VQ Probe Release Notes

Version 3.6

New Features

• Added the ability to maximize the player (Playback View + Main Control Panel)
• Added a new sample project demonstrating the optimal encoding ladders feature
• CLI: added the ability to build optimal encoding ladders
• CLI: added the ability to skip frames during metrics calculation
• CLI: added demo scripts

Improvements

• Updated to VVC VTM 23.3
• Updated to AV2 AVM 6.0.0 (SHA-1: b22a8f6cda0a3918ee2edbe8e1b6d3504e92b204)
• Increased the speed of adding source files to an RD curve: up to 100 times faster (*)
• Increased the speed of project opening: up to 50 times faster (*)

(*) - measured on Windows 10, Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-10300H 2.50GHz, 16GB RAM

Bugfixes

• Fixed a visual bug in Log View
• CLI: fixed a bug that caused JSON and CSV files to have twice as many rows after loading cached results

Version 3.5

New Features

• Added the ability to use cached results for files that are no longer present in the project file
• Added the ability to build optimal encoding ladders
• Added the ability to minimize the player (Playback View + Main Control Panel)
• Added the ability to save the current video (including all visible labels, ROIs, found objects, etc.)
• Added the ability to hide the zoom ratio label
• CLI: added the ability to use multiple --distorted in one command line
• CLI: added the ability to use cached results

Improvements

• Updated to VMAF 3.0.0
• Updated to dAV1d 1.4.0

Bugfixes

• Fixed a problem with IPP libraries on Linux

Version 3.4

New Features

• Added a new metric: XPSNR
• Added the ability to offload metrics calculation to Intel(R) GPUs
• Added PNG support
• Added the ability to disable metrics calculation for any stream
• Added the ability to calculate BD Rate for the Convex Hull curve
• Added the ability to add found objects to the list of ROIs
• Added the ability to trim streams by scene
• Added a context menu in Log View

Improvements

• Updated to Qt 5.15.2
• Updated to Qwt 6.2.0
• Updated to VVC VTM 22.0
• Updated to dAV1d 1.3.0
• Rearranged the ROI tab of Project View

Bugfixes

• Fixed an issue with opening empty YUV streams
• Fixed an issue with the Enable Convex Hull checkbox

Version 3.3

New Features

• Added TS support for AVS3
• Added the ability to drag streams between RD curves
• Added new options to add RD curves automatically
• Added the ROI Constructor dialog
• Added the ability to choose a scaling algorithm for Convex Hull
• Added new options to customize Metrics View
• Added the ability to display stream stats in Metrics Log

Improvements

• Updated our SCD algorithm to match FFmpeg results
• Improved UX by adding message boxes about opening files/projects

Bugfixes

• Fixed VVC/AV2/AVS3 opening in Free/Pro
• Fixed a bug with 10/12/16 bit Y4M streams
• Fixed an issue with the slider not registering LeftArrow/RightArrow key presses
• Fixed an issue with legends not responding to single clicks
• CLI: fixed a memory leak on Linux

Version 3.2

New Features

• Added MPEG2 support
• Added BMP/JPG support
• Added support for containers with multiple streams
• Added the ability to download and install new versions of VQ Probe through Update Notifier
• Added the ability to calculate metrics that are missing from the cache
• Added a button to clear Log View contents
• Added a new sample project demonstrating the convex hull feature
• CLI: added the ability to calculate metrics for a pair of streams without creating a project
• CLI: added a default value (".") for -d

Improvements

• Updated to dAV1d 1.2.0
• Updated to AVS3 HPM-15.2
• Enhanced UX by adding more shortcuts
• Stream Info labels now include file extensions
• Maximum values are now highlighted in SI/TI Log

Bugfixes

• Fixed a crash when launching Object Detection on macOS
• Fixed a bug causing APSNR values not to load from the cache
• Fixed an issue that resulted in RD Curves being removed from graphs after renaming

Version 3.1

New Features

• Added VP9 support
• Added a new metric: APSNR
• Added 4:4:0 support
• Added PCAP support
• Added new view modes for Left and Right in Playback View
• Added preview plots in Metrics View
• CLI: added SI/TI support
• CLI: added the --trim option
• CLI: added the ability to extract stream buffer level information as JSON

