Normal

thumbnail_Arushi_.webp

Arushi_.webp

Arushi Gupta

large_api-video-blog-video-trends.png

medium_api-video-blog-video-trends.png

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Video trends


As the calendar inches closer to June 2024, an important event is on the horizon—the retirement of Azure Media Services. The countdown has begun, and making a smart choice isn't just advisable; it's crucial. 
Join us as we look at the few things you must keep in mind before making the shift. 

## What to look for in your Azure Media Services alternative

Here are a few things you must keep in mind before narrowing down on a solution before the Azure Media Services retirement. 

### 1. A straight-forward migration process
Often undermined, this is an important thing to consider before you choose your alternative. Focus on finding a platform that makes migrating simple and stress-free. You definitely do not want to get overwhelmed with all the information and break your head over the migration details. 

 
&nbsp;

So, look for a service provider that offers comprehensive migration tools, documentation, and support to ensure minimal disruption during the transition. The chosen platform should be able to offer, at the least, 

 
&nbsp;

- Detailed guides or tutorials, assisting you in exporting your existing data from Azure and importing it into the new environment. 
- Compatibility with common media file formats and codecs used in Azure to minimise the need for extensive file format conversions during migration. 
Overall, prioritize a provider that has user-friendly migration tools and ensures that your valuable media assets make the switch to the new platform without any hiccups.

### 2. VOD and Live Streaming Capabilities
Evaluate the alternative platform's capabilities in supporting Video-on-demand (VOD) and live streaming. Ensure that the chosen solution aligns with your content delivery requirements, offering features for both pre-recorded videos and live broadcasts.
 
&nbsp;

- For Video on Demand (VOD), check whether the platform provides efficient tools for managing and delivering pre-recorded videos. Look for features such as customizable playlists, easy content organization, and options for monetization if applicable.

 
&nbsp;

- For live streaming, focus on the platform's ability to handle real-time broadcasts seamlessly. Consider factors like low latency, high-quality streaming, and the ease of setting up and managing live events. Ensure that the platform aligns with your livestreaming requirements, whether it involves hosting webinars, live gaming, or any other form of real-time content delivery.


### 3. Video Player Integration

A crucial aspect of your migration is the integration of a reliable video player. Check if the solution you choose integrates well with industry-standard video players. It should,

 
&nbsp;

- Be compatible with a wide range of video players to ensure flexibility and accessibility for your audience. 
Support adaptive streaming, enabling smooth playback across different internet speeds and devices. 
- Be able to offer customizable player controls, allowing you to tailor the viewer's interaction based on your content and branding preferences.
- Support advanced features such as closed captions, subtitles, and multi-language support. 

### 4. Cost Effectiveness
Cost considerations play a pivotal role in selecting your Azure Media Services alternative. Compare pricing structures to ensure that the solution you choose offers a cost-effective solution tailored to your specific needs. 

 
&nbsp;

- For instance, a platform that includes adaptive bitrate encoding at no additional cost can result in significant savings, especially if your content demands high-quality streaming.
- Factor in the total cost of ownership, considering not only the initial migration but also the ongoing expenses associated with hosting, transcoding, and delivering your media content.
- Check for [transparent pricing models](https://api.video/pricing/), avoiding hidden fees that might escalate costs unexpectedly.

## 3 reasons why api.video could be an ideal choice as an Azure Media Services alternative

Let us look at a few [convincing reasons](https://api.video/blog/video-trends/migrate-to-api-video-from-azure/) to migrate to api.video.

### 1. Cost-efficiency

Let's compare the encoding costs for 10,000 minutes of video at 4K resolution. 

 
&nbsp;

Azure demands $600 for this task, as revealed by the Azure Pricing Calculator. 

 
&nbsp;

On the other hand, api.video takes zero cost to encode your videos. This is because encoding is completely free with api.video, whether it is 10,000 minutes of video or 20,000; 480p resolution or 4K.

### 2. Expedited ingestion speeds with api.video

You will notice a substantial boost in ingestion speed when comparing the upload and transcoding of an 18.7Mb file on both platforms. 

 
&nbsp;

Azure takes 1 minute and 13 seconds for transcoding alone, while api.video accomplishes the entire job in just 30 seconds. 

