Video transcoding suggestions

[RazorSharpe]

Hi,

I know most people are using ffmpeg to transcode videos and this is likely the path I will use too. I was just wondering if anyone could point me to resources where I can read up on best practices on building a transcoding engine. I will be working from multiple file formats (avi, mpeg, wmv, mov, etc. etc.) and would like to convert all these files to mp4 (for regular streaming) and iOS compatible (HLS?) streamable files.

If anyone has any suggestions or opinions on video transcoding they would like to share, it would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers

[StariaDaniel]

Hi,
well, totally depends on the existing structure. I use a light-weight DB, mediainfo to determine existing formats, ffmpeg for the convert-process and a PHP script to control the whole process.

There are quite a few sites out there with examples for the convert commands - there's no solution that works for everything - depends on the in- and output too much ...

[RazorSharpe]

Hi,
well, totally depends on the existing structure. I use a light-weight DB, mediainfo to determine existing formats, ffmpeg for the convert-process and a PHP script to control the whole process.

There are quite a few sites out there with examples for the convert commands - there's no solution that works for everything - depends on the in- and output too much ...

Hi Daniel,

I appreciate your input, thank you. As for the source files, there is no standard, they can be of any quality and any format but the eventual output just needs to work on a PC, Mac, iOS device and other mobile and tablet devices.

I'm not sure what the output files will even be which is pretty much why I'm looking for resources from people who have been there and done that.

Once again, thank you, hopefully other people will chime in and I'll also be doing my own research.

[RazorSharpe]

Anyone else have any suggestions that they don't mind throwing my way?

[StariaDaniel]

Yes, that's exactly my point. You won't use the same ffmpeg command to convert a full hd wmv than you'd use to convert a 640x480 avi. That's why i created the DB like

filename | input_type | input_resolution | input_aspectratio

Then i grouped them like wmv-1920, wmv-1280, wmv-640-to-720 and then created the commands creating the best results (maybe a 1280 mp4 for all videos >= 1280 and a 640 mp4 for all videos regardless of the resolution, as a single/first for the small ones, and as a secondary low quality for the HD files). Also you've to check if the input is 4:3, 16:9, 2,35:1, etc. and maybe add bars on the top or side (if you need the final video to have a specific resolution).

[Helix]

Can be helpful --> http://www.rodrigopolo.com/ffmpeg/