Improvements

• Updated to AVS3 HPM-15.1
• Updated to VVC VTM 19.2
• Improved visibility in Playback View by adding frame borders

Bugfixes

• Fixed minor graphical bugs

Version 3.0

New Features

• Added an installer (Windows)
• Added Update Notifier
• Added Y416 color space support
• Added support for uncompressed RGB streams
• Added a Recent Files submenu
• Added Field Split Mode
• Added the ability to choose the calculation mode (CPU, GPU)
• Added the ability to calculate metrics for additional streams not present in a project's cache (when Use Cached Results is checked)

Improvements

• Updated to AVS3 HPM-15.0
• Updated to VVC VTM 18.1
• Increased the speed of PSNR calculation: up to 1.5 times faster (*)
• Increased the speed of SSIM calculation: up to 1.5 times faster (*)
• Increased the speed of MS-SSIM calculation: up to 2 times faster (*)

(*) - measured on Windows 10, Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-10300H 2.50GHz, 16GB RAM

Bugfixes

• Fixed several problems with Pix Diff heatmaps for 10-bit, 12-bit, and 16-bit streams
• Fixed a discrepancy between GUI and CLI metrics calculation results
• Fixed stream order in legends in Metrics View
• Fixed frame number labels in Metrics Log

Version 2.5

New Features

• Added Grid Overlay
• Added support for containers with uncompressed video (AV_CODEC_ID_RAWVIDEO)
• Added a context menu in Playback View
• CLI: added the –list-metrics, –list-codecs, –list-containers options

Improvements

• Updated to dAV1d 1.0.0
• Updated to AVS3 HPM-14.1
• Reduced the size of the distribution package by five times; Object Detection models will now be downloaded dynamically the first time they are used
• Improved UI logic for the case when there is only one non-reference stream
• Metrics calculation results are now saved in a project’s folder
• Object Detection can now be run for a single stream
• The Current Frame label is now editable

Bugfixes

• Fixed several crashes on Apple M1 processors
• Fixed graphs being filled with zeros after loading cached results
• Fixed calculation of boundary values for SI

Version 2.4.1

New Features

• Added integration with VQ Analyzer
• Added support for ITU 601, ITU 709, BT.2020 color standards
• Added support for Full/Limited color ranges
• CLI: added the ability to activate VQ Probe
• CLI: added wildcard support for the -a and -r options

Improvements

• Updated to VMAF 2.3.1
• Updated to AVS3 HPM-14.0
• Improved UX for Scene Change Detection: moved SCD to the Tools menu, added two separate actions (Start & Stop)

Bugfixes

• Fixed a crash when changing Start/End frame numbers for Left or Right
• Fixed a rare crash for 8x8 streams

Version 2.4

New Features

• Added AVS3 support (based on HPM-13.1)
• Added new metrics: PSNR-HVS, VMAF-NEG
• Added support for 16 bit streams
• Added V210, V410, V416 color spaces support
• Added the ability to calculate SI/TI according to ITU-T P.910 (11/21)
• Added Log View for various log messages
• CLI: added the ability to add a YUV file to the project with the –yuv-params option
• CLI: added the ability to pass a ROI file with the –use-roi option

Improvements

• Increased the speed of project opening: up to 3 times faster (*)
• PSNR-Y is now optional

(*) - measured on Windows 10, Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-10300H 2.50GHz, 16GB RAM

Bugfixes

• Fixed incorrect behavior for region-based zooming
• Fixed a rare crash in Buffer View when setting a new value for Moving Average before the graph is built

Version 2.3

New Features

• Added new metrics: CAMBI, CIEDE2000, MS-SSIM
• Added 4:0:0 support
• Added YUYV, Y210, UYVY, NV16, NV24 support
• Added the ability to build Buffer View for every stream
• Added the ability to detach Project View and Metrics View
• Added the ability to export Object Detection logs

Improvements

• Updated to VMAF 2.3.0
• Updated to VVC VTM 14.1
• Increased the speed of SSIM calculation: up to 4 times faster (*)
• Replaced spinboxes with visible buttons in the Start/End columns
• Improved UX for Scene Change Detection: added a message box about the absence of scene changes

