Explaining Sony's XAVC Codec's - XAVC-I, XAVC-L and XAVC-S

With the popularity of Sony's A7 range of cameras, the FS7 and the new Fs5. We thought we would take a closer look at their relatively new range of 4K ready codecs, XAVC.
We explain some of the differences between XAVC-I on the FS7, XAVC-L on the FS5 and XAVC-S on the A7 cameras.
If you want to see more explanation videos like this, please do let us know!

[@ProAVTV]

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[@SamMasghati]

I want my whole life explained by this guy

[@ProAVTV]

+Sam Masghati That could get a little awkward and uncomfortable... but I'm flattered! Carl

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Totally agree! He's perfect!!!

[@yolmak1793]

HAHAHA

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Hahahahaha! xD Totally!

[@LiquidLensPhotography]

ProAV TV 🤣🤣💯💯

[@Saphir3000]

This is how you do it. No annoying jump cuts, unnecessary animations or stupid jokes. Just a nice and clean video that explains everything step by step. Excellent video, guys! Learned so much from this.

[@ProAVTV]

+Saphir3000 Excellent feedback thankyou. I was worried it would be a bit dull for exactly the reasons you put above. But i'm glad I sticked with my instincts and focused on the content. Plus I cant stand jump cuts. No idea why so many high profile youtubers think its ok. Carl

[@FranklynGrant]

+Saphir3000 I agree.

[@ryanpotter9152]

you're awesome love it!

[@Zartimus]

Saphir3000 Yeah, WTF is up with the useless jump cuts all over KZbin...

[@PaulRhysTV]

@@ProAVTV I didn't think it was dull even for a second, totally agree with the comment, and the hand gestures worked too (not to diss any fellow commenters of course, matter of opinion etc). What was this shot on? Like the look. Classy.

[@odyssey.studios]

Great video. I think it’s worth mentioning that Long-GOP stands for ‘Long Group Of Pictures’, and codec stands for ‘Compression+Decompression’. Knowing what the acronyms mean helped me internalise the info much better when I first learned them.

[@LonwaboMfundisi]

In my 15 years of doing video, this is by far the simplest explanation i've seen . Well done Carl. You the best bro.

[@deanjones2525]

I've been trying to wrap my head around Sony's XAVC-S codex for months. This is the BEST explanation, by far, I have had the pleasure of listening to. Great job!!! You got me to subscribe, because of this. Thank you.

[@Deus_Ex_1]

same

[@philipbloom]

Very well explained

[@ProAVTV]

Thanks Philip! Carl

[@philipbloom]

ProAV TV you look identical back then!

[@ProAVTV]

Back then? It was only two years ago! 😂 Carl

[@welcomehomedoggie]

This is one of the best explantations on codecs I've ever heard and it wasn't boring. Great job! Thank you so much!!

[@quickpickle]

Wow, the best and most straight forward explanation of codecs and XAVC ive seen to date.

[@alkahestonline2553]

I got to say it, ProAVTV had literally the best camera technology explanations and debates I have come across anywhere on KZbin

[@ProAVTV]

Glad you're enjoying the channel! Dan

[@eliivanova9048]

Great, great video! Thank you for making it so much easier to understand what I found confusing. Also, I played the video for understanding the differences between the codecs and ended up with so much more! For me, the music was pleasant as well and did not distract me at all. Very well done!

[@ProAVTV]

+Eli Ivanova Glad you found it useful! Carl

[@norfilmshetland]

Absolutely first class - clear, lucid explanation of a complex subject.

[@Masterhughesproductions]

yes this is the best explanation ive seen,

[@ProAVTV]

Thanks! Carl

[@GregAllen2]

Another great and informative video! Thanks! Cheers, Greg

[@dronephotogeek]

Never ever have I seen anyone clearly and concisely explain anything on youtube. This guy is my new favorite. No ego nothing but pure explanation of the topic at hand. Thank you so much. Gonna watch every one of your videos

[@minghaofei]

so far the BEST video explaining sony's codecs I've seen. nice job!!!

