Statistics say that nearly 90% of the viewers watch videos on mobile. Many viewers use various devices, browsers, and diverse internet bandwidth ranges to stream videos online. To ensure that the videos are viewable to all those viewers, you need to transcode your videos. But what is transcoding? How does it work? In this blog, we will walk you through all that and more! Continue reading
Research shows that 53% of viewers abandon a video that takes more than 3 seconds to load. At the same time, the technical landscape has become more complex: new codecs like AV1 are reshaping compression standards, AI-powered per-title encoding is replacing one-size-fits-all workflows, and 4K HDR delivery is becoming the baseline expectation for premium content.
Whether you are running an OTT platform, hosting enterprise training videos, understanding video transcoding is no longer optional knowledge. It is foundational to delivering content that actually reaches your audience the way you intended.
In this guide, we will walk you through everything you need to know about video transcoding in 2026 — what it is, exactly how it works step by step, the different types, which codecs to use and when, how to build a proper bitrate ladder for adaptive streaming, and the best practices that separate a smooth streaming experience from a frustrating one.
Video transcoding is the process of converting a video file from one format or one video quality to another. It is easier to understand this way, but technically it involves a complex process.
Transcoding involves decoding the original video and then encoding it into a new format or video resolution. For example, you have uploaded a 4K video, but you want to distribute it to your viewers in multiple resolutions, ranging from 720p to 4K.
To do so, the transcoding software will first decode your original 4K video, and then re-encode it into 720p or any other video resolution. Similarly, you can change the format of your video too!
So basically you can say that transcoding helps in delivering multiple renditions of your original video file.
But one particularly important function of transcoding is to enable adaptive bitrate streaming. Let’s explore it in more detail.
Transcoding is especially important for adaptive bitrate streaming or ABR. Many streaming services use adaptive streaming formats to enhance the viewer’s experience. Actually, adaptive streaming adjusts video quality in real time based on the viewer’s internet speed and device performance.
It means when you will play a video, your video quality will be automatically adjusted to ensure smooth playback and negligible buffering. But for that, it requires multiple versions of the same video, each at different resolutions and bitrates. This is where transcoding comes into play.
During the encoding and transcoding process, the original video is broken down into multiple bite-sized segments, and each segment is then converted into multiple segments of different resolutions and bitrates. All of these versions are made available on the server.
During playback, the streaming service dynamically selects the most appropriate version based on the viewer’s internet speed and device capabilities.
If a viewer’s internet connection slows down, the service can switch to a lower-quality version of the video to prevent buffering. Conversely, if the connection improves, it can provide a higher-quality version, delivering the best possible viewing experience.
Read More: Encoding Ladders: All You Need to Know
When transcoding video for adaptive bitrate (ABR) streaming, you need to create multiple renditions of your video — each at a different resolution and bitrate — so that the player can dynamically switch between them based on the viewer’s internet speed. This is called a bitrate ladder. Below are the industry-standard rendition specifications used by major OTT platforms, closely aligned with recommendations from Apple’s HLS Authoring Specification and Netflix’s encoding guidelines.
Read More: How Netflix Makes Money: Business Model Revealed
Standard Encoding Ladder / Bitrate Table
Resolution | Dimensions | Bitrate (H.264) | Bitrate (H.265) | Ideal For |
240p | 426 × 240 | 200–400 Kbps | 100–200 Kbps | Very slow connections; mobile fallback |
360p | 640 × 360 | 400–700 Kbps | 200–350 Kbps | Mobile on 3G/4G |
480p | 854 × 480 | 700 Kbps – 1.2 Mbps | 350–600 Kbps | Standard mobile/tablet viewing |
720p | 1280 × 720 | 1.5–3 Mbps | 750 Kbps – 1.5 Mbps | HD — laptops, tablets, smart TVs |
1080p | 1920 × 1080 | 3–6 Mbps | 1.5–3 Mbps | Full HD — desktop, large screens |
1440p (2K) | 2560 × 1440 | 6–12 Mbps | 3–6 Mbps | High-end desktop and gaming monitors |
2160p (4K UHD) | 3840 × 2160 | 15–25 Mbps | 7–12 Mbps | 4K smart TVs and connected devices |
The video transcoding process basically takes place via software or hardware. Many times, transcoding systems remain built-in within the cloud servers or streaming platforms.