(*) - measured on Windows 10, Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-10300H 2.50GHz, 16GB RAM

Bugfixes

• Fixed a crash for streams with non-standard resolutions

Version 2.2

New Features

• Added AV2 support
• Added the ability to choose the active metrics (PSNR-only, PSNR-SSIM-VMAF, etc.)
• Added new options to the CLI version of VQ Probe: active metrics, convex hull
• Added Image Navigation Panel
• Added the ability to save current frames (L, R, Ref)
• Added the ability to save metrics plots
• Added the ability to change the order of files in Project View
• Added a sample project

Improvements

• Updated to VMAF 2.2.1
• Increased the speed of PSNR calculation: up to 100 times faster (*)

(*) - measured on Windows 10, Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-10300H 2.50GHz, 16GB RAM

Bugfixes

• Fixed a rare bug with incorrect bitrate display
• Fixed a graphical issue when Playback View was not visible at startup
• Fixed a rare issue with opening containers

Version 2.1.1

New Features

• Added the ability to set custom weights for the composite (YUV) metrics
• Added the ability to export average values of metrics
• Added a splash screen

Improvements

• Improved loading time
• Improved Buffer View initialization

Bugfixes

• Fixed several issues with activation

Version 2.1

New Features

• Added new options to the CLI version of VQ Probe: add/remove streams, set up the project from a CSV file, BD Rate calculation and export
• Added the ability to use multiple Regions of Interest (ROI)
• Added the ability to set weights for ROI
• Added support for the most popular multimedia containers: mp4, ts, mkv, webm
• Added caching of scene changes
• Added the ability to export the results of metrics calculation to CSV

Improvements

• Updated to VMAF 2.1.1
• Updated to VVC VTM 12.0
• Updated to AV1 0.9.0
• Updated the Scene Change Detector: added fade detection
• Improved BD Rate calculation

Bugfixes

• Fixed an issue with NV12 YUV streams
• Fixed a rare crash when clicking on a graph legend

Version 2.0

New Features

• Added the ability to pause and resume the metrics calculation process
• Added Scene Detection
• Added Object Detection
• Added the ability to set a region of interest for metrics calculation
• Added the ability to loop playback
• Added the cursor position label
• Added the Command Line Interface version of VQ Probe
• Added the ability to cache & reuse the results of metrics calculation
• Added Buffer View
• Added the ability to build a convex hull for RD Curves

Improvements

• Made plot legends fully clickable and movable
• Made the playback slider active
• Reversed the colors used in the Heat Map modes
• Added tooltips for RD Curve points
• Changed the colors used in Metrics View for better readability

Bugfixes

• Fixed zooming bugs that occurred in some cases

Version 1.5

New Features

• Added the ability to trim source files
• Added the black and white difference mode
• Added the ability to rename RD curves

Improvements

• Increased accuracy of BD Rate calculation
• Improved zooming for some streams with non-standard sizes
• Rearranged the RD Curves tab of Metrics View

Bugfixes

• Fixed a crash when the metrics calculation started without re-validation of streams
• Fixed a bug when the metrics calculation could not start until the user explicitly reset the reference file
• Fixed zooming when using shortcuts
• Fixed the color of YUV values for light pixels

Version 1.4

New Features

• Project support
• Offline activation
• Added the ability to choose files to display on Playback View
• Added composite metrics: PSNR YUV, SSIM YUV, VMAF YUV
• VMAF metrics calculation for U and V components
• Added average metrics values

Improvements

• Performance improvement of quality metrics calculation – up to 2.5 times
• Improved usability of Metrics View

Bugfixes

• A lot of fixes

Version 1.3

New Features

• AV1 support
• RD Curves & BD Rates
• Advanced Open Dialog
• The ability to hide/show Metrics View

Improvements

• Zoom improvements

Bugfixes

• Fixed issues with displaying of files with different frame numbers
• Fixed some issues with stream validation

Version 1.2

New Features

• Async VMAF calculation
• Crop Uncompressed Frames
• Display YUV values
• Separate Y/U/V planes displaying
• Heat Map of encoded and reference frames difference

Version 1.1

New Features

• VVC Support
• 4K Support

Version 1.0

Initial version.