[@NelsonMichael]

I'm just learning about videography, and I can really understand what you're saying. Good job!

[@ProAVTV]

Excellent, thanks for the feedback Carl

[@TechAltar]

Fantastic, well done!

[@MB-uf2qk]

Thank you Carl.This is by far the best explanation of XAVC-s I've ever seen . Exellent !!! Thank you again !

[@joshsather4377]

Nicely done. Both the explanation of wrappers and codecs were made straightforward for the beginner/less technical person. Kudos!

[@ProAVTV]

+Josh Sather Thanks. Really glad this is being helpful to people. Didn't expect this video do go down anywhere near as well as it has. Carl

[@trevorpinnocky]

Really well done. Thanks.

[@ProAVTV]

+trevorpinnocky Thanks! Carl

[@mudithasandun5101]

Great educational video

[@ProAVTV]

+Muditha Sandun Thanks! Glad it was helpful Carl

[@DeanCasavechia]

I have been watching a ton of videos trying to learn about how to shoot video and understand workflow better. This video was amazing. Clear, to the point and really nicely explained XACV, which isn't easy for this topic. Thanks.

[@ProAVTV]

Glad it helped. Carl

[@antburgos]

You did a phenomenal job of explaining the differences in XAVC. Kept me interested throughout the process as well. Great job Carl

[@ProAVTV]

+Anthony Burgos Glad it helped Carl

[@Jarhead6]

awesome vid bro! thanks!

[@ProAVTV]

No problem. Carl

[@Char-rr1qw]

Excellent! The A7S works wonders with XAVC-S.

[@ProAVTV]

+Char2000 It does indeed, all the XAVC codecs are fantastic quality considering the file sizes the result in. Carl

[@kenryan1815]

I knew nothing about codecs and wrappers before watching this video, and I still found it completely understandable. Thank you for this excellent explanation.

[@ProAVTV]

+Ken Ryan Really good to hear. Thanks for watching Carl

[@pivostevo7724]

great video. its rare to get explainations of that quality on youtube!! thanks a lot.

[@ProAVTV]

+Stephen Ullrich Glad it helped! Carl

[@bienanatan9299]

we salute you!

[@jeevanth2406]

And that's how it's done youtubers! This is how you make a video! You look a bit like Harry Potter though.. Maybe that's why your magic in this video worked so well lol xD

[@ProAVTV]

+TheBigBang Studios Harry Potter... I'd like to say I haven't heard that one before... Thanks for watching & glad the video helped! Carl

[@JonLong]

Excellent information and presentation. This is one of the best videos I've seen on KZbin. Great work!!

[@LiquidTurbo]

FANTASTIC explanation!! Great work on this video.

[@quentinmlc]

This is the clearest video i could find about sony's recent codecs. Good job and thanks a lot!

[@ProAVTV]

Glad it helped! Carl

[@prasadpatil92]

Extremely helpful! Step by step, easy to understand! Keep up the good work!

[@Mhordhaus]

Excellent video, and probably the best explanation of codecs/wrappers and XAVC I've seen. Thank you very much!

[@ProAVTV]

Glad it helped! Carl

[@JS-pm6pd]

Thank you very much. You have a great talent. People all over the world can learn from your videos for free.

[@i.t.t.]

why can't everyone be this clear, logical, concise and yet thorough. I just wanted to know what xavc is and if I needed it for the action cam I'm about to buy but not the 4k one. I'd never heard the term before and thought ok fine I'll watch a 13 min video if it's decent enough as I'm more likely to waste time just searching anyway. I legit sat and took notes thinking I learned quite a bit shopping for this camera. this was real fun. a lot more than the tedious and boring af process of shopping itself. thank you so much.

[@dowblab]

Very helpful and informative even 5 years later. An updated video discussing the newer XAVC-HS would be great too

[@ShawnTheRazor]

Stumbled upon this video and I do have to say I found it very useful. I didn't even know about this at all and you explained it in a very easy to understand way, thank you!