The process involves multiple steps. Let’s take you through these steps one by one.
In the very first step of video transcoding, two main inputs are required:
Once the input file and related information are received, the file analysis begins. This step involves the following processes:
The second step involves decoding the original video and audio files. It involves the following steps:
The next step involves rigorous processing of the uncompressed video and audio data. It usually involves the following steps:
After processing, editing, and quality adjustment, it’s time for re-encoding. The encoding process takes place as follows:
This is the final stage of transcoding where the final video file is verified to ensure that it is in desired delivery format. The system also checks the output file for any errors or issues, such as playback problems, synchronization issues between video and audio, or artifacts introduced during encoding.
After verification, the metadata is inserted into the file. It usually consists of details such as title, description, and technical specifications. This step is important for organizing and managing video files, especially for distribution.
Once everything is done, the final file is prepared for distribution. In the case of cloud transcoding, the distribution process usually involves uploading the file to content delivery networks or CDNs.
Choosing the right codec is one of the most important decisions in video transcoding. Each codec offers different trade-offs between compression efficiency, encoding speed, device compatibility, and licensing cost. Here is a side-by-side comparison of the four codecs most commonly used in modern video transcoding workflows.
Feature | H.264 (AVC) | H.265 (HEVC) | AV1 | VP9 |
Compression Efficiency | Baseline standard | ~50% better than H.264 | ~30% better than H.265 | ~40% better than H.264 |
Encoding Speed | Fast | Slower (2–5× vs H.264) | Very slow (improving with hardware) | Moderate |
Device Support | Universal — all devices and browsers | Wide — most modern devices | Growing — Chrome, Firefox, Android; limited on iOS/Safari | Good — Chrome, Android, YouTube |
Licensing Cost | Royalty-based (MPEG LA) | Royalty-based (higher than H.264) | Royalty-free (open standard) | Royalty-free (Google) |
Ideal Use Case | Maximum compatibility; legacy device support | 4K/UHD delivery; bandwidth-constrained networks | Web streaming, YouTube, Netflix future delivery | Web video, YouTube, Android apps |
Who Uses It | Virtually everyone | Netflix, broadcasters, Blu-ray | YouTube, Netflix, Meta | YouTube, Google services |
When transcoding video for adaptive bitrate (ABR) streaming, you need to create multiple renditions of your video — each at a different resolution and bitrate — so that the player can dynamically switch between them based on the viewer’s internet speed. This is called a bitrate ladder. Below are the industry-standard rendition specifications used by major OTT platforms, closely aligned with recommendations from Apple’s HLS Authoring Specification and Netflix’s encoding guidelines.
Resolution | Dimensions | Bitrate (H.264) | Bitrate (H.265) | Ideal For |
240p | 426 × 240 | 200–400 Kbps | 100–200 Kbps | Very slow connections; mobile fallback |
360p | 640 × 360 | 400–700 Kbps | 200–350 Kbps | Mobile on 3G/4G |
480p | 854 × 480 | 700 Kbps – 1.2 Mbps | 350–600 Kbps | Standard mobile/tablet viewing |
720p | 1280 × 720 | 1.5–3 Mbps | 750 Kbps – 1.5 Mbps | HD — laptops, tablets, smart TVs |
1080p | 1920 × 1080 | 3–6 Mbps | 1.5–3 Mbps | Full HD — desktop, large screens |
1440p (2K) | 2560 × 1440 | 6–12 Mbps | 3–6 Mbps | High-end desktop and gaming monitors |
2160p (4K UHD) | 3840 × 2160 | 15–25 Mbps | 7–12 Mbps | 4K smart TVs and connected devices |
Well, by the name of it, you might have guessed that it is software that performs transcoding. And in that case, you are right!
