Tutorial: How to export AV1 video in your VR editing software

3 days ago

AV1 is a next-gen video codec delivering top-tier compression and visual quality - even at 8K resolution. In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to export VR content in AV1 using popular tools like DaVinci Resolve, Adobe Premiere Pro, FFmpeg, and CapCut.

⚠️ Disclaimer: We're not affiliated with the software mentioned. Always check official documentation, review system requirements, and test trial versions before purchasing. DeoVR isn’t liable for software issues, incompatibility, or unexpected results.

🔧 Exporting 8K 60FPS AV1 Videos: What You Need to Know

Hardware Requirements: 8K video at 60FPS demands high-end specs. Use a powerful GPU (Nvidia RTX 40-series or newer), fast CPU, plenty of RAM, and SSD storage.
Software Compatibility: Not all editors support AV1 natively. Choose tools with confirmed AV1 export capabilities.
Encoding Settings: Use AV1 as the codec, set your target resolution/frame rate, and tweak bitrate to balance quality and file size.
Hardware Acceleration: Tools like DaVinci Resolve use Nvidia NVENC for AV1 hardware encoding—huge time saver.

🖥 Software Overview

DaVinci Resolve Studio

Best overall for AV1 export.

Native AV1 support since version 18.1 (Nov 2022).
Supports AV1 import/export without plugins.
Free version limits resolution to 4K - Studio version supports up to 8K.
Supports Nvidia NVENC AV1 encoding - ideal for 8K 60FPS VR.

Adobe Premiere Pro (via Plugins)

Premiere doesn’t support AV1 natively - yet. You’ll need plugins:

Autokroma Influx

Import only (no AV1 export as of April 2025).
Great for working with AV1 and MKV containers inside Premiere.
Free trial available.
Cost: €103
🔗 Autokroma Influx User Guide

Voukoder

Export only (no AV1 import).
Adds AV1 export options via the Media Encoder.
Cost: €69
🔗 Voukoder Documentation

Steps (Voukoder):

Click Export in Premiere Pro.
Select Voukoder Pro as the format.
Choose resolution and framerate under Video tab.
In Encoder Properties, pick AV1 and set mode (e.g., Constant Bitrate - 100-120 Mbps for high-quality).
Select output container: MKV, MOV, or MP4.
Finalize settings, then export.

FFmpeg (Advanced Users)

Powerful command-line tool for AV1 encoding.

Sample Command:

ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -c:v libaom-av1 -crf 30 -b:v 0 -c:a libopus output.mkv

What it means:

-c:v libaom-av1 - Use AV1 codec
-crf 30 - Adjust quality (lower = better)
-b:v 0 - Enables constant quality mode
-c:a libopus - Encode audio with Opus
output.mkv - Output container

💡 Use MediaInfo to inspect file output: MediaInfo Tool

CapCut

Easy-to-use editor with AV1 support built-in.
Exports limited to 4K in free version
8K exports only with paid subscription
Great for quick edits, not suitable for high-res professional VR exports.

✅ Final Tips

Use DaVinci Resolve Studio if you need full 8K AV1 workflow with hardware acceleration.
FFmpeg is perfect for batch encoding or fine-tuned control (if you're comfortable with command-line).
Premiere Pro + Voukoder is a solid export-only pipeline.
CapCut is great for AV1 exports up to 4K - go paid for 8K exports.

Want help optimizing your VR export settings for DeoVR? Just ask - we’re here to help.