[@ProAVTV]

Glad it helped. Carl

[@billwillstudio]

This is the best explanation of anything I've ever seen on KZbin!

[@ProAVTV]

Thanks! Carl

[@KCWanderlust]

This video is worth it's weight in platinum! I was having nightmarish trouble with XAVC S and as it turns out, the answer was sometimes staring me in the face (right there on the camera's screen), but I didn't even know it. Thank you, ProAV TV!!!

[@ProAVTV]

+Kaydrah Communications Wanderlust No problem! Glad you found the video useful. Carl

[@AdamChilll]

I don't know if I ever watched anything so well explained. That's how you do it man, great job and skills to share your knowledge! Thank you! :)

[@ProAVTV]

What a lovely comment, thank you very much! Really glad it helped Carl

[@chrisoiivotos4626]

Excellent! Thank you guys. Never before have I understood codecs and wrappers like I do now. Please keep it coming!

[@ProAVTV]

Hi Chris, Glad it helped! Keep your eye on the channel for more Carl

[@CraigHlavka]

this content was incredibly useful and your delivery was easy to understand. Thanks

[@ProAVTV]

+Craig Hlavka Glad it helped Carl

[@vigothecarpathian1]

Went into this thinking "Wow....12 minutes on a few codecs, really?" left very impressed by one of the best informative videos I have seen in a very long time. Glad I watched!

[@ProAVTV]

+vigothecarpathian1 Really glad it helped! Carl

[@ZokZTM]

Excellent down to earth and informative! Nothing more needed.

[@ouajbir]

Thank you so much for the clear explanation. We need more people like you on KZbin.

[@xtrimgiggz100]

This solved a problem I've had for days in a few minutes...very well explained and straight to the point video..

[@CuriosityFilms]

INCREDIBLY helpful video. Thank you! I appreciate the simplified way of explaining a wrapper and codec. I've never heard it quite so clearly. :)

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This is the way you teach about something. Extremely professional with no waste of content. Internet needs this so bad.

[@ProAVTV]

Glad you found it useful. Carl

[@alex_klinger]

Watched your review of the C200 and have been digging through your channel ever since. Great content! Stay awesome.

[@ProAVTV]

+Alex Klinger Good to hear! We try and post at least once a week, and I try and reply to most comments personally. Welcome to the channel! Carl

[@OBLIQUEF]

Thanks a million!! I was having a hard time studying about codecs, wrappers and especially Sony's XAVC fam and This video helped me a lot! What a great video! This is the best explanation/review video I've seen so far. Thanks!

[@ProAVTV]

Thanks, really glad it helped. Carl

[@akramaslam]

Fantastic video. Very educational and professionally done. Keen em coming! And thank you!

[@ProAVTV]

Glad it helped. No problem. Carl

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Excellent video, clear and easy to understand. I hope more youtubers are like you.

[@ProAVTV]

+Yan Yan Thanks! Carl

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Beautiful, clear, non-draggy presentation, Good job!

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Absolutly excellent video indeed. Brilliantly explained. Very nice delivery. Thanks for your research and hard work putting it together.

[@ProAVTV]

+Trevor Reed Hi Trevor. Thanks for your kind words. Glad you found the video useful, there's more on the way! Any topics you'd like us to cover? Carl

[@itbeis]

Solid work from our friends across the pond. Thank you.

[@ProAVTV]

Your welcome, glad you liked it Carl

[@stevenkamhonyu]

Good work! Please keep it up. I look forward to seeing more of something like this in the future! Thanks for the time as well!

