Dolby Vision Profile 20 FAQ

Nov 7, 2023
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Dolby-Vision-Profile-20-FAQ

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Adeline Almanzar, 11/4/2024 8:22 PM

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Adeline Almanzar, 11/6/2024 1:04 AM

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This article covers the following frequently asked questions:

How does Dolby Vision profile 20 differ from other profiles?
How can I create stereoscopic Dolby Vision content?
How can I encode Dolby Vision profile 20 content?
What devices can play Dolby Vision profile 20 content?
What is the target use-case for profile 20?
What is MV-HEVC?
Does the current MV-HEVC standard support HDR video?
How is MV-HEVC used to support Dolby Vision profile 20?
Is profile 20 video backward compatible with existing Dolby Vision devices?
How can I verify Dolby Vision profile 20 content?
Where do I find profile 20 test content?

How does Dolby Vision profile 20 differ from other profiles?

Profile 20 is the first Dolby Vision profile which supports MV-HEVC and enables the delivery of Stereoscopic (3D) video. All other Dolby Vision profiles only support monoscopic (2D) video, whereas profile 20 is able to carry stereoscopic views and target new devices and use cases.

In addition, Dolby Vision profile 20 brings forward new capabilities for playback of content mastered in environments with low peak luminance (such as cinema mastering environments). Playback devices that support Dolby Vision profile 20 will be able to present cinema-mastered content on a variety of displays.

How can I create stereoscopic Dolby Vision content?

At the moment, creating stereoscopic Dolby Vision content is currently limited to early partners.

How can I encode Dolby Vision profile 20 content?

The following encoding solutions can be used to encode stereoscopic 3D HDR video to Dolby Vision profile 20.

Encoder	Status
Hybrik Cloud Encoding Solution	Currently Available
Ateme Titan File	Currently Available (Beta)

Note that when delivering stereoscopic (3D) content, Dolby Vision profile 20 video encoding requires video compression using the Multiview HEVC (MV-HEVC Main10) codec.

What devices can play Dolby Vision profile 20 content?

Currently Apple’s recently announced Apple Vision Pro is the only device that supports playback of HDR 3D stereoscopic video using Dolby Vision profile 20.

What is the target use-case for profile 20?

Dolby Vision profile 20 is initially intended to deliver an immersive 3D video experience in Head Mounted Displays (HMDs), such as playback of premium Dolby Cinema 3D movies. This represents an exciting step forward for high-quality visual experiences that until now could only be enjoyed in high-end cinemas.

What is MV-HEVC?

“Multiview High Efficiency Video Coding” (MV-HEVC), is an extension to the “High Efficiency Video Coding” (HEVC) standard that allows for the encoding of multiple views of a scene within a single video stream.

The MV-HEVC codec is particularly useful for Stereoscopic 3D Video, where two views (one view for each eye) are required to create a stereoscopic effect.

Note that MV-HEVC codec is designed to carry multiple views and its use-cases are not limited to stereoscopic video.

Multiview extensions to HEVC are defined in ISO/IEC 23008-2 (ITU H.265).

Does the current MV-HEVC standard support HDR video?

Yes, the MV-HEVC standard was first released in 2014, and it originally only supported 8-bit video profiles (suitable for SDR video, i.e. Standard Dynamic Range). A new 10-bit profile for MV-HEVC, called Multiview Main10, was submitted to the standard. Among others, see JVET-AE1006-v2 from July 2023, and JVET-AJ0213 submitted in October 2024. This 10-bit profile is capable of supporting HDR video such as Dolby Vision profile 20.

How is MV-HEVC used to support Dolby Vision profile 20?

Dolby Vision profile 20 relies on the efficiencies available with MV-HEVC Main10. Unlike transmission of stereoscopic video with HEVC through use of top-bottom or side-by-side, MV-HEVC uses layers for the different left and right views.

The Dolby Vision and H.265 characteristics of the H.265 base layer and non-base layer are the same other than the eye to which a layer is assigned. To distinguish left and right eye, nuh_layer_id is used with values of “0” or “1”. [See 7.3.1.2 NAL unit header syntax in ITU-T H.265 (09/2023).]

More details will be available in a future version of Dolby Vision encoding tools.

Is profile 20 video backward compatible with existing Dolby Vision devices?

The initial use-case for Dolby Vision profile 20 is focused on the delivery of stereoscopic 3D content, including support for content mastered across a wider range of mastering environments, such as digital cinema.

While MV-HEVC carries a certain degree of backward compatibility with regular HEVC decoders, Dolby Vision profile 20 is not itself backward compatible with existing Dolby Vision playback devices. Only devices that add explicit support for Dolby Vision profile 20 will be able to play profile 20 compressed streams.

How can I verify Dolby Vision profile 20 content?

We have adapted our Dolby Vision Verification tools to support profile 20 streams.

Where do I find profile 20 test content?

Profile 20 Test Content	URL
Apple 3D fMP4 HLS Test Streams	https://developer.apple.com/streaming/examples/