Transcoding is at the heart of modern video delivery. Whether you're streaming to phones, smart TVs, or laptops, transcoding ensures your video reaches every screen in the right format, quality, and size. But what exactly is it? Why does it matter? And how do you implement it correctly?
This guide covers everything you need to know—clear, concise, and with real-world application.
What Is Transcoding?
Transcoding is the process of converting a video from one format, resolution, or bitrate to another. It typically involves:
- Decoding the source video
- Processing (resizing, compressing, changing codec)
- Re-encoding into the desired output format
It's a critical step in adaptive streaming workflows, ensuring compatibility across bandwidths, platforms, and playback devices.
Why Transcoding Is Essential
- Device Compatibility: Phones, browsers, and TVs require different codecs or formats.
- Network Optimization: Smaller renditions reduce bandwidth usage.
- Playback Consistency: Enables seamless adaptive bitrate (ABR) streaming.
- Compliance: Aligns with streaming protocols like HLS, MPEG-DASH, and encryption standards.
Without transcoding, videos are limited to a single resolution and format—excluding large parts of your audience.
Transcoding vs Transmuxing vs Encoding
How Transcoding Works
- Decode: Input file is read and decompressed.
- Transform: Video may be resized, frame rate adjusted, or filtered.
- Re-encode: New codec, resolution, and bitrate applied.
Tools commonly used:
- FFmpeg
- GStreamer
- Cloud platforms (Coconut, AWS Elemental, Bitmovin)
Transcoding can be done locally, on-premise, or serverlessly in the cloud.
Best Practices for Transcoding
- Use keyframe-aligned renditions to support smooth bitrate switching.
- Choose codecs based on your audience: H.264 for compatibility, AV1 for efficiency.
- Use VMAF or PSNR to measure visual quality.
- Match GOP length across renditions.
- Include audio normalization, thumbnails, and metadata cleanup in your pipeline.
Common Challenges & How to Solve Them
ChallengeSolutionLong processing timesUse parallel, chunk-based processing (Coconut handles this natively)Poor playback qualityOptimize renditions using VMAF feedbackHigh storage costsDiscard underused renditions after analytics reviewCodec incompatibilityFallback to H.264 or detect client support via player logic
Transcoding Isn’t Optional—It’s Foundational
From compatibility to performance, transcoding is essential for any video-driven platform. Doing it right improves UX, lowers costs, and unlocks full audience reach.
FAQs
Q: Do I always need to transcode my videos?
A: If you're serving multiple devices or using adaptive streaming—yes.
Q: Is transcoding expensive?
A: It can be, but cloud-native platforms like Coconut only charge per vCPU second, reducing idle costs.
Q: What’s the fastest way to test transcoding quality?
A: Use FFmpeg to transcode, then analyze with Netflix's VMAF model.