Transcoding software is designed to convert media files from one format to another. In other words, it is software that performs most of the steps we discussed above.
For example, you might use transcoding software to:
Common examples of transcoding software include HandBrake, FFmpeg, and Adobe Media Encoder.
In Muvi Flex, you don’t need separate software for transcoding. Because Muvi Flex has a built-in encoding and transcoding engine. So, whenever you upload a video to Muvi Flex, it automatically encodes and transcodes the video to multiple encoding profiles.
Transcoding can be executed in three fundamentally different ways: using dedicated hardware encoders, software running on a general-purpose CPU, or cloud-based transcoding services. Each approach has distinct trade-offs across performance, cost, flexibility, and scalability. Here is how they compare.
Aspect | Hardware Transcoding | Software Transcoding | Cloud Transcoding |
Performance | Fastest — uses dedicated silicon (GPU/ASIC) | Slower — relies on CPU | Very fast — leverages distributed GPU/CPU at scale |
Scalability | Fixed — limited by physical hardware | Limited — single machine bottleneck | Unlimited — auto-scales with demand |
Upfront Cost | High — dedicated encoder hardware required | Low — uses existing CPU/software | None — pay-as-you-go |
Ongoing Cost | Low after purchase | Low — power and compute only | Variable — based on usage/minutes transcoded |
Format Flexibility | Limited — supports specific codecs only | Very high — supports almost all codecs | High — most modern codecs supported |
Maintenance | Hardware refresh cycles required | Software updates only | Fully managed — no maintenance needed |
Best For | Broadcast studios; fixed live encoding workflows | Individual creators; small-scale or offline use | OTT platforms; enterprises; variable workloads |
Examples | NVIDIA NVENC, Intel Quick Sync, Haivision | FFmpeg, HandBrake, Adobe Media Encoder | AWS MediaConvert, Google Transcoder API, Azure Media Services, Muvi Flex |
Platforms like Muvi Flex offer fully managed cloud transcoding built into the video hosting workflow, so you upload once and the platform handles all renditions, encoding profiles, and delivery automatically.
Video Transcoding can be mainly of three types:
But all of them have different use cases and characteristics. So, let’s take a deeper look at them one by one.
It is the most common and standard form of transcoding that simply converts media files from one format to another. Technically, it involves re-encoding the file, which can change both the format and the codec used for encoding the media.
You can use standard transcoding for:
Standard transcoding involves the following:
Transrating or bitrate transcoding involves altering the bitrate of a media file while keeping the same format. Hence it will give you video in a different bitrate without changing the format. This process mainly affects the file’s quality and size.
You can use it for:
Transsizing refers to changing the size or resolution of a media file. It often involves resizing the video frame or changing the resolution while keeping the format the same.
It can be used for:
Video transcoding works differently depending on whether you are dealing with pre-recorded content (Video on Demand, or VOD) or a real-time broadcast (Live Streaming). Understanding this distinction matters because the technical requirements, infrastructure costs, and acceptable trade-offs are significantly different in each case.
VOD Transcoding happens after a video has been fully recorded and uploaded. Because the entire file already exists, the transcoding process can take as much time as it needs — running multiple encoding passes, analyzing the entire clip for optimal compression, and generating every rendition in the bitrate ladder before any viewer presses play. This means VOD transcoding can prioritize output quality above all else. Techniques like two-pass VBR (Variable Bitrate) encoding and per-title encoding — where compression settings are customized for each individual video’s visual complexity — are only feasible in VOD workflows. Netflix, for example, uses per-title encoding to ensure a fast-paced action film is encoded at a higher bitrate than a static talking-head interview, even at the same resolution.
Live Transcoding has no such luxury. When you are broadcasting a live event — a sports match, a concert, a webinar — the video must be transcoded in real time as it arrives at the streaming server. Every second of delay introduced by the transcoder adds to the total stream latency experienced by viewers. This means live transcoding must prioritize speed over perfect compression. Single-pass encoding is the norm, and the encoder must process and output video faster than it is being recorded — typically within 1–3 seconds per segment for HLS delivery.
