Never before has the use of video conferencing software been so widespread. People use video conferencing apps regularly to study online, discuss workflow, or stream a new game to friends. Users require their video conferencing software to have the best audio quality without significant lag times, with enhancement features like echo cancellation or noise suppression and decent video quality without freezes throughout the conversation. Due to this, it is vital to manage the quality of the software through audio and video test solutions.
Quality standards in audio and video applications are becoming more stringent yearly. For example, ten years ago, video quality expectations were much lower than today. People were content if the video worked, and they could see each other. However, technological advancements and changes in video capabilities have resulted in users’ expectations rising over time.
Previously, video calls were between two people with no advanced features, but now users frequently have video calls with multiple participants and use various features, such as screen sharing features, on numerous devices with different aspect ratios and screen sizes. As a result, users expect to see and hear everyone in high quality—no exceptions.
Because of the shift in user expectations regarding video conferencing solutions, video and audio test solutions are now more critical than ever. This blog post will explain how we automate audio and video quality testing and why it is essential.
Why Is It Necessary To Automate Audio/Video?
If your goal is to test an application as close to the real scenario as possible, forming a team of manual testers is a good idea; however, automation methods have some significant advantages—they can execute many tests and are much more convenient.
True, we cannot automate everything. Nonetheless, an experienced automation engineer can modify the automation solution to simulate real-world user behavior to obtain results representative of the actual user experience. Choosing the right setup, adjusting evaluation algorithms, and selecting the right tools enable testing of many application features on different platforms, including network-limited tests and obtaining reliable data for the client.
While it is possible to test audio video online manually, the main drawbacks are a lack of human and time resources. Manual testers cannot test all day for a week or month. Manual testers should also be aware of whether the testing procedure is correct. Specifically, whether the network connection is correct or whether they performed the media capture and feed at the appropriate time. This testing requires a lot of focus from manual testers, and we can’t ignore the fact that mistakes can happen during test execution. Hence, it may take longer, but what about automated testing?
The main advantages of automated testing over manual testing are that testers can execute tests with minimal downtime and frequently expand the test setup, resulting in many run tests and, consequently, more test data.
How We Automate Audio/Video
HeadSpin’s Audio Visual Testing Platform evaluates audio and video quality, including DRM content. You can use the AV Platform to test video applications like media, entertainment, gaming, and video conferencing. You can use it to test OTT media devices, DRM-protected content, voice activation, and speaker-based use cases.
Feature Set
Capture Quality Of Experience And Streaming Performance Kpis
- The HeadSpin Platform tests video applications like media, entertainment, gaming, and video conferencing.
- It performs testing on OTT media devices.
- It can test DRM-protected content, voice activation, and speaker-based use cases.
Run And Record Media Device Tests Efficiently
Using the smart TV remote control app, you can run and execute commands on the set top box via the HeadSpin UI.
Kpis For Extensive Video Quality And Ai-Based Issue Cards
The HeadSpin AI performs advanced video and audio analysis to assist you in playing back and analyzing media test results.
How Does It Work?
Opposite the device you are testing is a high-resolution camera. This camera captures video and constantly tests the quality of the captured content.
HeadSpin’s audio video test solution runs match analysis to capture audio from the device under test via microphones and Bluetooth (if enabled).
Advanced Skill Sets
- Blurriness, Blockiness, Brightness, Colorfulness, Contrast, Blur, Exposure,
Flickering, Freezing, and other characteristics
- Drops in video frame rate, loading/buffering time Reference-free video Full reference based on MOS VMAF video MOS Audio Match Evaluation ● WebRTC compatibility
Measure Perceptual Video Quality
The Mean Opinion Score (MOS) is a single number that quantifies subjective perception of video content.
Traditional approaches based on video quality metrics or reference videos do not accurately predict perceptual video quality in gaming scenarios or live content without a reference video.
HeadSpin’s no-reference video MOS is based on a supervised learning AI model. We calibrated this model against real-world user experiences, and it aggregates thousands of subjective quality scores on a wide range of video content.
