A small, dependency-free (pure standard-library) Python tool that turns a perceptual quality TARGET (a VMAF score) into the delivery BUDGET it implies, and back. It runs four checks, each anchored to a published number rather than a guess: (1) a transparency check — is the target above the point where extra quality is invisible (premium transparency ~VMAF 95 per Kah et al. 2021; 1 JND ~6 VMAF per Netflix 2017)? (2) overshoot waste — the bytes and dollars spent above the bitrate that already hits
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The handbook · 7 volumes
Fora Soft Video Engineering Handbook
This quality-target and budget planner turns a VMAF target into the delivery budget it implies, and back, using published thresholds rather than guesses. We wrote seven volumes on the video stack; Volume 3 is the place to start for bitrate ladders, CDN costs and delivery economics, with Volume 1 on quality metrics and Volume 6 on AI models. Written by Nikolay Sapunov, CEO at Fora Soft.
Setting a VMAF target and need to know what it costs in bandwidth?
Share your content mix and audience devices, and we will set a quality target and the bitrate budget that meets it. 250+ video products shipped since 2005.
You get a realistic estimate, technical recommendations and next steps. Free, no obligations.
