Video Encoder
A Video Encoder, often called a Video Transcoder, is a dedicated server on which video encoding software runs.
What is a Video Encoder?
A video encoder is a device that caters for many needs. Streaming media online is an important tool for individuals and businesses alike. Nowadays, everybody wants to be able to share as much information as possible with the largest audience as possible. Video encoding and video transcoding are two very useful processes when going about this. In technological terms, video encoding is the process whereby a sequence of characters are put into a specific format for transmission or storage purposes. A video encoder can convert analogue videos into a new digital format to enable users to share existing material even where the target device only supports specific digital formats. By using a video encoder, businesses do not have to create new material to reach new audiences and individuals can convert old videos into a new lasting digital format which they can share more easily with family and friends.
The best video encoder devices and software allows users to organize and share a vast wealth of material including YouTube clips, television series or any other recordings and enables them to watch this material any time on practically any device, such as web browsers, iOS devices, Android phones and many more.
Video Encoder and Video Transcoder
Alongside video encoding is video transcoding. Video transcoding describes the two-step process in which the video file is decoded to an intermediate uncompressed format, for example YUV, and then encoded onto the target digital format. A video transcoder enables the direct digital-to-digital data conversion of one video encoding to another. The latest video transcoder models can be very useful in situations where the target device does not support the original format or has a limited storage space that requires the original file to be reduced in size. The most commonly encountered video formats include HTML5, MP4, H264, Flash video (FLV), WebM and soon VP9.
With the vast amount of video devices and software available on the market today, a video transcoder can enable the efficient conversion of video material from one format to a similar or like quality format to gain compatibility with another program or application.
Video Encoder and Cloud Computing
There is a lot of video encoding software and also video transcoding software on the market allowing the successful distribution of video material. Video encoding software and video transcoding software is also increasingly making use of the latest cloud computing technology. Cloud computing uses a network of remote servers hosted on the internet rather than a local server to store, access, and process and manage data. Cloud computing is especially well suited to video encoding software and video transcoding software because the ‘cloud' allows users to access the infinite number of internet connected devices and applications without having to invest in any other expensive infrastructure.
Video encoding software and video transcoding software that uses cloud computing also enables users to achieve immediate results, with many platforms allowing a cloud video encoding solution to instantly scale material to a new format. And as it is stored in the cloud, it won't slow down the local computer network.
Coconut's video encoding service offers a flexible and powerful server-side video transcoding solution powered by hundreds of servers. Encode your videos faster than real-time using our simple and intelligent RESTful video encoding API.