Importance of Video Transcoding in Live Streaming

You may have used the term transcoding a lot whether you are in the streaming business or have any interest. Maybe you know a little about what transcoding is, or you may ask what you still hear this word. However, wherever you are in, you will have total control of the transcoding process after this blog post. We should not forget that video transcoding is very important for live broadcasting, particularly to reach more viewers through adaptive streaming in live streams. The query of what transcoding is we will find a response. But... To better explain what transcoding entails and how it impacts the success of the streams, we must first talk about encoding. Unless we speak about encoding, we cannot speak of transcoding.

What is Encoding?

Encoding is the mechanism by which data is obtained from devices that collect video and audio data (i.e. webcam, microphone, capture card, and app streaming) and translated to a digital format that you can transfer to stream platforms. Encoding functions as an instrument in standard streaming configuration, helping to express input and output. The encoder uses a codec, a software encoder, for example, to determine how the raw data on your camera can be compressed and formatted. H.264 is one of the most common live video streaming codecs which can be used in different resolutions for generating video files of up to 8k. Encoders are key to translating your camera's RAW video archives to streaming multimedia files. Your encoder uses the format required for compression/decompression to translate it into codecs. The basic internet streaming protocol is H.264. We have suggested the HD streaming video compression format. Audio streaming can be carried out using the H.264 protocol, which is considered a 'lossless compression,' with two common options: MP3 (MPEG Audio Layer III) and AAC (Advanced Audio Coding).

What is Transcoding?

Sometimes, considering their numerous use situations, the terms encoding and transcoding are used interchangeably. During encoding, the transcoding of the video file is the method of translating the uncompressed video file to its intended format which may then be referred to as the uncompressed file process or decoding the particular video file from a single format in an uncompressed format. Video transcoding typically occurs as the video file travels from the source to another destination and supports multiple file formats.

An example of transcoding is to translate video codec and AAC audio codec from an MPEG2 source to H.264. We may also conclude that transcoding is a more complicated version of the encoding process since both the encoding and the decoding process are involved.

Following 2 things that are often included is transcoding:

Transrating – transrating refers to modifying bit rates, including taking a 10 Mbps 4K video stream, and transforming it into smaller or lower-bitrate streams, such as HD 6Mbps, or other 3 Mbps, 1.8 Mbps, and others. This encourages individual media to be stored in a much smaller storage area.

Transsizing is often used in the transcoding process to change the camera frame size, e.g. changing the video resolution to 1920 digits 1080 (1080p) of 3840 tons of video (4K tons of UHD).

Are Transcoding and Transmuxing Identical?

The transcoding and transmuxing are frequently confused. What's the point?

This involves the repacking of an audio and video format already compressed without modifying the original audio or video contents. For instance, H.264/AAC content may be present, but you may deliver HTTTP Live Streaming (HLS), Smooth Streaming, HTTP Dynamic Streaming (HDS), or HTTP Dynamic Adaptive Streaming across various streaming protocols, by modifying the packet's content (DASH). The transmuxing computer overhead is much less than the transcoding overhead.

Importance of Video Transcoding in Live Streaming:

Video Transcoding provides the most significant advantage of allowing the larger public to view live streams independent of connections, platforms, or devices.

You want to live stream with a webcam and encoder, for instance. Suppose you have the content compressed with an RTMP encoder and 1080p video codec H.264 picked. You have planned the live content; you have done a lot of work. Naturally, you don't want to waste this time. But you would certainly find a few difficulties if you attempt to stream your dream live stream right away. Quick information: The average worldwide fixed broadband download speed in just two years has risen by 38% and is now roughly 64 Mbps.

However, current velocities vary considerably from country to country, and even from area to country, with numerous forms of connections. So the first question, viewers with inadequate bandwidth cannot watch the stream. It will constantly buffer players while waiting for the 1080p video packets to come. For eg, a spectator in America and a viewer in Nigeria would not be able to please them with the same amount.

Second, Adobe has now dropped its support for the RTMP protocol. Consequently, large markets cannot be reached via RTMP replay. Far more commonly used is Apple's HLS. Without transcoding or transmuting the video, you almost remove anyone with slow data rates, laptops, cell phones, and smart TV gadgets.

You can stream video files of varying bitrates and frame-sizes by using video transcoding tools when translating codecs and protocols to a larger audience. These streams compliant with system and status can be bundled in a few streaming formats (such as HLS, WebRTC, or CMAF). Transcoding helps us on almost any computer to play videos

Conclusion:

The question of what transcoding is was answered and we explored the specifics. How does YouTube use transcoding to visit us all a lot during the day? The biggest provider of user-produced videos in the world, YouTube, is posted every minute for more than 300 hours. Transcoding is used to generate these videos in 5+ different values and 5+ different formats. This makes it easier to transcode the original uploaded material in more than 20 versions. If the initial upload is complete, YouTube begins the encoding and transcoding process, so that the new videos are usually only available at a low resolution before the higher resolutions are transcoded.