Awesome Video Player: Format Support and Performance Handling

Updated

Awesome Video Player (AVPlayer) claims to play "absolutely every video format out there" and to keep playback smooth when running up to 16 videos on one screen by combining GPU and CPU decoding. The practical takeaway: you likely won't need to convert files before playing them, and hardware acceleration is what makes multi-video playback feasible on a normal computer. Both claims come from the vendor's own site, so treat "every format" as a broad compatibility promise rather than a certified list.

What the site says about format support

The AVPlayer site states the player "plays all existing video formats" and describes a "SmartDecode" capability alongside "automatic hardware and software decoding acceleration." No specific container or codec list (for example MP4/H.264, MKV, AVI, HEVC) is published on the page, so there is no official compatibility matrix to check against.

What this means in practice:

  • Ordinary collections should play without conversion. If your files already play in VLC or Windows Media Player, the site's claim suggests AVPlayer will open them too.
  • Unusual or very new codecs are unverified. Because no codec list is published, a rare format or a freshly released codec is the case most likely to need a test before you rely on it.
  • "SmartDecode" is a marketing name, not a documented setting. The page does not explain how to enable or configure it, so don't plan around tuning it.

A sensible check: download the free Windows or Mac build and open one file from each format family you actually own (e.g., an MP4, an MKV, an AVI). If they all play, your collection is covered.

How performance is handled with many videos at once

Playing 16 videos simultaneously is far more demanding than playing one, and AVPlayer's approach is to split the decoding work between the graphics card and the processor.

GPU acceleration to reduce CPU load

The site says playback is "GPU accelerated to minimize CPU usage." Decoding video on the GPU leaves the CPU freer, which matters most when many streams run at once — a single video rarely stresses a modern machine, but sixteen do.

Combined GPU and CPU decoding

AVPlayer describes combining GPU and CPU video decoding "to allow watching as many videos as possible." In other words, when the GPU alone can't handle every stream, the CPU picks up the remainder. This is the mechanism behind the 16-video claim: capacity scales with the combined power of both chips rather than either one alone.

What this means for your machine

  • A dedicated or recent integrated GPU helps most. The more decoding the GPU absorbs, the lower the CPU load and the smoother the grid.
  • Expect the ceiling to depend on your hardware. The site promises up to 16 videos per screen, but it does not publish minimum system requirements, so the realistic number on your computer may be lower. Start with a few videos and add more until playback stutters.
  • High-resolution files are the stress case. The page gives no guidance on resolution limits, so if you plan to run many 4K files at once, test that scenario specifically rather than assuming the 16-video figure applies.

Other features that affect the viewing experience

  • MultiView: up to 16 videos on each screen, positioned in a grid, described by the site as feeling like Minority Report.
  • Per-video controls: play, pause, fast-forward, rewind, fullscreen, volume, repeat, and aspect ratio for each video individually.
  • Keyboard shortcuts: the site advertises shortcut support so you can control playback without the mouse — useful when several videos are on screen.
  • Playlists: save and reload favorite videos instantly, which suits recurring multi-video setups.
  • No ads or spyware: the site states the player is 100% free with no ads and no spyware, for both Windows and Mac. A separate "Upgrade" link appears in the navigation, but the page does not describe what an upgrade includes or costs.

Deciding whether it fits your needs

AVPlayer is aimed at one job: watching several videos at once on a single screen. It is a good fit if you have a local collection of files and want a grid view with per-video controls and shortcuts. It is a weaker fit if you need a documented codec list, published system requirements, or streaming/hosting features — none of which the site provides.

Because the format and performance claims are the vendor's own and unverified by a third party, the reliable way to decide is a short trial: install the free build, open your most common formats, then push the video count up gradually on your own hardware. That test answers both questions — whether your files play and how many your computer can actually handle — better than any spec sheet the site currently offers.