[@ProAVTV]

Glad you found it useful. Constantly creating content for the channel. Mainly product overviews, but I'm working on more tutorials like this, its just that they take more time. If you have anything you want us to have a go at explaining just let me know! Carl

[@Davefram300]

Excellent video and explaining the difference between the Codec's. I'm just about to purchase a new Sony 4K camera so this really helps answer some of the questions I had. Cheers

[@ProAVTV]

Glad it helped. Carl

[@zechfilms266]

4 years after and still one Of the best video

[@user-qq6ej6md9n]

this is a great video! thanks very much for the hard work on it. surely makes a great rearangement inside my head - firstly with the explenation between codec and wrapper, and than about the difrences between the xavc codecs of sony. i shared it on my facebook profile. good luck!

[@ProAVTV]

Glad it helped! Thanks for the share. Carl +שי דואני

[@lordsnot2268]

Kudos for the good audio quality. So many videos target the professional video market and yet have sub-standard (if not terrible) audio. Not this one. Congrats and well done.

[@user-ch3yl9yt3d]

Thank you Carl. Clear and concise, and exactly the information that I was looking for.

[@zediogoamareleja]

Short and sharp..Pro KZbinr´s..open your eyes and catch the message..thumbs up and thanks for this very professional video.

[@ProAVTV]

Glad you found it useful! Carl

[@coolq8y]

A job well done Carl! I got to say, you're professional on how you deliver content in simple illustrations, pointing out all the facts and summarizing the topic easier than many professionals out there. Straight to the point. Keep up the good job. You've got a bright future.

[@ProAVTV]

+Hamad Al M What a great comment to read first thing in the morning! Thank you very much, really glad people are finding the videos useful. If you want us to cover anything in particular just let me know. Carl

[@coolq8y]

+ProAV TV Carl a quick question though. I'm new to the videography industry, just purchased a A7Rii and wondering if i stick to XAVC S or go and purchase a shogun for the ProRes HQ file. My question would be, is it easier to edit (Prores HQ), accepted on many edoting softwares and would i find a major difference between both? or is it simply for Professional Cinema making that i dont need to add right now. What would be the pros and cons to purchase a shogun for my setup? purpose of shooting is for 4K KZbin films for the time being. Thanks, Hamad

[@ProAVTV]

+Hamad Al M The XAVC-S in the a7rii is very good. So quality wise, there wouldnt be a huge amount of difference to be honest. The benefits come in workflow. Prores is easier to edit, and it adds a very good 7" monitor to your set up. Giving you focus tools like peaking, waveform, zebras etc. Ive added one to my shooting set up, almost purely as a monitor. Does that help? Carl

[@kurtboldy7562]

That was the best display of effective communication I’ve ever seen haha. You’ve saved me a lot of research!

[@ProAVTV]

Glad it helped! Carl

[@tomriccobono674]

Carl, I've been watching many of your videos (some over and over again) for about a year and you are one of my favorite video pros. When I asked myself the question about SONY codecs, I google searched and then you-tube searched .......There you were answering the very questions I thought I would never find answers to, let alone understand them. So Bravo on this video. This video is gold and one more step up the video learning ladder. Grateful in New York City

[@frank0file133]

Well done. I was looking for a clear explanation of this exact topic, and you delivered. I will be sharing this with other's who want to learn more about how codecs/wrappers function both inside the camera and editing software.

[@ProAVTV]

Glad it helped! Thanks for sharing Carl

[@ggessex]

Your ability to present is simply amazing, you are very talented!

[@nilaybanerjee7379]

Excellent presentations with superb clarity

[@LawerChannel]

I just found this old video, but... This explanation is perfect! Thanks! Great video!

[@ProAVTV]

We're glad its still being found to be useful! Dan

[@PostColorGear]

Very well done. One of the best I've seen. Sharing with a few Facebook groups!!

[@ProAVTV]

+The Post Color Blog (Dave's Tuts) Thanks! Glad you liked it Carl

[@ahkeen]

Wow this is one awesome video and I'm blown away from the information you have given. Thank you!

[@ProAVTV]

Glad its been useful, make sure you take a look at the rest of the channel. Carl

[@StudioBonn]

No I'm more clear in mind than ever before. Absolute precise with a minimum in words and an maximum of information, thanks a lot 👍

[@ProAVTV]

No problem, glad it helped. Make sure to subscribe to the channel! Carl

[@djseanp]

Super good info with an extremely easy to understand delivery. Thank you!