### 3. Easy-to-follow documentation

Navigating the intricacies of uploading, encoding, and transcoding videos on Azure can be a complex and tedious process. In contrast, api.video has an intuitive interface and documentation that is not only easy to comprehend but also quick to execute. Explore the following links to witness the simplicity for yourself:

 
&nbsp;

- Upload and encode a video with [api.video](https://docs.api.video/vod/upload-a-video-regular-upload)
- Upload and encode a video with [Azure Media Services](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/media-services/latest/asset-upload-media-how-to)

 
&nbsp;

Moreover, the migration of content from Azure Media Services to api.video is extremely easy and can be done either through their import tool or using your own script. 

 
&nbsp;

The best part?

### Migration with api.video comes at zero cost.
 
&nbsp;


To conclude, finding an alternate to Azure is also about finding a seamless transition that aligns with your needs and pushes your content delivery forward. Time is of the essence—act before the final chime in June.

 
&nbsp;

_If you have any questions regarding the migration to api.video, [book a call with us](https://meetings.hubspot.com/apivideo/talk-to-us) — we are here to help you. You can also go to our [comparison page](https://api.video/compare/azure-media-services/) for more information or [sign-up](https://dashboard.api.video/register) for a free sandbox account to test us out for free._


Azure Media Services retirement: It’s time to choose an alternative

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Artem Matinian

With the upcoming [retirement of Azure Media Services in mid-2024](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/media-services/latest/azure-media-services-retirement), you may be wondering about what to do next. But worry not, because we  have a better and a far more affordable option for you! In this article, we will discuss seamless migration options from Azure to [api.video](https://api.video), give you reasons as to why you should be doing it, and also explain to you a simplified process to execute the migration. 

&nbsp;

Let’s get started. 

## Why should I migrate from Azure Media Services to api.video?

First things first, why should you think about migrating to api.video? What is the benefit? How is it better? 

&nbsp;

Well, let me answer all these questions with some solid facts.

### 1. api.video charges you zero cost for adaptive bitrate encoding

Let’s understand this with an example where we compare the encoding of 10,000 minutes at 4K resolution. 

&nbsp;

Azure takes **$600** to encode a video of 10,000 minutes at a 4K resolution as you can see in the image below (_source:_ [Azure Pricing Calculator](https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/pricing/calculator/?service=media-services)).

azure-media-services-pricing.png

On the other hand, api.video takes ZERO cost to encode your videos. Yes, encoding is completely free with api.video, whether it is 10,000 minutes of video or 20,000; 480p resolution or 4K – it is absolutely free. 
 
 &nbsp;

_Check our pricing calculator to learn more about our [pricing](https://api.video/pricing/)._

api-video-pricing-snapshot.png

### 2. **Ingestion speed with [api.video](https://api.video) is way better than that with Azure.**

Let’s understand this by uploading and transcoding the same 18.7Mb file to Azure and api.video.

&nbsp;

When you transcode a video with Azure, the time it takes to do the job is 1 minutes and 13 seconds. Note that this is just time taken for transcoding, and I have not yet included the upload time here. 

azure-media-services-transcoding-time.png

When you upload *and* transcode the same video with api.video, the time it takes to do the job is JUST 30 seconds. 

image (5).png

### 3. **Ease of use of [api.video](https://api.video) surpasses that of Azure**

The process to upload, encode and transcode videos at Azure is complex and often tedious to execute. api.video, on the other hand, has built an interface and documentation that is easy to understand and quick to execute. To validate what we claim, do give the below mentioned links a read and know it for yourself. 🙂

<div id="migration-steps"/>

- **api.video:** [Upload and encode a video with api.video](https://docs.api.video/vod/upload-a-video-regular-upload)
- **Azure**: [Upload and encode a video with Azure Media Services](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/media-services/latest/asset-upload-media-how-to)


&nbsp;

Sounds good? If yes, then let’s move to the actual migration steps.


## Migration steps to move from Azure to api.video

If you’ve made up your mind to make the shift, let’s understand the migration steps involved in it to move all your data from Azure Media Services to api.video. 

You can also migrate your videos directly through our [Import Tool](https://import.api.video/). 

&nbsp;

Here's a quick video explaining how to navigate through the Import Tool.

To start with the migration steps, let us look at a ready script in Node.js for you to follow. Before you start the script, make sure you clone the Azure Media Service to api.video migration [script] from (https://github.com/apivideo/azure-media-services-api-video-migration) Github. Once you do that, you can follow the guide below.

