Video Transcoding Terms Explained



                            Not sure what the aspect ratio is
                            for your iPhone? Can’t tell a bit
                            rate from a frame rate? At a loss
                            when it comes to lossy and
                            lossless codecs?

                            With this helpful reference guide
                            to the most common video terms,
                            you’ll have everything you need to
                            know to start transcoding videos
                            like a pro.
Transcoding Video




Transcoding means converting one video format into another. For instance, you
may want to transcode a full HD video from your camcorder to play on your
mobile device. You can also transcode a DVD that you ripped onto your computer
and then encode it into a format that can play on your Smart TV.
Nero Recode offers many options for high quality ripping and transcoding, so you
can play your videos on virtually any device.
Resolution
High Resolution




                  Resolution describes the
                  amount of detail in an image.
                  Calculate it by multiplying the
                  number of horizontal and
                  vertical pixels (picture cells) in
Low Resolution    the image. The higher the
                  resolution the more pixels you
                  will find in the image.
Aspect Ratio
A number that shows the width of an image compared to its height
(width:height). The most typical aspect ratios for video formats are 4:3 and 16:9.


Typical resolutions, aspect ratios and use cases
Resolution           Aspect Ratio    Use case
320x240              4:3             Multimedia MP3 players
480x320              4:3             iPhone 3
720x576              4:3/16:9        PAL TV, DVD
720x476              4:3/16:9        NTSC TV, DVD
1024x768             4:3             iPad
1280x720             16:9            AVC DSCs (AVCHD Lite), iPhone 4, smart phones
1920x1080            16:9            AVC DSCs, AVCHD camcorders, Blu-ray disc,
                                     state-of-the-art smart phones
Frame Rate
Frame rate is the frequency at which an
imaging device produces frames, or
unique consecutive images.
The minimum interval at which the
human eye perceives individual images
(frames) as consecutive motion is 18
frames per second.
Frame rates can vary, depending on the
system and codec. For example, 25 full
frames per second (50i = interlaced) are
used in PAL TV and 30 full frames (60i =
interlaced) in NTSC TV.
Computer devices and modern home
cinema or mobile devices produce video
streams in progressive (p) or interlaced (i)
frames with typical frame rates at 50i, 60i,
24p, and 25p.
Bit Rate




Bit rate is the number of "bits per
second" (bps) at which the data in a
video is delivered. The higher the bit
rate, the higher video image quality.
Container

            A container is a meta-
            file format whose
            specification describes
            how different data
            elements and metadata
            coexist in a computer
            file.
CODEC
Compression/Decompression (Encoding/Decoding)
                           A codec (or "coder-decoder") is a
                           component within Nero Recode
                           capable of encoding or decoding a
                           digital data stream or signal.

                           Using the right video, image, and
                           audio codecs is critical to converting
                           data with the best possible
                           quality, while maintaining a
                           reasonable file size.

                           Codecs can be lossy and lossless. A
                           lossy codec loses quality with every
                           copy generation while a lossless
                           codec maintains quality from copy to
                           copy.
Encoder Settings
Encoder settings specify the type and quality of encoding that are applied during the
encoding process - for example when you convert a full HD video you shot with your
camcorder so that you can play it back on your mobile device.

Format   Use Case                                         Codec                       Bit rate         Compression
DVD      Camcorder, PC & external Player                  MPEG 2 interframe I-B-P     Up to 9 MBit/s medium
AVCHD    Camcorder, PC Players, BD-Players, AVCHD         H.264/MPEG-4 AVC            4 to 24 Mbit/s high
         Lite in DSCs
AVC      External Players, iPhone, Android phones,        MP4 container:              variable         high
         Playstation Portable, etc.                       H.264/AVC,
                                                          MPEG-4 ASP
MKV      Internet video streams, storing movies to file   Open source container       variable         high
                                                          format not limited to any
                                                          codec or system. Mainly
                                                          used : H.264/AVC

WMV      Portable Media Players, PC and External          Windows Media Video 9       Variable Up to   Medium to high
         Players, Web                                                                 5 Mbit/s
WMV HD   PC Players, BD-Players                           Windows Media 9             Up to 9 Mbit/s high
                                                          Advanced Profile (VC-1)

