Shotcut 26.1 has been released, marking a significant update for this open-source, cross-platform video editing software available for Linux, macOS, and Windows. One of the most notable enhancements in this version is the introduction of hardware video decoding, which is enabled by default on supported platforms, with the exception of Linux systems using NVIDIA GPUs. Users can manage this feature through the Settings menu under Preview Scaling.
On Linux, hardware video decoding utilizes the Video Acceleration API (VA-API), while Windows relies on Media Foundation, and macOS uses Video Toolbox. This feature aims to lessen CPU load, potentially reducing battery drain and keeping systems cooler. However, it does not substantially accelerate performance unless using Linear 10-bit CPU processing mode or a low-powered CPU, and its benefits on seeking and scrubbing are limited.
Developers noted that this capability took time to implement due to the complexity of managing it across different operating systems and GPU vendor APIs. They explained that effective management includes utilizing operating system abstraction APIs and hardware scaling techniques.
In addition, Shotcut 26.1 features an Export codec option to use the hardware decoder, which can lead to decreased CPU usage during exporting but is disabled by default due to potential increases in export time. Other enhancements in this version include the ability to switch between GPU and CPU processing modes for projects, a new Blend Mode filter, increased maximum resolution for exporting to 8640 for 8K VR180 videos, and various improvements to existing text filters and keyframe functionalities.
For further details and fixes, users can refer to the release notes. You can download Shotcut 26.1 from its official website as a universal AppImage, allowing installation on nearly any GNU/Linux distribution without the need for prior setup.
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