The infrastructure requirements for live transcoding are also significantly higher. Because the process is computationally intensive and time-critical, live transcoders rely heavily on GPU acceleration (using NVIDIA NVENC or similar hardware encoders) and cloud-based auto-scaling to handle sudden spikes in load during large events.
Aspect | VOD Transcoding | Live Transcoding |
Timing | After upload is complete | In real time as video is captured |
Speed Priority | Quality over speed | Speed is non-negotiable |
Encoding Passes | Two-pass VBR possible | Single-pass only |
Latency Impact | None — processed before playback | Directly adds to stream delay |
Hardware Needs | Standard cloud compute | GPU acceleration required |
Error Handling | Retry and re-encode | Minimal — must keep up with stream |
Use Case | Films, courses, recorded content | Sports, events, live news, webinars |
Heading: Hardware vs. Software vs. Cloud Transcoding: Which Is Right for You?
Transcoding can be executed in three fundamentally different ways: using dedicated hardware encoders, software running on a general-purpose CPU, or cloud-based transcoding services. Each approach has distinct trade-offs across performance, cost, flexibility, and scalability. Here is how they compare.
Aspect | Hardware Transcoding | Software Transcoding | Cloud Transcoding |
Performance | Fastest — uses dedicated silicon (GPU/ASIC) | Slower — relies on CPU | Very fast — leverages distributed GPU/CPU at scale |
Scalability | Fixed — limited by physical hardware | Limited — single machine bottleneck | Unlimited — auto-scales with demand |
Upfront Cost | High — dedicated encoder hardware required | Low — uses existing CPU/software | None — pay-as-you-go |
Ongoing Cost | Low after purchase | Low — power and compute only | Variable — based on usage/minutes transcoded |
Format Flexibility | Limited — supports specific codecs only | Very high — supports almost all codecs | High — most modern codecs supported |
Maintenance | Hardware refresh cycles required | Software updates only | Fully managed — no maintenance needed |
Best For | Broadcast studios; fixed live encoding workflows | Individual creators; small-scale or offline use | OTT platforms; enterprises; variable workloads |
Examples | NVIDIA NVENC, Intel Quick Sync, Haivision | FFmpeg, HandBrake, Adobe Media Encoder | AWS MediaConvert, Google Transcoder API, Azure Media Services, Muvi Flex |
Platforms like Muvi Flex offer fully managed cloud transcoding built into the video hosting workflow, so you upload once and the platform handles all renditions, encoding profiles, and delivery automatically.
Video transcoding offers several major benefits that enhance the overall video streaming and viewing experience. Some of the benefits are:
FFmpeg is the most widely used open-source tool for video transcoding. It runs via the command line and supports virtually every codec and container format. Here are the most common transcoding commands to get you started.
Basic transcode — H.264 MP4 to H.265 MP4:
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -c:v libx265 -crf 28 -c:a copy output_h265.mp4
Transcode and resize to 720p:
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -vf scale=1280:720 -c:v libx264 -crf 23 -c:a aac -b:a 128k output_720p.mp4
Convert MP4 to WebM (VP9):
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -c:v libvpx-vp9 -crf 30 -b:v 0 -c:a libopus output.webm
Parameter | What It Does |
-i input.mp4 | Specifies the source input file |
-c:v libx265 | Sets the output video codec (libx265 = H.265/HEVC) |
-crf 28 | Controls quality — lower = better quality (18–28 is typical) |
-c:a copy | Copies the audio stream without re-encoding |
-vf scale=1280:720 | Resizes the video to 1280×720 pixels (720p) |
-b:v 2500k | Sets a target video bitrate of 2500 Kbps |
-c:a aac | Re-encodes audio to AAC format |
-b:a 128k | Sets audio bitrate to 128 Kbps |
Note: FFmpeg is powerful but requires technical knowledge to configure correctly for production use. For platforms handling large video libraries, a managed cloud transcoding solution like Muvi Flex automates this entire process — no command-line work required.