&nbsp;

Let’s understand what the script is doing.

&nbsp;

1. The script will check for all assets in your Azure Media Service Instance
2. It will get the Storage containers and list the blobs for these storage containers
3. Because of the way Azure is encoding their videos, the script will take the file with the highest resolution (in order not to duplicate the files)
4. Once it gets the list, it will create a video object with the name same as the blob and set the source to the Azure storage URL 
5. The file will then be uploaded and encoded with api.video

&nbsp;

You can also navigate to the api.video documentation to get more information about how each endpoint works. You can also check the [api.video api reference](https://docs.api.video/reference) or the [api.video guides](https://docs.api.video/) for more details.

&nbsp;

*Note that the script does not automatically delete the files from your Azure Storage or Azure Media Services, you will have to do that manually. If you wish to keep the sources on Azure Account Storage as backup, you are also welcome to do so.*

## Using the migration script

Here are the steps to use the script to migrate from Azure to api.video.

&nbsp;

1. First, import the modules that are needed, such as:
-    `@api.video/nodejs-client` - api.video node.js client, in order to create the video object, upload and encode the video
-    `@azure/identity` - access Azure services
-    `@azure/arm-mediaservices` - client to access Azure media services

&nbsp;

2. Next, pass in credentials that you get from Azure Media Services to the client and the [api.video](https://api.video) client

&nbsp;


3. Note that in the previous step, you will also need to update the `.env` file and grab the parameters from Azure. In order to do that, navigate to your Azure Media Service, and select the directory that you would like to migrate.

azure-media-services-migration-directory.png

4. Select API keys and copy over the parameters presented in the `.ENV` pane (you can select either **User Authentication** or ****Service principal authentication)****
    
 

azure-media-services-api-access.png

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5. Next, to get access to the storage, navigate to the **Azure Storage Account** → **Shared access signature**:

Azure Media Services Shared Access Signature

azure-media-services-shared-access-signature.png

azure-media-services-permissions.png

7. Make sure that you generate the Shared access signature and once you have the links, copy the Blob service SAS URL link to the `.env` file. The parameter you are looking for is `REMOTESTORAGEACCOUNTSAS`

Azure Media Services Blob Service SAS URL

azure-media-services-blob-service-sas-url.png

8. Add the api.video API key to the `.env` file by navigating to the api.video [dashboard](https://dashboard.api.video/project-settings/api-keys) and copy the API key value

api-video-api-key-dashboard.png

9. Now, run `npm install` in the terminal in order to install all of the node modules
10. Run `npm run build`
11. Run `npm run start` in order to start the migration script
12. Sit back and relax 🙂

## Conclusion

Well, that was it! Yes, it was that simple. 

&nbsp;

We hope that you choose wisely as you weigh the strengths of Azure and api.video. However, if you consider factors like scalability, customization options, pricing, and developer friendly API, api.video comes out to be a clear winner.

&nbsp;

If you still have any questions regarding the migration, [book a call with us](https://meetings.hubspot.com/apivideo/talk-to-us) — we are here to help you. Or [sign-up for a free sandbox account](https://dashboard.api.video/register) to test us out for free.

&nbsp;

So, are you ready to make your life easier with this painless migration process?

Migrate from Azure Media Services to api.video

How to migrate from Azure Media Services to api.video

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Analytics

Video Sessions (Analytics)

Doug Sillars

Tutorials

In the classic movie *Field of Dreams*, a mysterious voice whispers to Kevin Costner “if you build it, they will come.”  


<video autoplay muted loop>
		<source src="https://media.giphy.com/media/gZuxOq7zSL5DO/giphy.mp4">
</video><br/><br/>


His belief of this statement completely transformed his life and drove him to build a baseball stadium in the middle of a cornfield in Iowa… and they came…<br/>


<video autoplay muted loop>
		<source src="https://media.giphy.com/media/z3WMjg3hu3ce4/giphy.mp4">
</video><br/><br/>


## If you Stream it...

You've created some awesome videos, and uploaded them to api.video.  Great work - it looks awesome.  

