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  "markdown": "> **Repository:** [jvet/VVCSoftware_VTM](https://vcgit.hhi.fraunhofer.de/jvet/VVCSoftware_VTM). VVC VTM reference software. Latest release: [VTM-24.0](https://vcgit.hhi.fraunhofer.de/jvet/VVCSoftware_VTM/-/releases/VTM-24.0), Apr 8, 2026. Last commit: Jun 30, 2026. License: BSD-3-Clause.\n\nVTM (VVC Test Model) is the reference encoder and decoder for [H.266 / VVC](/codecs/video/vvc/), developed by JVET. It exists to define and test the standard: it produces conformance bitstreams, is the anchor for evaluating coding tools, and is the base for research on new ones.\n\nIt is not a practical encoder. VTM is single-threaded and extremely slow; Fraunhofer's benchmarks put [VVenC](/tools/software-encoders/vvenc/)'s `medium` preset, with 8 threads, at roughly 280× (HD) to 380× (UHD) the speed of VTM-19.2, with compression close to VTM's. For real VVC encodes use VVenC or [uvg266](/tools/software-encoders/uvg266/). The HEVC and AVC equivalents are [HM](/tools/software-encoders/hm/) and [JM](/tools/software-encoders/jm/).\n\n## Build\n\nThe current release is `VTM-24.0` (April 2026). Build a 64-bit binary with CMake:\n\n```sh\ngit clone --branch VTM-24.0 https://vcgit.hhi.fraunhofer.de/jvet/VVCSoftware_VTM.git\ncd VVCSoftware_VTM\ncmake -S . -B build -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release\ncmake --build build --parallel\n```\n\nCurrent GCC (16) stops on new warnings because the project builds with `-Werror`; add `-DCMAKE_CXX_FLAGS=-w` to the first `cmake` command to get past them. On Linux the build copies `EncoderAppStatic` and `DecoderAppStatic` into `bin/`. OpenSSL is only needed for signed-content SEI messages. The software manual is in `doc/`.\n\n## Encode a file\n\nVTM reads Y4M (recognised by the `.y4m` extension, which supplies size, frame rate and bit depth) or raw planar YUV. Coding settings come from a config file; `cfg/` has `encoder_randomaccess_vtm.cfg`, `encoder_lowdelay_vtm.cfg` and `encoder_intra_vtm.cfg`.\n\n```sh\n./bin/EncoderAppStatic -c cfg/encoder_randomaccess_vtm.cfg -i input.y4m -b stream.266 -o recon.yuv -q 32\n./bin/DecoderAppStatic -b stream.266 -o decoded.yuv\n```\n\nFor raw YUV, add `-wdt 1280 -hgt 720 -fr 24` and `--InputBitDepth=10` for 10-bit input. `-f` limits the frame count. `-q` is a fixed QP; JVET's common test conditions use 22, 27, 32 and 37. The shipped configs code at 10 bits internally, so `recon.yuv` and the decoded output are 10-bit even for 8-bit input. The decoded output should match `recon.yuv` exactly. The random-access config uses a 32-frame GOP with the intra period set as a multiple of 32 based on frame rate (`IntraPeriod`). There is a basic rate control (`RateControl`, `TargetBitrate`), off by default.\n\nThe output is a bare VVC elementary stream. Mux it with [FFmpeg](/tools/utilities/ffmpeg/) or [MP4Box](/tools/utilities/mp4box/) if you need a container.\n"
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