Announcing New AWS Elemental MediaConvert Features for Accelerated Transcoding, DASH, and AVC Video Quality

Today, AWS Elemental MediaConvert adds support for several new features, including improved video quality with single- and multi-pass HQ (High Quality) encoding for H.264 (AVC), expanded Accelerated Transcoding capabilities, and the On Demand profile for DASH output groups.

With improvements to “Single-Pass HQ” and “Multi-Pass HQ” using AVC (Advanced Video Coding), better video quality (VQ) can be achieved compared to previous outputs without increasing the peak bitrate, or the same VQ can be achieved with a lower peak bitrate. Greater compression efficiency reduces storage and delivery costs, and improved VQ increases viewer satisfaction.

Accelerated Transcoding has two new features. First is the ability to frame capture JPEG files for jobs with Accelerated Transcoding enabled, generating thumbnails for video outputs that can be used for metadata or other purposes with the benefit of faster turnaround times. In addition, Accelerated Transcoding has a new “Preferred” mode, where jobs that don’t qualify for acceleration fall back to standard transcoding mode rather than failing. This eases operations as transcoding jobs are resubmitted automatically without any intervention.

Finally, the On Demand profile is available to DASH (Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over HTTP) output groups. To use this profile, simply set the MPD (Media Presentation Description) manifest profile to “On-demand” instead of “Main.” This setting increases compatibility with DASH players and DASH-capable devices, broadening your streaming options.

With AWS Elemental MediaConvert, video providers with any size content library can easily and reliably transcode on-demand content for broadcast and multiscreen delivery. MediaConvert functions independently or as part of AWS Elemental Media Services, a family of services that form the foundation of cloud-based workflows and offer the capabilities needed to transport, transcode, package, and deliver video.

Visit the AWS region table for a full list of AWS Regions where AWS Elemental MediaConvert is available. To learn more about MediaConvert, please visit https://aws.amazon.com/mediaconvert/.