AI is fundamentally reshaping how video transcoding works. Rather than applying the same encoding settings to every video regardless of its content, modern AI-powered transcoding systems analyze each video’s visual complexity before encoding begins — and dynamically adjust bitrate, resolution, and codec parameters for maximum quality at minimum file size.
Per-Title Encoding is the most widely adopted AI-driven technique. Pioneered by Netflix and now used by platforms including YouTube, Amazon Prime Video, per-title encoding means that a fast-paced action film with rapid scene changes receives a higher bitrate than a static interview or slideshow presentation encoded at the same resolution. According to Netflix’s engineering blog, per-title encoding reduces bandwidth consumption by up to 20% without any perceptible loss in quality.
Content-Aware Compression takes this further by analyzing individual scenes — or even individual frames — rather than the whole video. Complex scenes such as explosions, crowd movement, and rapid transitions are allocated more bits, while simple and static scenes receive fewer. This intelligent allocation produces visually superior output at significantly lower file sizes compared to traditional constant bitrate (CBR) or standard variable bitrate (VBR) encoding.
AV1 and Machine Learning are also converging. Encoding AV1 has historically been extremely slow — up to 100× slower than H.264 — making it impractical for large libraries. AI-accelerated AV1 encoding, using GPU-based neural network models, is now bringing AV1 encoding times to within practical range.
For businesses using platforms like Muvi Flex, these benefits are available without managing any of this complexity directly — the transcoding engine handles codec selection and profile optimization automatically on every upload.
Muvi Flex is one of the leading enterprise video management platforms that offers a built-in encoding and transcoding engine. This means that whenever you upload any video to Muvi Flex, it gets automatically encoded and transcoded.
Muvi Flex supports multiple encoding profiles and multiple resolutions. It also supports adaptive bitrate streaming. That is why, you can always rest assured that your end users will be able to view your videos as smoothly as possible, irrespective of their internet bandwidth or device type.
No doubt that video transcoding is a must-have part if you are dealing with video streaming. But at the same time, it is quite complex to understand and execute. While a video transcoding solution is a must-have for your video platform, the task of choosing the right one is not so easy.
If you are looking for a video management platform that offers built-in encoding and transcoding, then Muvi Flex can be the perfect solution for you! Muvi Flex automatically performs encoding and transcoding of the uploaded video to ensure smooth playback.
And that’s not all! Multi-DRM ensures your video remains protected from piracy. You can easily create playlists and share links via HLS.
You can try Muvi Flex for FREE for 14 days. No credit card required. Click here to get started!
Transcoding converts media from one format or codec to another, changing both encoding and compression.
Compression reduces the file size of media. It can involve re-encoding to a more efficient format or simply reducing the quality.
Transmuxing changes the container format without altering the codec or quality of the media inside.
Hence, each of these three process serves different needs: transcoding for format compatibility, compression for file size reduction, and transmuxing for container format adjustments.
Just like video streaming and management, transcoding is used to convert video files from one format or codec to another in video editing too! It is done to ensure compatibility with editing software or to meet specific project requirements. Transcoding ensures that the video can be edited smoothly and exported in the desired format.
Two-pass VBR in transcoding performs an initial analysis pass to gauge bitrate needs before performing a second pass to apply this data for optimal bitrate allocation. Hence, it improves the overall video quality. It allocates more bitrate to complex scenes and less to simpler ones. This results in consistent output with fewer artifacts, and efficient file size management.
Muvi Flex offers a built-in encoding and transcoding engine that automatically encodes and transcodes all the uploaded videos. It ensures smooth playback of video across devices and internet bandwidth ranges.
Written by: Debarpita Banerjee
Debarpita is a Content Writer with Muvi. With around 2 years of experience in content creation, she has worked across industries like SaaS, EdTech, eLearning, AR-VR, and Metaverse. She believes in delivering content that can be of some value to the readers. In her free time, she likes to try her hand at website and app development.
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