v0.37.0 - Smaller timelapses with built-in AV1

Timelapse now offers AV1 (smallest files) alongside the existing H.264 and HEVC options. Choose it when you want to keep more detail in less disk space and can spare extra processor time.

What changed

• Smaller files for desktop and camera timelapses. In controlled 1080p tests, Balanced AV1 files were about 10–13 times smaller for desktop/text scenes and about 2 times smaller for camera-like noise than Compatible H.264, with higher measured image detail. These are synthetic comparisons, not guarantees for every recording.
• Sharper text and three quality choices. The encoder recognizes desktop text and uses AV1's screen-content tools. Smaller file, Balanced and More detail let you choose how much detail to retain.
• Built into the app. No separate encoder download or special graphics card is needed. AV1 runs on the CPU, using up to four threads. Your existing encoding preference stays selected unless you change it.
• Works with the recording features you already use. AV1 supports custom video sizes, playback rates, pause/resume, file splitting and separate desktop/camera videos. Tests cover saved preferences, two simultaneous outputs, file collisions and decoding after an injected write failure.
• Documented, reproducible measurements. The README includes file-size, detail, CPU and memory comparisons, build instructions and the bundled encoder's license notices.

Choosing an encoding mode

AV1 trades processing time for compression. On the test laptop it used roughly 4–15 times the encoding CPU time of Efficient H.264 and about 135 MiB of additional memory per 1080p output. Very short capture intervals or large outputs may skip capture slots while encoding catches up. A scene that changes completely between every frame can produce a larger file than bitrate-targeted H.264 because AV1 preserves more detail.

Use Compatible H.264 for broad playback compatibility, Efficient H.264 for a lighter software option, or a supported hardware mode to reduce CPU work. AV1 playback requires an AV1-capable player or decoder; Windows playback may need the AV1 Video Extension. MP4 recovery mode remains H.264-only.

AV1 recording and decoding were verified on Windows 11. Windows 10 AV1 MP4 writing and physical-camera compatibility were not newly verified for this release. If Windows cannot create an AV1 MP4, the app reports the error at recording startup.

Downloads

• Windows x64 setup: normal installation and upgrades.
• Windows x64 ZIP: portable app; extract it and run Timelapse.exe.
• Source ZIP: source, build scripts and tests.
• Person detector: the optional worker is unchanged and is still downloaded only when requested inside the app.

AV1 is included in the main executable, increasing the portable download from about 0.4 MB to about 4.2 MB. The app and installer remain unsigned.

Validation

The AV1 implementation passed the previously completed full 61-suite regression run. For this release, the versioned build and a fresh build from the source ZIP completed without warnings; all four fresh-source checks passed, covering AV1 encoding, saved settings and encoder selection. The packaged source, portable executable, installer version and all download checksums were verified. Install/upgrade testing was blocked by an active Timelapse session; that session was left running.

Full changes: v0.36.0...v0.37.0