See also:
Ventana Codec (Encoder / Decoder) support
Hardware Accelerated Codecs utilize the IMX Video Processing Unit (VPU) hardware block and can provide encoding and decoding various formats with very little CPU overhead in some cases. These codecs are made possible by a combination of:
- proprietary closed-source binary VPU firmware from Freescale
- various software packages that implement the VPU API
Software Codecs utilize ARM CPU resources only.
Standard Codecs (available in Gateworks BSP's)
Yocto / Android BSP and Ubuntu Trusty (14.04) pre-built images:
- Audio (Software codecs):
- decoders: AAC, MP3, Vorbis, FLAC
- encoders: SBC, MP3
- Video (Hardware codecs):
- decoders: MPEG-4 ASP, XVID, H.264 HP, H.263, MPEG-2 MP, MJPEG BP, VP8, Sorenson-H263
- encoders: MPEG-4 SP, H.264 BP, H.263, MJPEG BP
- Speech codecs: G.723.1 G.726, G.711, G.728AB, NB/WB AMR
- Image codecs (Hardware codecs): JPEG, BMP, GIF, PNG
Ubuntu Bionic (18.04) / Xenial (16.04) pre-built images:
- Audio (Software codecs) via Gstreamer:
- decoders: AAC, MP3, Vorbis, FLAC
- encoders: SBC, MP3
- Video (Hardware codecs):
- decoders: MPEG-4 ASP, H.264 HP, MPEG-2 MP via coda/Gstreamer-1.1+
- encoders: MPEG-4 SP, H.264 BP via coda/GStreamer-1.14+
- Speech codecs (via GStreamer) G.723.1 G.726, G.711, G.728AB, NB/WB AMR
In addition to the above, an AACPlus audio decoder is also freely available from Freescale but can not be included in our BSP because Freescale needs to track the number of downloads to comply with their licensing terms. You can extract the AACPlus codec from the L3.10.53_1.1.0_AACP_CODECS download available from from freescale.com
Restricted Distribution Codecs (available from Freescale)
Additional codecs exist under restricted distribution directly from Freescale as these require various licenses from the third party holding the technology rights:
- Microsoft: WMA10 decoder, WMA8 encoder, WMV7/8/9 MP decoder
- Android and Yocto support Available
- Verify through Freescale that you are on the Windows Media Components Licensee List. If you are not a licensee, you can initiate the process by mailing Microsoft at WMLA@…. Once you are on the list, you will need to verify this with Freescale themselves at which point they will give you the appropriate file.
- Dolby: AC3 (Dolby Digital) and E-AC3 (Dolby Digital Plus aka 'DD+') decoder (software codec only, no multimedia framework integration)
- Android and Yocto support Available
- Freescale would require a copy of the license agreement specific to DD and/or DD+ technology with Dolby Laboratories, Inc.: http://www.dolby.com/us/en/professional/licensing.html
- Rovi: DivX 3/4/5/6 decoder (VPU firmware update requiring no multimedia framework integration)
- Android only
- http://www.divx.com/solutions/consumer-software/
Distribution is done via Freescale's controlled access extranet and requires agreement to be in place with Microsoft, Dolby or Rovi for the specific technology prior to accessing in order to comply with these parties requirements. Once customer is given access to a codec all silicon is considered 'enabled' and may require reporting obligations to the third party technology owner per the customers specific license agreement with the third party.
Licensing:
- Customers may need to obtain additional licensing or other rights (ie MPEG LA, Via). There is no license free or royalty charged by Freescale or Gateworks
- Freescale and Gateworks are legally unable to provide guidance on when, where and how to obtain license as these are controlled by the third party per codec listed above.
