Frequently Asked Questions

Compar Pro is a professional-grade video comparison tool developed by GrayMeta, designed for media teams, content creators and distributors, forensic experts, and legal professionals who require precise frame-by-frame analysis of two video files.

Compar Pro is a subscription-based desktop application offering real-time video playback, metadata inspection, and HDR simulation. Compar is a web-based tool designed for quick, automated video comparisons with a usage-based subscription pricing model.

Compar Pro requires  Windows 11, running with a robust CPU on a laptop or workstation. If you are working with HDR, 4K, UHD, IMF or DCP assets we recommend our desktop workstation: https://graymeta.com/hardware/

While primarily standalone, Compar Pro can be used alongside workflow applications for broadcast, forensic analysis, and post-production. XML and CSV exports of the detections from Compar Pro are also available.

Compar Pro is available as a subscription license at $2,950 per year or $250 per month.
A PowerPro bundle costs $7,950 (that’s Compar Pro software plus a blazing fast workstation) with Compar Pro software renewal required for year two, includes 3-year hardware support. More here https://graymeta.com/hardware/

Yes, Compar Pro offers a free 30-Day trial for qualified customers.
Contact us at sales@graymeta.com

The Compar Pro software is available directly through GrayMeta’s website. Once approved, you will download the software and install it on a Windows laptop or desktop. Open the application, then right-click on the player control area of the application then select Help > Licensing Information
At the top of the window you will find your Machine ID. You will email that to us to receive a license key. Once you receive the license key. You will right-click on the player control area and select Help > Import License
then choose the file from where you saved it. Then close the application and re-open and start using Compar!

Compar Pro can identify any video difference including:
technical or aesthetic color differences, video artifacts, shot replacements, watermarks, subtitles, overlays, compliance modifications, effects additions or shot clean-ups as well as AI-generated scene extensions or AI generated video changes from a reference source.

Yes, Compar Pro supports the following:
Codecs
JPEG 2000 • Uncompressed • PRORES • DNXHD • XDCAM • IMX D10 • DV • DVCPRO • AVC-INTRA • MPEG2 • MPEG4 / H264 • XAVC • HEVC / H265 • Windows Media
Wrappers:
MXF • MOV • DPX • IMF • GXF • AVI • TIFF • TS • M2T • M2TS • MP4 • WMV • WMA

Yes, it provides a split-screen playback with a “Difference View” to help users visually pinpoint differences between video files. The Compar Pro screen layout:
Left Panel: Reference or master video
Center Panel: Difference viewer, highlighting pixel-level discrepancies

Right Panel: Comparison video

Yes, once you load the two video assets, you can simply play the files back in-sync, in
real-time and the differences can be viewed however they won’t remain as detections on the timeline. Once you hit Analyze, then all the detections will be recorded and will allow navigation to each one as well as enable an export via CSV or XML.

Compar Pro displays a detailed analysis of all the embedded metadata of a video file.
This includes:
Resolution • Aspect Ratio • Framerate • TRT/Total Frames • Scan Mode & Scan Order • Codec • Complete colorspace & color data • Bitrate and Bit Depth • Plus embedded audio and caption details. Compar Pro will also highlight all the differences between the 2 video files when you enable the asset metadata panels for each asset.

Compar Pro utilizes a timeline for both assets that shows the initial frame and all subsequent frames where the two files differ. There are navigation buttons to jump forward to the next detection(s) as well as a backwards navigation to go backwards.

Yes, the Threshold percentage is set in the Options settings which allows you to change the 1% default upwards to only highlight significant differences or go to fractional percentages to highlight the smallest of differences. This can be set to just above zero to determine and highlight the slightest of differences for things like color or compression.

Compar Pro is widely used in media QC, post-production verifications, forensic investigations, legal compliance, and broadcast analysis.

Compar Pro is resolution-independent, so you can compare two different resolutions in the same aspect ratio to determine visual differences.
For example, you can compare a proxy file with a finished master.
Differing frame rates can be compared, but all frames that are different due to timing will be flagged, making a comparison possible but not ideal.

Yes, forensic teams, legal or law enforcement agencies can use Compar Pro to detect any alterations to a master or reference recording against any copy or duplicate created.

In many cases, file names, file durations or checksum comparisons will not prove that two files are EXACTLY the same. Compar Pro can prove that a copy or dub even in a different resolution, is visually identical to the master or reference file.

This eliminates the need for expensive, tedious manual frame-by-frame analysis when you need to know the two files are the same or do have some reasonable difference like a different format, but remain visually identical.

No, it runs as a standalone desktop application, ensuring secure and offline functionality.

Users receive technical support for deployment and on-going use during their subscription term. All software updates are available via the GrayMeta website for free download during the subscription period. On-line support and trouble tickets are also available through GrayMeta’s customer support and documentation.