We come across videos everywhere. They come in different sizes and different formats. Each format comes with its own sets of advantages and disadvantages. The video industry has been witnessing a rapid revolution. The consumer behavior has changed considerably owing to new technologies available. Very high quality post production video data is expected in the days of unhindered streaming services. As such, video editing and production video encoding forms an integral part of preparing a video for output.

WHAT IS VIDEO ENCODING?

Video encoding is the process of converting digital video files from one format to another standard digital video format. The purpose of digital video encoding is to meet proper formats and specifications for recording and playback. The purpose of encoding a video by using software is to compress a video file to a size – MB or GB, and not necessarily its duration. This ensures the compatibility of the videos with different sets of devices such as DVD/ Blu-Ray, mobile. The encoding process transforms the video and audio data in the file and then compresses it according to the specifications of the standard chosen. Video encoding is done using video encoder software. The process is also referred to as video conversion.

WHY IS VIDEO ENCODING DONE?

Video encoding can be an easy job, given the right kind of tools. The terms video encoding and transcoding are often used interchangeably. Encoding refers to the process of compressing a raw video whereas transcoding refers to the process of re-encoding a video into a different format. There are many reasons why a video needs encoding, some of which are:

• Reduce file size
• Change audio format or quality
• Convert old files to modern formats
• Make a video compatible with a device (smartphone or tablet)
• Make a video compatible with a certain software

Video encoding is only half the process in video production. Encoding organizes the audio and the visual data of the video. The data still needs to be packaged for delivery. The package is known as a container. The container known as the file type is displayed in the suffix of the file name. Digital videos can exist in many different formats with variables such as containers like .mp4, .flv, .avi, and .wmv. The videos can have different codecs, which facilitate the compression and decompression and thus have different qualities for different applications.

ENCODING STANDARDS AND SPECIFICATIONS

Video encoding standards have come a long way since the first standard H.120 was introduced. It was ground-breaking work by the International Telecommunication Union in 1984 that laid the foundation for the rapid revolutionization of video streaming and sharing. Though the H.120 standard is now obsolete, it has paved the way for new and improved standards such as H.260, H.261, and H.262. The H.264 standard is the most commonly used and internationally embraced standard now and can be played on any modern web connected device. For example, currently videos for Blu-ray use H.264/ MPEG -4 AVC which is also the standard format for YouTube whereas DVD has to be in the MPEG-2 format.

STEPS OF USING ENCODING SOFTWARE

Video encoding is an important if not complicated process and hence requires a powerful video encoder to perform the task efficiently. Whenever we view videos on different devices, a computer program is needed as many DVD players, smartphones and tablets will not support the original video format. In addition to this, whenever we are uploading a video file to the internet, we need robust video encoder software.

Using video encoder software does not require you to be a recording and editing specialist, neither does it require you to have extensive computer knowledge.

The first step to encoding a video file is to load the file into the software and choose the output format that is required, such as .mp4, .WebM VP8, .avi, .wmv etc. A suitable video codec has to be chosen for the targeted application.

The next step to video conversion is to choose a target video resolution. Also, a decision has to be made whether it is needed to upscale a video that is smaller than the targeted visualization format. All video encoding software is developed with the aim to improve the quality of a given video. For a high definition output video it is important to have a good quality input version also.

VIDEO QUALITY AND ENCODING

Choosing a bit rate is one of the most important factors to determine the quality of the output video. Even if the encoding software takes longer to convert the video file, quality must always be given top priority. While encoding a large number of videos, it is better to set a target quality rather than a bit rate. Slowing down the video encoding process allows the software to apply acoustic and visual improvements to the video.

CONCLUSION

Video encoding software is a core necessity if you want to upload your videos on the internet. It is also a good tool to have when you want to watch your videos on different platforms and different devices. Generally speaking, video encoding software helps you to immensely improve the quality of your video file.

Mediakind offers video encoding services with cutting edge technology and makes available the latest formats and containers. Enjoy high quality video output with our professional and flexible video encoding API.