[@spidersav]

Appreciate this, probably the only video properly explaining this out there . Saved this and will share

[@Camilamscine]

Clean, steady, useful, direct, important information, no doubts....just PERFECT! thank you!

[@ProAVTV]

+Camila Mendes Santos Glad you found it useful! Make sure your subscribed for more. Thanks Carl

[@Camilamscine]

+ProAV TV I Definitely did! (: uhm Carl, do you think xavc-s is better than H264 for color grading or you think they are all the same?

[@ProAVTV]

XAVC-S would be better, H.264 is definitely a finishing codec rather than an editing one. Carl

[@Camilamscine]

+ProAV TV Thank you! :)

[@microbroadcast]

Watched in 2018, & found it very useful. Excellent explanations. Thanks for posting!

[@Trebronus]

What an excellent tutorial, concise and extremely well articulated. Thank you very much!

[@AspendanceAlpacas]

SUCH an incredibly helpful overview!!! THANK YOU!

[@chrisyeatts]

You're a wizard, Harry! Thanks for the info. Well explained.

[@leonbirgers]

I am watching this in August 2020, after placing pre-order for a7s iii that records in 4k 120p, 10 bit 4.2.2 XAVC S-I (All-I H.264) internally. Thank you for the great video.

[@markteboe4757]

Right to the point! Best explanation for Codec and Wrappers I have seen. Keep up the great work!

[@ProAVTV]

Thanks! Glad it helped Carl

[@Ron_Boy]

Very well done. Let me add my 'Thank You" to all the others. It cleared up what had previously been a mystery to me.

[@ProAVTV]

Glad it helped Carl

[@bbarr888]

this was exactly what i was looking for. great video

[@ProAVTV]

Glad it helped! Carl

[@jimmyischoong]

Excellent explanation, straight to the point!!! Pls do more of this video!

[@ProAVTV]

+Jimmy Choong We will! Stay tuned. Carl

[@melvinch]

Great explanation of this elusive codec. The wonderful British accent was icing on the cake.

[@ProAVTV]

Glad you liked it! Carl

[@theo484]

Thanks for this. Really educational and exactly what I was looking for. Brilliant mate.

[@Advection357]

Excellent video. Just what I was looking for.

[@tonypepe9074]

Great, clear, concise, a masterclass in how to produce a tec video for the hard of thinking like myself. Pls do more.

[@ProAVTV]

Glad you found it useful. We will be doing more, make sure you subscribe to the channel Carl

[@CaliforniaFrank]

THANK YOU for this!!! Super helpful!!! I appreciate you taking the time out to make this video!!

[@ProAVTV]

No problem, thank you for watching! Carl

[@kevinpogi22]

Very nice video! I immeditely subscribed! Clean and straight to the point.

[@ProAVTV]

+Kevin Salamanca Thanks, glad it helped Carl

[@harryhughes8092]

Fantastic informative video. Very clear, concise and well presented

[@reelsportrd]

This is such valuable info and you presented it brilliantly. Love these kind of videos, please make more

[@ProAVTV]

+Fernando Pinales Thanks! Glad it helped. We will be making more. Any subjects you'd like me to cover? Carl

[@talkntales22]

This is so informative Video! Loved it! Thanks for making this and clear my confusions

[@MalMilligan]

Brilliant and thorough explanation. Nicely done.

[@Teddy3inDC]

Quality Video 4 years + later. Thanks for this.

[@ProAVTV]

No problem, thanks for watching! Carl

[@btdsullivan]

Fantastic explanation. I really learned a lot. I am now a subscriber. This guy can explain anything!

[@ProAVTV]

Thanks, glad it helped Carl

[@LarsPallesen]

Thanks for clearing this up. Very sorted and well explained. Good job!

[@ProAVTV]

No problem. Carl

[@bigbigplanet]

Great video and super clear explanation!