Here is a video that we posted in our blog post announcing our new video player:

<iframe src="https://embed.api.video/vod/viTLpKB231ATWOWjkHgi9bf#autoplay#loop" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>
<br/><br/>

## ...Who will come?

Eventually you want to know, how many people came to see my video?  What can I learn about them? Enter api.video’s powerful [video analytics](https://docs.api.video/reference/api/Analytics) API. Using the API, we can transfer all of the view data form our videos into our favourite database, and learn about the viewers of our videos.

Let’s start with grabbing the viewing details for a video. In this case, I’ll use this Planets video that my daughter recorded for her class on astronomy:

<iframe src="https://embed.api.video/vod/vi16NDdXmGxk5QSggW54qw0v#autoplay#loop"  frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>

The url for this video is: https://embed.api.video/vod/vi16NDdXmGxk5QSggW54qw0v

First I must [authenticate](https://api.video/blog/tutorials/authentication-tutorial/) myself at API.video, and I receive an access token that is good for an hour.

With the token, I can use the videoId to request all of the view information about my video with the [analytics API](https://docs.api.video/reference/api/Analytics).  The videoId for the video is the value at the end of the url (vi16NDdXmGxk5QSggW54qw0v):




In this case, I am requesting 25 results per page, and page one of the data.  That’s actually fine, since I know there are only 19 views on this video.  

The JSON result is pretty long, but here is what one entry looks like:


To me, this is super cool.  A person in Vietnam, using Firefox on Ubuntu, watched this video in June!  And there are 18 more of these to look at and to parse.

### Demo

We have created a demo that takes a videoId and counts the country, device and browser for each view, and places the results on a page. You can try it out at [whoswatched.a.video](https://whoswatched.a.video).

In order to look at the data, I am going to suck the JSON file into Couchbase - a database that uses JSON to create a "table" format similar to SQL. This will allow me to run queries on the JSON much like one would run a database query.

### Creating a database in Couchbase:

Download and install [Couchbase](https://www.couchbase.com/) on your computer.  When the install is complete, you’ll have an admin dashboard open in your browser (on my Mac it is running on localhost:8901).  We’d like to add in our api.video JSON file into a data bucket.  To create the bucket - navigate to the Bucket section and click the "ADD BUCKET" button. I have the memory set at the minimum 100 MB (there are all of 19 entries after all!).


Great - now we have our data bucket added.  Now we’ll want to import the JSON from api.video, so we can do our analysis.  This is done in the terminal using the ```cbimport``` command:

My username is Administrator with password 123456 (Google Chrome is mighty peeved about my use of an insecure password on localhost), adding a json file into the videoStats bucket.  Each video view has a sessionId, so I use that as a unique key.

I get a success message in my terminal, and looking back at the Couchbase admin panel under Documents, I can see each entry from the JSON has been added:


Now we must index the data. In the Query Editor, enter:

Now we can do data analysis of our video views. For example, to understand the number of views per country:

That’s pretty cool!  


## Live Stream Analytics

We can do exactly the same thing with live stream analytics. Note: these only show “views” of a live stream.  If you run a live stream and no one watches - there will be no analytics reported.  Further - if your live streams are saved as video on demand (VOD) for later use - any VOD analytics are saved with the newly created VOD video, and will have no connection to the original live stream.

Let’s look at a live stream that has a number of views.  On the [api.video](https://api.video) homepage, we have a demo that allows you to livestream right from the homepage.  The live streamer then “watches” their stream in the browser at the same time that they are broadcasting - guaranteeing that every live stream gets at least one viewer (in the same location as the live streamer!)

The API call is similar to that of the VOD request, I just use the 'live-streams' endpoint as opposed to the 'videos' endpoint I used above.

### GeoLocation  


The live stream demo is hosted in North America and in Europe, and we use geolocation to direct our users to the correct server. Let’s see how well our load balancers are doing. Traffic directed to North America is on the left, and European traffic is on the right:


It looks like our load balancing is doing a bang up job. :)


Combining the two sets of data (I just created a new bucket with all the data added) allows us to see that api.video’s home page has been live streaming all around the world:


### Devices & browsers

Most of the streams are from desktop machines. All 28 phone instances correspond directly to 28 Android devices.(This is due to a limitation in Safari that prevents the demo from working on any iOS device.)  Of our Android users, we see 25 using Chrome, 1 Samsung Internet, 1 Opera (and one hidden variant.)

