By default, the Media Factory transcoder will create a few standard files for image, video, and audio. For most cases, these files are all you need to put your application together, but there may be times when you require custom sizes or optimal video bitrates.
Setting up a custom transcoder profile allows you specify additional image sizes, video codecs, bitrates or audio formats. For example, you may want small, 16x9 thumbnails or high-quality H.264 video.
Create a new profile by selecting Media Transcoder from the Settings sub menu in Media Factory:
You will be presented with a form to configure the transcoder profile with the following options:
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Title | A descriptive name of the profile |
| Export format | The type of file to be created. more… |
| Apply to filetypes | Select the types of media from which the files should be created. You may select multiple types. So, if you choose images and video, both of those file types will produce this custom file |
| Auto-convert | There may be cases where only a few files will need this profile applied. Selecting this box ensures that for every uploaded file (from that point on), this file will be created |
| Format | Description |
|---|---|
| MP3 | Creates an MP3 audio file from audio and/or video uploads |
| JPEG / PNG | JPEGs are better for larger images, while PNG supports transparency |
| 3GPP (GSM phones) | An older video container for delivering video over wireless networks |
| 3GPP2 (CDMA phones) | An older video container for delivering video over wireless networks |
| MPEG-2 | MPEG-2 TS NTSC Main Profile video with MP3 audio are suitable for broadcast environments. Other broadcast formats are available (contact us) |
| MPEG-4 SP/ASP | Creates MPEG-4 files that are suitable for RTSP streaming. Note that you must have an RTSP streaming server in place to use these files |
| MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 | MPEG-4 files that are for standard video delivery over the Internet and modern mobile devices |
| Ogg Theora | An open video container supported by some HTML5 browsers |
After you click Create, the profile details page is displayed. There are different settings for images, video and audio:
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Profile ID | The ID that is used to specify the file you wish returned from storage |
| Title | A descriptive name of the profile |
| Export format | The type of file that will be created with this profile |
| Automatically generate | There may be cases where only a few files will need this profile applied. Selecting this box ensures that for every file uploaded (from now on), this file will be created |
| Resizing method |
Crop: will keep the aspect ratio and the selected width and height; but it will cut off around the file to make it fit Stretch: The file will be blown up or shrunken, without taking the aspect ratio into consideration. This will be the only option for 3gp and 3g2 files Preserve aspect ratio: will try to resize the file to the specified dimensions, without changing the original aspect ratio Retain original size: We won't touch the original size at all |
| Resample | Check this if you are creating a file smaller than the original - like thumbnails |
| Width | Specify the maximum output width of the file |
| Height | Specify the maximum output height of the file |
| Quality | This is effectively a file size to pixelation ratio. For small images, use 100. For larger images, you can go as low as 80 |
| Thumbnail offset | If a thumbnail is being created from a video, this setting can be used to choose from where the thumbnail is taken. By default we will create a thumbnail at 50% (halfway in the video). Valid settings are either seconds (e.g.: 600 for 10 minutes in the video) or a percentage (25% for 1 quarter in the video). If the video is shorter than the specified seconds, we revert back to 50% |
| Watermark asset URL | Here you can specify the URL to the image to be used as a watermark. The image must be a PNG and the URL must be correct. Build edge padding into your transparent image |
| Watermark position | Specify in what corner to place the watermark image |
| External Storage | If you are using a custom external storage configuration, you can choose where the newly created file is stored |
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Profile ID | The ID that is used to specify the file you wish returned from storage |
| Title | A descriptive name of the profile |
| Export format | The type of file that will be created with this profile |
| Automatically generate | There may be cases where only a few files will need this profile applied. Selecting this box ensures that for every file uploaded (from now on), this file will be created |
| Convert same file type | If this is checked, source files that are the same type will be reconverted. This setting is used to configure an effective passthrough. For example if you wish to NOT transcode MP4 files that are uploaded, leave this setting unchecked |
| Resizing method |
Crop: will keep the aspect ratio and the selected width and height; but it will cut off around the file to make it fit Stretch: The file will be blown up or shrunken, without taking the aspect ratio into consideration. This will be the only option for 3gp and 3g2 files Preserve aspect ratio: will try to resize the file to the specified dimensions, without changing the original aspect ratio Retain original size: We won't touch the original size at all |
| Width | Specify the maximum output width of the file |
| Height | Specify the maximum output height of the file |
| Watermark asset URL | Here you can specify the URL to the image to be used as a watermark. The image must be a PNG and the url must be correct. Build edge padding into your transparent image |
| Watermark position | Specify in what corner to place the watermark image |
| Retain original quality | This will cause the transcoder to calculate the bitrate in order to maintain the same (subjective) quality as the original. This is useful in some cases, but is not recommended |
| Maximum video bitrate | This is the peak bitrate for encoding. Good ranges are 500-1000 for standard definition, and 1500-3000 for HD |
| Video framerate (fps) | For web video, 30fps is recommended. For NTSC broadcast, use 29.97 |
| Deinterlace | Recommended. All videos on the web should be progressive (deinterlaced). The transcoder will not attempt to deinterlace progressive videos |
| 2-pass encoding | Recommended. This takes a bit longer, but makes much clearer video |
| Export audio | Recommended if you want sound |
| Audio bitrate | Default is 128. For spoken word, 96 is sufficent. For high definition audio and complex soundtracks, enter 256 |
| Audio sampling rate | Recommended to force 44100Hz audio |
| Audio channels | Recommend Auto unless you have special requirements |
| External Storage | If you are using a custom external storage configuration, you can choose where the newly created file is stored |
