How Meta brought AV1 to Reels

What this post added

This post details Meta's implementation and deployment of the AV1 video codec for Facebook and Instagram Reels. It covers the technical rationale for choosing AV1, the optimization of SVT-AV1 encoders and dav1d decoders for global-scale deployment, and the integration of advanced adaptive bit rate (ABR) streaming techniques using a two-stage hybrid hardware/software encoding approach. The post highlights the trade-offs between encoder quality and complexity, the challenges of client-side decoding on mobile devices, and the specific implementation details for Reels, including the use of convex hull optimization for rate-distortion curves.