What Is Transcoding And Why Is It Crucial For Video Streaming

What Is Transcoding And Why Is It Crucial For Video Streaming?

Looking back, in a late 2017 study, 63% of video streaming viewers cited buffering troubles as the most serious issues they encountered, and the numbers represented a significant increase as compared to the 2016 figures. Altogether, they pointed to a very serious challenge associated with online streaming. How can you provide a seamless and good quality video streaming experience to your viewers? Well, today in 2021, broadcasters have found a perfect way to mitigate this potential hurdle through video transcoding.

In this article, we will discuss and analyze the benefits of transcoding in online live video streaming solutions.


What Is Video Transcoding?

The conversion from one digital encoding format to another is known as video transcoding. In simple terms, it is the process of creating multiple versions of the same video but in different sizes. Each discrete version has a separate optimization that is ideal for users with varying internet speeds. 

Simply put, video transcoding enables you to deliver high-quality videos to users with fast internet speeds while concurrently delivering lower-resolution videos to users with significantly slower internet speeds. The end results are decreased latency and buffering issues faced by the viewers.

Essentially, transcoding is a 2-step process where encoded data is decoded into an intermediate format and then finally encoded into a target format. Three significant tasks further fall into a larger umbrella when someone refers to transcoding the video content:
 

• Standard transcoding
• Transrating
• Transsizing

How Does Transcoding Work?

The transcoding process takes your video media and decodes it into an uncompressed intermediate format. It then re-encodes the video content into its target format. Also, as we mentioned earlier, the process likely includes transrating and image scaling/ trans-sizing. 

In the transcoding process, it could take a video file that has already been compressed and encoded (let’s say “NiceVideo.mov”) and with the H.264 codec reformat into an MP4 which would be more apt for streaming online (let’s call that transcoded video version “NiceVideo.mp4”). 

Also Read: The Emergence of VOD and Linear Streaming Trends in OTT Landscape
Depending on the video transcoder that you opt for implementation such as open-source software with the command-line interface or something with more robust attributes and user interface. Transcoding can potentially function via software on a dedicated media server, any laptop or PC, or a SaaS platform. Since it is ‘computationally intensive’, it benefits from the substantial system and hardware resources such as higher-end CPUs, graphics acceleration, and generous amounts of system RAM.  In other terms, do not assume that you will be easily able to transcode a 4K video to a quality HLS or DASH stream with a Macbook. Typical transcoding and ingestion of HD video for traditional video production editing can tie up beefy desktop devices for hours at a time.

Why Transcoding Is Essential For Video Streaming?

As you are now aware, video transcoding is a crucial element of adaptive streaming workflow and an effective route for preparing your media content for a delivery protocol that can reach a massive number of users’ display devices.

As the media landscape is constantly evolving and changing, new applications, devices, and input sources are being introduced constantly. While new feeds, new cameras, and webcasting innovations are enhancing the variety and quality of content being produced and delivered, they inevitably also create new challenges in the process of content delivery. 

If you always want your subscribers and users to avail the best quality video viewing experiences, adaptive streaming is possibly the only way to go. Transcoding plays a key role in moving your best video content from the capture device to a high-quality streaming output like DASH or HLS. These adaptive streaming formats are ideal for truncating playback and buffering issues, continuously delivering and showcasing the sharpest possible picture without any interruptions. 

How Can Oodles Technologies Help You With Transcoding For Video Streaming?

If you wish to live stream with constant and substandard video quality and reach a small and limited audience base, you do not need much. However, if you’re seeking to reach an extensive audience base and make a successful live broadcast, we, at Oodles Technologies can help you achieve. Our team builds robust and scalable streaming platforms with VOD app development services that will assist you to kickstart your online video streaming. We provide low-latency and adaptive WebRTC streaming solutions that can level up your video streaming game and propel you to make accessible and interactive live streams that your viewers would relish. For more information, get in touch with our experts.