3GPP     Mobile Phones                                    MPEG-4, H.263 or H.264      variable         high
Ripping DVD Video
Ripping refers to transferring
a DVD Video to a file or
folder on a hard drive.
Nero Recode has a number
of options for
ripping, including rip to
video file, rip to folder
(which transfers the original
DVD structure), rip and
shrink, and only rip audio.
Video Profile


                A video profile is the key digital
                information needed to create a video
                file, such as the video
                codec, container, audio
                codec, resolution, and frame rate.
                Nero Recode provides standard video
                profile settings, depending on the
                device on which the video will be
                played. Each profile can be fine-tuned
                or completely customized and even
                saved as new custom profile. Custom
                profiles can be shared with friends and
                re-imported into Nero Recode.
Video Image Quality Factors

Aside from the actual shooting conditions, video image quality depends on a
number of factors. The most important factors are resolution (the higher, the
better), bit rate (the higher, the better) and codec (the right codec means great
results).
Of course, the higher the resolution and bit rate, the larger the file size, so it’s
important to choose the right profiles for the device used. Nero Recode provides a
large selection of profiles, as well as easy ways to adjust video settings for the best
quality.
Quality Factor

                 The quality factor defines whether a
                 video’s bit rate is low, good, or too high.
                 The quality factor is defined by the
                 number of bits per pixel per frame to be
                 encoded (Bits/(Pixel*Frame)).
                 The quality factor is an indicative value
                 and may differ depending on the
                 source.
Streaming




Streaming refers to the continuous transmission of data that can already
be played during the transmission procedure. This means that it is not
necessary to wait until a media file has been transmitted completely
before it can be played back.

A TV channel can be received and displayed at the same time without it
first having to be saved to the hard drive.
Hardware accelerated AVC transcoding (GPGPU)

                       GPGPU stands for ‘general-purpose
                       computing on graphics processing units’.
                       Modern GPUs can perform computation
                       in applications traditionally handled by
                       the CPU. All major vendors have GPGPU
                       based models on the market.

                       Nero Recode supports any graphics card
                       that supports hardware accelerated AVC
                       encoding (Nvidia CUDATM, AMD App
                       Acceleration, Intel® Quick Sync Video)
                       and helps video get transcoded up to 4
                       times faster.
www.   .com