Desktop users are mostly Windows and Mac (and pretty evenly distributed), but also a good number on Linux/Ubuntu).


## Conclusion


The video analytics offered by api.video allow you to better understand who is consuming your content. In this post, we've walked through the steps to extract the data using the Analytics API in JSON format, and then ingested the data into a database for fast and easy queries.  

We used this data to see how the live stream demo on the api.video home page was used in July 2020.

How are you using api.video's analytics? Drop us a note in the [community forum](https://community.api.video) with your use cases!

Analytics with api.video

JavaScript

NodeJS

A chyron is the text that appears at the bottom of the TV on news channels telling viewers the topic being discussed.  You might want to add a chyron to your live stream or to your video on demand (VOD).  In this post, we'll walk through the steps to add a chyron to your video.





## Chyron a video

The application (which will soon be published at chyron.a.video) extends https://record.a.video. You can read about how we built record.a.video in a [series of blog posts](https://api.video/blog/tutorials/grabbing-camera-streams-with-mediadevices-getusermedia/).  This application allows you to share your camera and your desktop, and creates a live stream or VOD recording of what you have shared.

We'll extend this by adding an icon to the left of the chyron (in the same approach as [watermark.a.video](https://api.video/blog/tutorials/watermarking-your-videos/). We'll then add a stripe over the video that the text will appear on.

## The code

The HTML adds 2 fields to the form: one for the logo url, and the 2nd for the text to be placed in the chyron. Along with some CSS, we style the form:

```
    <div class="settingHeadings">
                Chyron<br/>
            </div>
            <div id="watermark">
                <label for="watermark-url">image for chyron</label> 
                <input type="text" id="watermark-url" value="http://localhost:3037/API.PNG"><br/>
                <label for="chyron-text">text for chyron</label> 
                <input type="text" id="chyron-text" value="Your text here.">
            </div>
```

### Starting the playback

When the stream is started, we add a few features to the canvas:

```
//chyron
        canvas.drawImage(watermarkImg, watermark_x, watermark_y);
        canvas.fillStyle='#fa4b2a'; 
        canvas.fillRect(chyron_x,chyron_y, chyron_length, chyron_height);
        canvas.fillStyle='#ffffff'; 
        canvas.font = "60px Arial";
        ctx.fillText(document.getElementById("chyron-text").value, chyronText_x, chyronText_y);
```

First we draw the icon (with variable name watermark) with the x,y positions hardcoded inthe JS.  We assume the size of the icon is 100x100.

Next we add a rectangle with fill color #fa4b2a (orange) that appears across the bottom of the screen.  

Then we change the fill color to white (#ffffff), and add the text from the form field.

These canvas events are all within a loop that fires every 20ms, or about 50 frames per second.  Since our video is capturing at a lower framerate than that, it will appear to update instantaneously.

## See it in action


In the video above, as the text on the browser window changes, so does the text in the chyron.  With 2 displays, you can now produce a live stream or VOD video with a chyron bar at the bottom of the screen.

## Try it yourself

The code for chyron a video is on [Github](https://github.com/dougsillars/chyronavideo). It's super easy to launch locally with NodeJS, and by changing the variables for the canvas colour and fill, you can easily adjust the font and look of the chyron to fit your requirements.

In this post, we've gone through the steps taken to convert record.a.video into a video with a chyron. You may have even learned what a chyron is :).

Let us know what you think, and how you've changed the app to customize your chyron in you VOD or livestream in our [developer community](https://community.api.video)

Adding a chyron to your video: Look like the news!

chyron-example.jpeg

api.video

Product updates

Did you know that once you become an [api.video](https://api.video) customer, you have the power to activate even more features?

&nbsp;

Yes, additional features we call ‘Add-Ons’.

&nbsp;

As it must be clear by the word itself, the Add-Ons offer you a wide set of ‘additional’ services that you can purchase to unlock the full potential of your video experience with api.video. The Add-Ons are primarily useful for teams looking to grow and scale faster.

&nbsp;

There are four Add-Ons that you get when you become a customer of api.video:

&nbsp;

- Projects
- Members
- Custom Domains
- Analytics

&nbsp;

Let’s look at them one by one.


## Projects

A ‘Project’ is a container within your workspace that allows you to isolate a set of videos, live streams, and player themes. Each Project holds its own API keys for authentication.

&nbsp;

Creating different Projects is especially helpful if you want to create a clear separation between different customers, companies, or even working environments. The way you choose to organize your videos, streams, and players with Projects will be completely at your disposal.


## Members

A ‘Member’ is any person who can access the api.video service. So, you can make others a member of your project and grant them the ability to access and contribute towards effective collaboration and communication.

&nbsp;

A ‘Member’ is any person who can access the api.video service. So, you can make others a member of your project and grant them the ability to access and contribute towards effective collaboration and communication.

&nbsp;

There are two types of members you can add to your projects:**

&nbsp;

**Owner**: One owner can be added to a single workspace and represents the person who owns the account. He/she can view the account's billing details, change the payment method, and is the only one that can transfer ownership.

&nbsp;

**Collaborators**: It is possible to add as many collaborators as you want per account, to a project. You can invite and work together with collaborators in the common workspace.


## Custom Domains

‘Custom Domains’ is a feature that lets you stream videos or live streams from your own domain (such as videos.yourdomain.com/ or livestreams.yourdomain.com/).

&nbsp;

It lets you brand your video URL, comply with network security and increase your SEO ranking.


## Analytics (Limited offer)

Analytics is an Add-On that allows you to see how your videos and streams are performing. It shows you the number of plays, how your videos perform in each country, device, and many other things through your dashboard.

&nbsp;

You can use this Add-On for free as a part of our free trial ending on July 28, 2023. 

&nbsp;

_Do [check it out ](https://dashboard.api.video/register)and use it to your advantage for these bonus days!_


## How are the Add-Ons helpful

Add-Ons can prove really helpful if you wish to optimize the complete potential of api.video. Here are some of the things you can achieve with Add-Ons:

&nbsp;

- Maximise your productivity by managing your customers via dedicated customer video libraries, and inviting collaborator members.
- Save on monthly fees by managing multiple production environments and accesses under a single workspace.
- Maximise your efficiency by facilitating coordination between your creators, editors, reviewers, and publishers, and encourage your customers’ firewall management with Custom Domains.
- Save the extra investment on Video Asset Management (VAM), Production Asset Management (PAM), and other Digital Asset Management (DAM) tools.
- Optimise your revenue by looking at the usage per project and maximizing the profit with your customers using Analytics.

## How to use Add-Ons for your business

Let me share examples of how Add-Ons can be used in three different industries. 

&nbsp;

**E-Learning:** If you are an e-learning platform or website, Projects can be useful to classify content and streams based on classrooms, teachers, or mandatory and pre-requisite learnings. Teachers or tutors of the platform can be added as Collaborators so that they can upload tutorials, lessons or conduct a class via live- streaming. Additionally, Custom Domains can help you manage multiple e-schools and their specific firewall requirements. 

&nbsp;

**Social Media**: If you are a social media platform, Projects can be helpful to classify content and streams based on brands and targeted destinations. Collaborators, who are often content creators, can easily upload videos via their dashboard, allowing non-technical people to assist in the process. Lastly, Custom Domains can be used to protect and maintain the brand identity through personalized domains.

&nbsp;

**Marketplace:** If you are a marketplace, you can use Projects to monetize your services based on your end customers' usage and maximize your profits. Influencers and content creators can be added as Members to your workspace and Custom Domains can be used to retain and establish the brand identity.

&nbsp;

To conclude, Add-Ons will be immensely helpful if you want to extract the maximum output from api.video tools. Use the Add-Ons to facilitate important business decisions, analyse your videos’ performance and collaborate for your ongoing projects.  

&nbsp;

_To try out Add-Ons before subscribing, [sign-up](https://dashboard.api.video/register) for a free via Sandbox account now!_

Unlock the complete potential of api.video using Add-Ons

addons_cover.jpg

video create

doug.jpg

Doug Twitter

api-video-blog-tutorials.png

## Migrating your videos to api.video from another video provider like Vimeo

If you are launching a new service with video - starting up with api.video is easy - you can just start adding your videos with our API, and everything works great. The best part? You don't need to pay any encoding fees. You migrate for free without paying any entry tax - or rather, encoding fees. 

But, many of our customers have video content stored elsewhere.  They’d rather not support 2 video services, and begin looking at migration options for their videos from <old service> to api.video.  In this post, we will walk through the steps to copy any video source url to api.video.  In this case, we will use the Vimeo API to show how to access the source URL from Vimeo.

> if you are planning a large video migration from Vimeo (or any other provider), please give us a heads up so that we can ensure we have enough video encoding resources for our other customers.  


##  Getting the source url from Vimeo

To upload your videos to api.video, you’ll need to get the source urls. In this example, we’ll use Vimeo as the example provider, but many other video providers provide similar access.  

Using the Vimeo API, you’ll need to authenticate with a method that allows for [private data](https://developer.vimeo.com/api/authentication#understanding-auth-workflows), and then access the video endpoint for the video you’d like to transfer.  The [response of the query](https://developer.vimeo.com/api/reference/responses/video) will include a series of video links. 

There is a version for each encoding of the video.  In most cases, you’ll want the ```source``` url, as your original file is of the highest quality of the versions available.  Now that you have the source URL of your video at Vimeo, you are ready to transfer the file to api.video.

But, before you go ahead and do that, you might want to also access any other data you might want to bring across to api.video.  This could include the ```public_name```, ```description```, any ```metadata``` you might have saved, the ```pictures.uri``` of the poster image, and any ```tags``` you might have associated with the video.

## Create your video at api.video.

Now that you have a URL for the video, and all the metadata you might want to add to your ‘new’ video, we’re ready to [create a video](https://docs.api.video/reference/api/Videos#create-a-video-object) at api.video.  This endpoint requires a [token](https://docs.api.video/reference/api/Advanced-authentication#get-bearer-token), but if you are using one of our [SDKs](https://docs.api.video/), all you need is your API key.

When uploading a video, you’d first create the video, and then upload the file in a second step. But, we have a URL, so you can add the video source to the create API, and the video will be transferred asynchronously with just one API call.

When you create a video, you supply the ```source``` url to begin the upload, but you can also populate the ```title```, ``` description```, ```metadata``` and ```tag``` attributes straight from the data you extracted from your previous video provider.  

Once you call the create endpoint, the API call will return the videoId of your new api.video video.  You can now make a second call to the [upload a thumbnail](https://docs.api.video/reference/api/Videos#upload-a-thumbnail) endpoint with the videoId and url of the thumbnail.  This will ensure that the poster for your video is exactly the same as it was with your previous video provider.

That’s all there is to it!  You’ve now moved your first video from Vimeo to api.video, and you can automate the entire process for the migration.

## Conclusion

If you have a URL for your video’s source, you can automate the migration of your videos from your current video provider to api.video.  With just a few simple API calls, you can have all of your videos transferred to api.video with just a few calls for each video.


Migrating your videos to api.video

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Jean-Baptiste

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api.video recently announced that it now offers [free encoding for all its users](https://api.video/blog/product-updates/video-encoding-pricing-update/)—a bold move perfectly aligned with our mission to democratize videos. 

&nbsp;

As a next step and to make things more transparent, we decided to take the help of some numbers and explain it to you.

&nbsp;

The natural thought behind video encoding is that it is expensive. That is mainly because encoding workloads demand substantial CPU resources, and CPUs can be quite costly. Consequently, encoding has traditionally incurred high costs and the higher the video resolution, the greater the CPU requirements, directly impacting encoding expenses. It seems logical that pricing should correlate with these factors, which is what experts typically anticipate.

&nbsp;

But that is not always the case. Read on to learn how we, at api.video, are making it possible to scrap video encoding costs for you all. 

## We build our own infrastructure
There are two common routes you can take for video encoding - Central Processing Units (CPUs) or Graphic Processing Units (GPUs). But let us accept that they are both not very affordable. Moreover, datacenter GPUs aren't primarily designed for video encoding but are rather now targeting AI tasks. And considering the popularity of AI, cloud providers are unlikely to reduce GPU prices because they can command higher rates from AI customers. That’s when a new alternative comes in: Application-Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs). These are specialized chips (Video Processing Units) designed for specific workloads and have been recently in news due to Google developing its own VPU for YouTube called Argos.

&nbsp;

At api.video, we build our own infrastructure that has the most advanced VPUs. With these VPUs, we are able to save power consumption costs since the power consumption cost of VPUs is one order of magnitude lower than CPUs and GPUs. It is also easily possible to pack a lot of them in a single server. This increases their density and therefore, reduces the number of servers. 

