Ask HN: Getting into low level audiovisual codecs and graphics

7 points by z3phyr ↗ HN
As an intermediate programmer, what are the goto resources to get into low level programming on audi video codecs and computer graphics?

6 comments

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Before getting to the code, you need to understand the principles, which are getting quite complex. I would start by reading how mpeg-2 worked, it’s sufficiently simple. Then move on to h.264, you’ll see a shitload of innovation there, not all of which is easy to grasp. And then look into state of the art stuff.

The recent video codecs are incredibly complicated, and as a solo developer, it would be pretty hard to develop a codec by yourself. You may be able to invent some feature that improves the coding slightly, but coding efficiency is getting pretty hard to beat.

What to read and what code to learn is difficult to say depending on your objective. If your objective is getting a job in video coding, it’s not too hard cause these jobs are quite academic and you don’t get paid much, so if you know some coding and show some interest in learning the field, I don’t think it’d be too hard for you to find an intern position in a lab or something.

Can you recommend a reading resource? I was looking for MPEG-1 and MPEG-2 specifications, and to the best of my knowledge, they are behind a paywall. I will probably buy them if there is no other choice other than the specs.
if you want a fun introduction, I suggest becoming part of the demoscene !
If you really want to do a practical hands on deep dive in Graphics: I would strong recommend [1].

Just work through this book and you are set. There is a a LOT of demand and short supply for good 3D graphics programmers. I would say it should be either Media or Graphics; both may be an overkill! Good luck.

[1] http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00LAMQYF2/