Standard transcoding includes standard video transcoding, audio transcoding, and container format conversion. This process converts audio or video streams into different definitions, encoding formats, or container formats to accommodate various network bandwidths and playback devices. Supported formats include H.264, H.265, H.266, AV1, WebP, and GIF.
Usage notes
ApsaraVideo VOD provides a preset standard video transcoding template group named TranscodeTemplateGroup. This template group is configured with common standard definition (SD) HLS and MP4 video formats, bitrates, and resolutions. You can use this template group to quickly set the format, watermark, and encryption. This template group is recommended for new users.
When you use the built-in No Transcoding template group, your source video must be in a format that is playable without transcoding, such as MP4, FLV, M3U8, MP3, and WebM.
Fees
Video transcoding is a paid service. Billing is based on the specifications and duration of the output video. For more information, see Media transcoding billing.
How to use
Transcode using the console
Step 1: Create a standard transcoding template group
If the built-in No Transcoding and TranscodeTemplateGroup transcoding template groups do not meet your needs, you can create a custom transcoding template group. This lets you customize parameters, such as container format and definition, for future transcoding jobs.
For more information, see Transcoding templates.
Step 2 (Optional): Create a workflow and associate it with the transcoding template group
A workflow lets you orchestrate media processing tasks, such as transcoding, review, and snapshotting, into a specific sequence. When a media file is uploaded or processed, the workflow is triggered and automatically processes the file based on the predefined task flow.
You can create a workflow, add a media transcoding node, and then associate the node with the transcoding template group that you created in the previous step. For more information, see Workflow management.
Step 3: Start a transcoding job
You can use the transcoding template group or workflow created in the previous step to transcode a video. Transcoding can be triggered during or after media upload.
Automatically trigger transcoding during upload
Log on to the ApsaraVideo VOD console.
In the navigation pane on the left, choose Media Files > Audio/Video, and click Upload Audio/Video.
Click Add Audio/Video. Select the upload method, storage address, and other parameters. Then, select Use Transcoding Template Group or Use Workflow, and specify the group or workflow that you created in the previous step.
For more information about supported upload formats and parameter descriptions, see Upload files in the console.
After adding the audio or video files, click Upload.
Manually start a transcoding job after upload
This operation is often used to re-transcode existing videos, apply standard encryption, or overwrite watermark parameters.
Log on to the ApsaraVideo VOD console.
In the navigation pane on the left of the ApsaraVideo VOD console, choose Media Files > Audio/Video.
On the Audio/Video page, find the media file to transcode and click Processing in the Actions column.
Select Use Transcoding Template Group or Use Workflow and specify the transcoding template group or workflow that you created in the previous step.
Click OK.
Step 3: View the transcoding results
After you start a transcoding job, you can view the job status and the URL of the transcoded video in two ways. You can then retrieve the video URL and use ApsaraVideo Player or a third-party player to play the transcoded video.
If you do not configure an accelerated domain name in ApsaraVideo VOD, you are charged for storage outbound traffic when you play or download the video from its URL. For more information, see Storage outbound traffic billing.
Method 1: View in the console
Log on to the ApsaraVideo VOD console.
In the navigation pane on the left, choose Media Files > Audio/Video.
On the Audio/Video page, you can view the status of the transcoded audio or video file.
A status of Normal indicates that the transcoding has completed successfully. For more information about other statuses, see Status: Video status.
In the Actions column for the transcoded audio or video file, click Manage. The Video URL tab is displayed.
A successfully transcoded audio or video file has a video stream and a corresponding video URL for each definition.
Method 2: Event notifications
ApsaraVideo VOD supports event notifications through HTTP callbacks and MNS callbacks. If you configure event notifications in advance, ApsaraVideo VOD sends you a notification when a media file processing task, such as an upload or transcoding task, is complete. You can retrieve the transcoding job status and the URL of the transcoded video from the callback results. For more information, see Event notifications.
The following events are related to transcoding:
Transcode using OpenAPI
Usage notes
For more information about how to call an API, see ApsaraVideo VOD API overview. You can use Alibaba Cloud's online command line interface OpenAPI Explorer to debug API calls. In OpenAPI Explorer, you can run ApsaraVideo VOD API operations directly without the need to calculate signatures. Upon successful execution, OpenAPI Explorer automatically generates SDK code examples.
Step 1: Create a transcoding template group
If the built-in No Transcoding (with a TemplateGroupId of VOD_NO_TRANSCODE) and TranscodeTemplateGroup transcoding template groups do not meet your needs, you can create a custom transcoding template group for your transcoding jobs. This lets you customize parameters such as the container format and definition.
To create a standard transcoding template group, call the CreateTranscodeTemplateGroup operation and set the
TranscodeTemplateDefinitionparameter to a value that specifies standard transcoding.
Step 2: (Optional) Create a workflow and associate it with the transcoding template group
A workflow lets you orchestrate media processing tasks, such as transcoding, review, and snapshotting, into a specific sequence. When a media file is uploaded or processed, the workflow is triggered and automatically processes the file based on the predefined task flow.
You can create workflows only in the ApsaraVideo VOD console. For more information, see Workflow management.
Step 3: Start a transcoding job
You can use the transcoding template group or workflow created in the previous step to transcode a video. Transcoding can be triggered during or after media upload.
Automatically trigger transcoding during upload
The CreateUploadVideo operation retrieves only the upload URL, credentials, and basic media asset information. This operation does not upload the file. You must implement the file upload logic. For a complete example of how to upload a file by calling an API, see Upload media files using ApsaraVideo VOD APIs.
When you call the CreateUploadVideo or UploadMediaByURL operation to upload an audio or video file, set the
TemplateGroupIdparameter to the ID of the transcoding template group or theWorkflowIdparameter to the ID of a workflow that contains a media transcoding node. After the file is uploaded, ApsaraVideo VOD automatically transcodes it based on the specified transcoding template group or workflow.
Manually start a transcoding job after upload
This operation is often used to re-transcode existing videos, apply standard encryption, or overwrite watermark parameters.
You can call the SubmitTranscodeJobs operation and set the
TemplateGroupIdparameter to the ID of the transcoding template group. Alternatively, you can call the SubmitWorkflowJob operation and set theWorkflowIdparameter to the ID of a workflow that includes a media transcoding node. After you start the job, ApsaraVideo VOD immediately transcodes the audio or video file according to the specified settings.
Step 4: View the transcoding result
After you start a transcoding job, you can view the job status and the URL of the transcoded video in two ways. You can then retrieve the video URL and use ApsaraVideo Player or a third-party player to play the transcoded video.
If you do not configure an accelerated domain name in ApsaraVideo VOD, you are charged for storage outbound traffic when you play or download the video from its URL. For more information, see Storage outbound traffic billing.
Method 1: Query by calling an API
When you call the SubmitTranscodeJobs operation to submit a transcoding job, you receive a transcoding job ID (TranscodeTaskId). You can then use this ID to call the GetTranscodeTask operation and query the execution status and output video URL of the job.
Method 2: Event notifications
ApsaraVideo VOD supports event notifications through HTTP callbacks and MNS callbacks. If you configure event notifications in advance, ApsaraVideo VOD sends you a notification when a media file processing task, such as an upload or transcoding task, is complete. You can retrieve the transcoding job status and the URL of the transcoded video from the callback results. For more information, see Event notifications.
The following events are related to transcoding: