-->
Save your FREE seat for Streaming Media Connect in November. Register Now!

Encoding for Multiple Screens? Rule Number One: Use H.264

Article Featured Image

To support viewers using a variety of devices -- and to maximize the revenues they get from their videos -- it's crucial now for publishers to make sure their videos play on multiple screens. As StreamingMedia.com contributor Jan Ozer explained at the recent Streaming Media East conference in New York City, there's one clear way to start: Use H.264.

"If you want to access all multiple screens today, use H.264," Ozer said. "It's a high-quality compression technology; plays pretty much everywhere in a bunch of different ways -- Flash, QuickTime, Silverlight. It plays in most HTML5 browsers except for Firefox and Opera. It plays natively on all mobile devices and all OTT devices. If you're going to encode for multiple screen delivery, rule number one: Use H.264."

After publishers have chosen H.264, they still need to select the right encoding profile to satisfy the most viewers.

"The thing you need to know about H.264 is that from a compatibility perspective -- meaning where will the file you create play -- the most important characteristic that you need to configure in is the profile," Ozer explained. "There's three profiles -- there's Baseline, Main, and High -- and this is a control you will see on pretty much every encoding tool that you use for any kind of encoding of H.264 files."

For much more on encoding for multiple screens, watch the video below and download Ozer's presentation.

 

How To: Encoding For Multiple Screens

Most publishers today have to distribute to three sets of screens: desktop, mobile, and TV. This session will start by detailing the playback capabilities and technology compatibilities of all three platforms. Then it will explore the technical issues and feasibility of producing one set of streams for all platforms, including how technologies like transmuxing and live transcoding can simplify the overall distribution workflow.

Speaker: Jan Ozer, Principal, Doceo Publishing

Streaming Covers
Free
for qualified subscribers
Subscribe Now Current Issue Past Issues
Related Articles

One to Many: Streaming Live Video to Multiple Platforms

If you're delivering a live video stream, you likely want to publish it on as many platforms as possible. Here's the best hardware and software to pull it off.

Evaluation Crowns FFmpeg the King of the H.264 Encoders

FFmpeg might be a free download, but there's still a cost that goes with it. Robert Reinhardt explains why this encoder isn't right for every company.

How to Produce High-Quality H.264 Video Files

It's time for an H.264 tune-up. Lean how choose the right encoding tool and optimize H.264 encodes for ideal quality and device compatibility.

What to Look for in an H.264 Video Encoder

Today's video encoders are mostly similar and mostly good, said Robert Reinhardt at Streaming Media East. Still, there are a few features to seek out.