Video Transcoding Terms Explained

  • 1.
    Video Transcoding TermsExplained Not sure what the aspect ratio is for your iPhone? Can’t tell a bit rate from a frame rate? At a loss when it comes to lossy and lossless codecs? With this helpful reference guide to the most common video terms, you’ll have everything you need to know to start transcoding videos like a pro.
  • 2.
    Transcoding Video Transcoding meansconverting one video format into another. For instance, you may want to transcode a full HD video from your camcorder to play on your mobile device. You can also transcode a DVD that you ripped onto your computer and then encode it into a format that can play on your Smart TV. Nero Recode offers many options for high quality ripping and transcoding, so you can play your videos on virtually any device.
  • 3.
    Resolution High Resolution Resolution describes the amount of detail in an image. Calculate it by multiplying the number of horizontal and vertical pixels (picture cells) in Low Resolution the image. The higher the resolution the more pixels you will find in the image.
  • 4.
    Aspect Ratio A numberthat shows the width of an image compared to its height (width:height). The most typical aspect ratios for video formats are 4:3 and 16:9. Typical resolutions, aspect ratios and use cases Resolution Aspect Ratio Use case 320x240 4:3 Multimedia MP3 players 480x320 4:3 iPhone 3 720x576 4:3/16:9 PAL TV, DVD 720x476 4:3/16:9 NTSC TV, DVD 1024x768 4:3 iPad 1280x720 16:9 AVC DSCs (AVCHD Lite), iPhone 4, smart phones 1920x1080 16:9 AVC DSCs, AVCHD camcorders, Blu-ray disc, state-of-the-art smart phones
  • 5.
    Frame Rate Frame rateis the frequency at which an imaging device produces frames, or unique consecutive images. The minimum interval at which the human eye perceives individual images (frames) as consecutive motion is 18 frames per second. Frame rates can vary, depending on the system and codec. For example, 25 full frames per second (50i = interlaced) are used in PAL TV and 30 full frames (60i = interlaced) in NTSC TV. Computer devices and modern home cinema or mobile devices produce video streams in progressive (p) or interlaced (i) frames with typical frame rates at 50i, 60i, 24p, and 25p.
  • 6.
    Bit Rate Bit rateis the number of "bits per second" (bps) at which the data in a video is delivered. The higher the bit rate, the higher video image quality.
  • 7.
    Container A container is a meta- file format whose specification describes how different data elements and metadata coexist in a computer file.
  • 8.
    CODEC Compression/Decompression (Encoding/Decoding) A codec (or "coder-decoder") is a component within Nero Recode capable of encoding or decoding a digital data stream or signal. Using the right video, image, and audio codecs is critical to converting data with the best possible quality, while maintaining a reasonable file size. Codecs can be lossy and lossless. A lossy codec loses quality with every copy generation while a lossless codec maintains quality from copy to copy.
  • 9.
    Encoder Settings Encoder settingsspecify the type and quality of encoding that are applied during the encoding process - for example when you convert a full HD video you shot with your camcorder so that you can play it back on your mobile device. Format Use Case Codec Bit rate Compression DVD Camcorder, PC & external Player MPEG 2 interframe I-B-P Up to 9 MBit/s medium AVCHD Camcorder, PC Players, BD-Players, AVCHD H.264/MPEG-4 AVC 4 to 24 Mbit/s high Lite in DSCs AVC External Players, iPhone, Android phones, MP4 container: variable high Playstation Portable, etc. H.264/AVC, MPEG-4 ASP MKV Internet video streams, storing movies to file Open source container variable high format not limited to any codec or system. Mainly used : H.264/AVC WMV Portable Media Players, PC and External Windows Media Video 9 Variable Up to Medium to high Players, Web 5 Mbit/s WMV HD PC Players, BD-Players Windows Media 9 Up to 9 Mbit/s high Advanced Profile (VC-1) 3GPP Mobile Phones MPEG-4, H.263 or H.264 variable high
  • 10.
    Ripping DVD Video Rippingrefers to transferring a DVD Video to a file or folder on a hard drive. Nero Recode has a number of options for ripping, including rip to video file, rip to folder (which transfers the original DVD structure), rip and shrink, and only rip audio.
  • 11.
    Video Profile A video profile is the key digital information needed to create a video file, such as the video codec, container, audio codec, resolution, and frame rate. Nero Recode provides standard video profile settings, depending on the device on which the video will be played. Each profile can be fine-tuned or completely customized and even saved as new custom profile. Custom profiles can be shared with friends and re-imported into Nero Recode.
  • 12.
    Video Image QualityFactors Aside from the actual shooting conditions, video image quality depends on a number of factors. The most important factors are resolution (the higher, the better), bit rate (the higher, the better) and codec (the right codec means great results). Of course, the higher the resolution and bit rate, the larger the file size, so it’s important to choose the right profiles for the device used. Nero Recode provides a large selection of profiles, as well as easy ways to adjust video settings for the best quality.
  • 13.
    Quality Factor The quality factor defines whether a video’s bit rate is low, good, or too high. The quality factor is defined by the number of bits per pixel per frame to be encoded (Bits/(Pixel*Frame)). The quality factor is an indicative value and may differ depending on the source.
  • 14.
    Streaming Streaming refers tothe continuous transmission of data that can already be played during the transmission procedure. This means that it is not necessary to wait until a media file has been transmitted completely before it can be played back. A TV channel can be received and displayed at the same time without it first having to be saved to the hard drive.
  • 15.
    Hardware accelerated AVCtranscoding (GPGPU) GPGPU stands for ‘general-purpose computing on graphics processing units’. Modern GPUs can perform computation in applications traditionally handled by the CPU. All major vendors have GPGPU based models on the market. Nero Recode supports any graphics card that supports hardware accelerated AVC encoding (Nvidia CUDATM, AMD App Acceleration, Intel® Quick Sync Video) and helps video get transcoded up to 4 times faster.
  • 16.
    www. .com