With the rapid evolution of video technologies, the AV1 codec has emerged as a game-changing format that offers high compression efficiency and royalty-free licensing. Developed by the Alliance for Open Media (AOMedia), AV1 is optimized for internet video streaming, promising up to 30% better compression rates over its predecessor VP9 and even outperforms HEVC in many scenarios. Despite its clear advantages, editing AV1 videos remains a bit of a frontier in the video production world. In this article, we’ll dive into what software currently supports AV1 editing, how practical it is to work with this format, and what to watch for as the ecosystem evolves.
What Makes AV1 Unique?
Before we look at editing software, it’s important to understand what makes AV1 stand out. Unlike other popular formats such as H.264 or HEVC (H.265), AV1 is an open and royalty-free codec. This has prompted wide adoption among major players like Netflix, YouTube, and Vimeo—all of which now offer AV1 streaming options.
Key Benefits of AV1:
- Better Compression: Delivers higher quality at lower bitrates compared to H.264 and HEVC.
- Royalty-Free: Unlike HEVC, AV1 avoids costly licensing fees.
- Future-Proof: Designed for 4K and beyond, with strong support for HDR and wide color gamuts.
Despite these advantages, AV1 also comes with significant computational complexity, especially during encoding and decoding, which has affected its adoption in real-time video editing tools.
Software That Supports Editing AV1
Support for AV1 is growing, but is still limited in many mainstream editing platforms. Below is a breakdown of the current state of AV1 editing software:
1. DaVinci Resolve
DaVinci Resolve stands out as one of the more advanced platforms currently supporting AV1. While earlier versions did not natively support AV1 encoding or decoding, as of recent updates, DaVinci Resolve Studio (the paid version) allows for limited editing and playback of AV1 files using GPU acceleration, provided your hardware supports it.
Pros:
-
<liHigh-performance playback with suitable hardware
- Excellent color grading and compositing tools
Cons:
- AV1 encoding on output is still limited
- Requires high-end GPU for smooth editing
2. FFmpeg with NLE Integration
FFmpeg, the powerful open-source multimedia framework, has had AV1 encoding/decoding support for a while. While not a non-linear editor (NLE) per se, FFmpeg can be used in combination with other software such as Blender or even custom pipelines in Adobe Premiere Pro via plugin scripts.
This workflow is not ideal for beginners, but video professionals looking for maximum flexibility and control over their codecs will appreciate this solution.
3. Adobe Premiere Pro
Adobe’s widely-used NLE platform, Premiere Pro, has been gradually rolling out AV1 support. As of recent updates, AV1 playback support is available through hardware acceleration if your GPU supports it (e.g., NVIDIA RTX 30 series or Intel Arc). However, native AV1 export is still not polished and may require third-party plugins or additional rendering steps via Media Encoder or FFmpeg.
Current Capabilities:
- Playback of AV1 files on supported systems
- Encoding available using third-party tools
Adobe still seems to be in the early stages of full AV1 integration, and users should be prepared for some workarounds.
4. Shotcut
As an open-source, cross-platform video editor, Shotcut offers basic support for AV1 since it relies on FFmpeg under the hood. Users can import and edit AV1 video files, although real-time playback can struggle on mid-range systems.
Why Choose Shotcut?
- Free and open-source
- FFmpeg-based, AV1 compatible
Limitations:
- Lacks some advanced editing capabilities
- Performance can be a bottleneck
5. Blender
Though better known for 3D modeling and animation, Blender also includes a competent video sequence editor (VSE) that supports AV1 via FFmpeg. It’s not the most intuitive tool for traditional video editing, but it’s a tempting option for creators looking to integrate AV1 with 3D content.
If you’re comfortable with Blender’s workflow, its AV1 support can be a valuable tool in your pipeline.
Hardware Acceleration Matters
Editing AV1 content smoothly depends heavily on support for hardware decoding. Many modern GPUs from NVIDIA (RTX 30 series), AMD (RDNA2), and Intel (Iris Xe, Arc) include native AV1 decode capabilities. This means faster playback and editing within compatible software environments.
For best performance when working with AV1 video:
- Ensure your system’s GPU supports AV1 hardware decoding
- Use tools optimized for GPU acceleration
- Consider proxy workflow if your editor struggles with real-time playback
AV1 Export Options
While editing AV1 is becoming more feasible, exporting your final video in AV1 can still be challenging. Here’s a look at how some tools handle AV1 output:
- FFmpeg: Full AV1 export support via
libaom-av1,SVT-AV1, orrav1eencoders. - HandBrake: Simple AV1 encoding for video transcoding, but not an editor.
- DaVinci Resolve / Adobe: Limited or no native AV1 export—use FFmpeg as a post-processing step.
Some video professionals opt to export in ProRes or DNxHD and then use FFmpeg to encode the final version into AV1. While this adds a step, it ensures better editing performance and more encoding options.
What’s on the Horizon?
With industry adoption increasing and GPU manufacturers rolling out more support, full AV1 workflows are likely to become more mainstream. Adobe and Blackmagic Design are actively updating their codebases, and tools like FFmpeg and VLC continue to push the envelope.
Furthermore, with growing demand for 8K and ultra-high-def streaming, AV1 offers an ideal format for balancing quality and file size. We can expect broader support in consumer-level software within the next few years.
Conclusion
AV1 is shaping the future of video compression, offering a royalty-free and high-performance alternative to traditional codecs. While editing software support is still catching up, a growing number of tools now provide varying levels of AV1 compatibility.
If you’re looking to start editing with AV1 today, here’s your best bet:
- Use FFmpeg for transcoding and integration
- Try DaVinci Resolve Studio for partially native AV1 workflows
- Experiment with open-source editors like Shotcut or Blender
Understanding AV1 and the tools that support it will be essential for video editors, filmmakers, and content creators looking to stay ahead in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.