Video transcoding is a form of video compression that reduces the size of a digital file without sacrificing quality. It can also help prevent buffering for users on lower-bandwidth connections.

Major streaming platforms like YouTube use this process to make user-generated content available in multiple formats and qualities. This allows them to ensure that their videos are compatible with all connected devices and browsers.

Quality

Video transcoding is a critical step in creating video for online streaming. It converts a raw digital file to a compressed and optimized format that can be easily viewed by a diverse range of devices, without losing any data or quality. The process is often confused with encoding, but there is a clear difference between these two.

The process of encoding is the compression of a raw digital file to reduce its overall size. This is done by reducing the number of bits used to represent each individual frame. The result is a smaller file that can be transmitted more efficiently over the internet or stored in a database. Transcoding uses a different set of algorithms to manipulate already-compressed video files. It does not compress the video again, but changes the format and bitrate to match the requirements of a new device or platform.

This can be beneficial for editing workflows, where preserving the original file’s quality is key. It can also help prevent buffering problems that can occur due to low-bandwidth connections and limited display resolutions. It is also a great way to reach a wider audience with a single video. By creating multiple renditions of the same video, you can choose a format that is compatible with any playback device or network connection. By incorporating adaptive bitrate (ABR) into the stream, you can also optimize the viewing experience based on the device and network connection.

Formats

Video file formats vary in quality and size and differ between devices and streaming platforms. Transcoding enables a video to be produced in multiple formats and resolutions, making it compatible with a wider range of users.

For example, a high-resolution video shot on a 4K camera can be transcoded into a lower-resolution format for editing purposes. This results in smaller files that are easier to manipulate in editing software. This also allows viewers with slower internet connections to stream the content without experiencing buffering or stuttering during playback.

When you are preparing a video for streaming, it’s important to use an adaptive compression method that reduces the video’s file size while maintaining a good quality. This way, your videos will have a small footprint and can be played on any device with a modern web browser.

Another common workflow in documentary production is the e pluribus unum approach whereby different original media sources are transcoded into one consistent video format, again to make the editorial process easier and faster. This can include footage sourced from mobile phones, home cameras, security cameras, older television broadcasts, film scans and stock footage libraries — each with their own codecs, resolutions and frame rates. By transcoding these different sources into a single consistent video format, you can simplify the edit and ensure that your final product is viewable by the widest possible audience.

File Size

Video transcoding reduces file size for online streaming and storage. It works by converting compressed data into a more manageable size without compromising on quality. Video transcoding uses a variety of methods to compress data, including lossy and lossless compression. Lossy compression is more effective at reducing the size of a video file, but it may sacrifice some of its original integrity. Lossless compression, on the other hand, is more reliable and does not discard any information.

Streaming videos are a popular way to share content. However, not all devices and connections are able to support the high-quality videos used for streaming. Video transcoding enables you to create video streams that can be played by a wide range of devices and connection speeds. The process also allows you to add closed captions and subtitles to your videos, enabling users with hearing impairments to watch them.

Video transcoding can help you optimize your workflow, ensure that everyone is working with the same file format, and deliver an exceptional streaming experience for viewers. This is because it enables you to reduce the size of your video files while maintaining a good quality, so that they can be viewed by a wide range of devices and connections. In addition, it can allow you to use adaptive bitrate streaming, which means that your audience can view the same video in a quality that matches their device or internet connection.

Time

Transcoding is a time-consuming task, especially when working with high resolution video footage. It requires powerful hardware resources to handle the process, which can take a long time to complete even on the best of computers.

The process of converting one compressed digital video to another can also be referred to as encoding, but this is often more accurately described as transmuxing or rewrapping. These processes do not alter the encoded video but change the so-called container, adjusting the way data packets are organized in the file. This can be very useful in content delivery, but it does not provide the widest compatibility support of the transcoding function.

While most of us don’t think about it, transcoding is a part of our daily lives. When we share a photo or video on WhatsApp or Facebook, it is usually transcoded first into a smaller format and file size for easier transfer over the internet. This is because the original files are too big to be transferred easily between devices without a lot of buffering and delays.

Whether it is to improve the user experience by preventing video lags and long uploads on slower connections or to enable a range of different device capabilities, transcoding is an important part of adaptive streaming workflows. The good news is that this can be outsourced to a cloud-based transcoding service, which can be scaled up or down as your needs evolve.