technical limitations:

• If you select -profile:v main, your pixel format must be 4:2:0 (e.g., yuv420p or yuv420p10le).
• If you select -profile:v high, your pixel format must be 4:4:4 (e.g., yuv444p or yuv444p10le).
• If you select -profile:v professional, your pixel format must be 4:2:2 (e.g., yuv422p or yuv422p10le).

If there is a mismatch between the chosen profile and the pixel format, the libsvtav1 encoder will output an error and fail to initialize. If you do not specify a profile, FFmpeg will automatically choose the correct profile based on your input or specified pixel format.