Encoding Best Practice

ENCODING FORMATS - UPLOADING TO Qbrick Video Platforms

Who is this page intended for?

This page is intended for customers who want to upload and encode media in Qbricks video platform. It's main purpose is to recommend media formats and codecs to get to best end result for delivering high quality online video experiences.
This page also lists the standard output formats and bitrates for Video/Audio content that is encoded using Qbrick's encoding platform.

Basic abbreviations

Format: Often referring to the container format of the video file. The container format acts as a wrapper format of the video, audio and metadata content.
Codec: The software algorithm that compresses and/or decompresses the video and audio file.
Distribution protocols: The way that the content is distributed, the available distribution protocol often depends on the source file container format and codec. Examples of protocols are RTMP, HTTP, HLS, RTSP.

INPUT FORMATS

General Information

The standard SD and HD encoding profiles available at Qbrick are all optimized for progressive source material at 25 fps. For best result please use the resolutions 720p or 576p as stated below in Recommended Input Formats. 1080p is also supported but requires some additional processing time.

Important:

• Source files MUST contain an audio track. Video only files are not supported.
• 32-bit audio is NOT supported.
• Encoding can take up to 3-5 times the length of the video
• Source file scan should be progressive, not interlaced. The Standard encoding profiles are optimized for progressive input.

Recommended Input Formats

The following formats are recommendations for input formats. We highly recommend (marked in green below) using MP4 files and H.264 with AAC stereo audio for best compatibility. The specifications below are to achieve the best end result for online video experiences. Note! Windows Media is supported but not a recommended input format.

SD Video Specifications (Standard Definition)

HD Video Specifications (High Definition)

Trusted Input Formats

Qbrick's transcoding service supports various kinds of input formats and codecs. The following formats are supported and have been well tested.
NOTE: If the encoding job fails please contact support with information regarding source format and codecs.

Untrusted Input Formats

Below is a list of untrusted formats, this means that some codecs may not be supported. To be sure your encoding reaches the best result, the recommended input formats are preferred.
NOTE: All formats in this list have not been fully tested and may not support all codecs, if the encoding job fails please contact support with information regarding format and codecs.

Unsupported Input Formats & Codecs and more

Below is a list of known unsupported formats, codecs and more.

STANDARD OUTPUT FORMATS

The encoding profile is the configuration of the output formats for the encoding job. An encoding profile can generate several different formats and codecs from one source file. Below is a list of the standard encoding profiles. The encoding profiles can be customised as a premium service, see Custom Encoding Profile below.

Encoding profiles

Qbrick support different output profiles as a standard delivery, all profiles are at true 16:9 aspect ratio. The standard output profiles available are:

• Standard Definition; SD (Up to 576p)
• High Definition; HD (Up to 720p)
• Full High Definition; FHD (Up to 1080p) - Note! The full high definition profile is not activated by default and has to be requested by contacting your sales representative.
• Thumbnails – Besides video files the encoding platform also generate thumbnail images (jpeg) that are used in the video player and GUI but also available to use through API.
• Other available output profiles (To order contact Qbrick Sales):
  • Audio only – Used for podcast and similar
  • 4:3 - "Old" aspect ration not very common today
  • 1:1 - Squared video (Instagram and similar footage)
  • 9:16 - Standing video (Video shot standing on a mobile for example)
  • 360 - 360 degree video

Custom Encoding Profile

To order a custom encoding profile with your own flavor of renditions, please contact your Qbrick sales representative. Make sure that you have a specification containing:

• Container format
• Video Codec
• Audio Codec
• Bitrate
• Frame size
• Frame rate

Qbrick support will then verify if the requested custom encoding profile is possible.