Agora introduces advanced video technology to improve the quality of live streams

Agora, Inc. (NASDAQ: API), a pioneer and leading platform for real-time engagement APIs, today introduced its latest innovation: Adaptive Video Optimization^TM (AVO) along with support for the AV1 video codec. This advanced technology leverages the power of machine learning to dynamically adjust parameters at every step from capture to playback, delivering an enhanced live video streaming experience.

In today's fast-paced digital world, live video calling and streaming often encounter hurdles such as unstable network conditions, packet loss and limited bandwidth. These challenges can result in freezes, stutters, grainy video, and dropped connections, degrading the real-time video experience and negatively impacting user engagement. Adaptive video optimization^TM uses a set of advanced machine learning algorithms to address these common problems. By optimizing video quality in real-time based on network conditions, device capabilities and available bandwidth, AVO ensures the highest possible video quality and optimal performance even under different network scenarios.

“Reliable, high-quality live streaming is essential in today’s video-dominated media landscape,” said Tony Zhao, CEO and co-founder of Agora. “Our Adaptive Video Optimization technology enables smooth delivery of every call and live stream – regardless of network fluctuations, user location or device. These improvements increase engagement and enable Agora’s customers to deliver the highest quality live video user experiences.”

Agora's commitment to delivering a seamless, real-time video experience is based on three core pillars that are fundamental to delivering AVO's engaging video experiences:

• Optimized image quality:Ensures every image is crisp, with enhanced contrast and vivid details making the viewing experience clearer and more engaging.
• Unmatched video expertise: Eliminates common streaming issues such as buffering and stuttering, ensuring a smooth and natural flow.
• Extremely low latency: Allows users to interact in real time, whether with presenters or other viewers, and enjoy fast load times and instant first frame rendering for seamless transitions between video streams.

AVO^TM takes a comprehensive machine learning approach to ensure the highest quality video streaming experience by optimizing every phase of the video processing pipeline – pre-processing, encoding, transmission, decoding and post-processing. A key component of this solution is Agora's Coding Technology (ACT), which is designed to optimize the user experience by supporting advanced video codecs such as AV1 and VP9 and dynamically switching to the codec suitable for, despite device limitations or streaming limitations an exceptional video experience is best suited. Using advanced techniques and state-of-the-art compression methods, the technology adapts, dynamically configures parameters, and ensures crisp images, efficient bandwidth usage and a consistent, high-quality experience for all users, from the moment video is captured to its final display on the viewer's screen.

From video capture to playback, the technology continuously adapts to changing network conditions and device capabilities, ensuring a seamless streaming experience. Any imperfections that may occur during transmission are quickly resolved and the final video is polished to provide life-like clarity and a premium streaming experience that benefits both content creators and viewers.

“Agora’s adaptive video optimization^TM (AVO) has dramatically improved the real-time video experience in our app,” said Ellard Capiral, VP of Engineering, KUMU. “Users get smooth, high-quality video without freezing, even on slow connections and older devices. Since implementing AVO, we have seen a 30% increase in session duration and engagement.”

Learn more about Agora's adaptive video optimization^TM Check out this blog on “Optimizing the Live Video User Experience” for a side-by-side video comparison that demonstrates superior video quality in real-time.

About Agora

Headquartered in Santa Clara, California, Agora is a pioneer and global leader in Real-Time Engagement Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS), providing developers with simple, flexible, and powerful application programming interfaces, or APIs, to embed real-world voice, Video, interactive live streaming, chat, whiteboard and artificial intelligence capabilities into their applications.