Think about watching a feature film on a smartphone and you’ll get the idea. Transcoding is a digital-to-digital conversion of one type of encoded data (video or audio) to another, often because the target device that will be used to display the content requires a smaller file size. Or video for a live broadcast can be transcoded from its original format into differently formatted streams to be delivered out to the largest number of viewers on the widest range of devices. For example, a high-resolution video shot on a digital camera (HD, 4K, etc.) can be transcoded into a lower-resolution format for editing in other words, smaller files that are faster and easier to manipulate in editing software. Transcoding is taking encoded (or “compressed”) video or other digital content, decompressing it, and altering and re-compressing it. Why transcoding is essential for successful streamingįirstly, transcoding needs to be differentiated from two other easily confused digital video processes: compression and transmuxing/rewrapping.In this article, we’ll lay out the fundamentals of transcoding, and what it means for content creators and broadcasters in the video streaming field. It is particularly important for ensuring your content can be viewed on the widest possible range of devices.
It converts an encoded digital file or set of files into an altered set of digital files that better meet the needs of your hardware or your audience. Transcoding is a key task in an adaptive streaming workflow for video.
“What is transcoding?” you may ask, particularly if you’re new to the world of digital and online video.