&nbsp;

In a nutshell, VPUs help you to encode videos at scale without costing you too much, and that is exactly why we at api.video, made the move to use VPUs for video encoding.  

## Understanding encoding costs on VPUs

api.video uses VPUs built by [Netint Technologies](https://netint.com/). Let's understand the costs with a 1080p30 video. To simplify the case, I will assume the source video codec is h.264. The output videos after transcoding will be five h.264 renditions for ABR: 1080p30, 720p30, 480p30, 360p30, 240p30.

&nbsp;

For a real time transcoding, let's try to sum up the number of MP/s (Megapixel per second) it represents. For the above output, it represents 62 MP/s + 28 MP/s + 12MP/s + 7MP/s + 3MP/s respectively for 1080p30, 720p30, 480p30, 360p30, 240p30 renditions. We need an encoding capacity of 112 MP/s for real time transcoding. Let us assume that the transcoding cost on VPUs is proportional to the number of pixel per frame (whatever the frame resolution) for the sake of simplicity and one VPU of Netint is able to encode 2000 MP/s in h.264. In reality it is a bit more complex but let’s take these as the numbers for a rough idea. 

&nbsp;

Now, as per the above assumptions, we can encode 2000/112 = 17 minutes of videos (all rendition included) per minute. Below is a table summarizing the minute cost for a server with 4 VPUs. The cost of the server is $10k and the amortization for such a server is 3 years. The electricity cost will be approx. $1000 per year (420w at $0.30 / kWh) at full consumption. Let us see what is the cost of 1 minute of a 1080p30 video transcoded to 5 renditions.

&nbsp;

(The cost is split taking into consideration the average usage of the server per day)

&nbsp;

| Avg. usage of the server in percentage | Minutes encoded over the amortization period | Cost per minute transcoded (minutes / cost of server + electricity) in $
| ------------- | ------------- | ------------- |
| 0,50%       | 536112       | 0,020
| 5%   | 5361120        | 0,002
| 25%   | 26805600        | 0,0004
| 50%   | 53611200        | 0,0002
| 90%   | 96500160        | 0,0001

&nbsp;

If we use the server at only 0.5% per day (i.e ~7 min per day fully loaded) the cost per minute would be at $0,020.

&nbsp;

If on an average, this server is loaded at 25% (6 hours a day) the cost per minute would be 1/150 of our previous price.

### What about video quality?
Hardware encoded is always associated with quality losses in the head of many video engineers. But that was probably the case decades ago.

&nbsp;

Not anymore.

&nbsp;

Let’s see how VPUs compete with CPUs in terms of quality by taking a video under [Creative Commons license](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creative_Commons): Caminandes 2.

&nbsp;

We have uploaded its 1080p30 version via our API and will compare the quality output with a CPU encoded video with this option **-b:v 4400k -preset medium** These parameters generate a rather good quality.

&nbsp;

**ffmpeg -r 30 -y -i input.mp4 -c:v libx264 -force_key_frames 'expr:gte(t,n_forced*4)' -b:v 4400k -preset medium -c:a copy output.mp4**


&nbsp;

Here are the quality metrics (higher is better):

|                  | VMAF (avg) | PSNR (avg) | SSIM (avg) |
| ---------------- | ---------- | ---------- | ---------- |
| api.video (VPUs) | 95.92      | 48,07      | 0.9888     |
| ffmpeg (CPUs)    | 95.33    | 48.69      | 0.990     |


The quality metrics are very closed and report a high score. The VMAF is slightly better through VPU encoding.

&nbsp;

In conclusion, this pricing update reflects our commitment to enhance the video streaming experience for everyone - be it individuals or organizations looking to build their video solutions. We firmly believe that by making video streaming more accessible, we empower creators, businesses, and enthusiasts alike to embark on their video streaming journeys with ease. 

&nbsp;

_To know any other details, [talk to our team ](https://meetings.hubspot.com/apivideo/talk-to-us) and we are here to help you out._
 


Free video encoding: Let's talk numbers

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Emilien Gobillot

Company News

In today's world, where environmental responsibility is important, businesses are re-evaluating their impact on the planet. Sustainable practices are not just a choice; they're a responsibility. When it comes to video encoding, a crucial aspect of content delivery in our digital age, there's a technology that aligns perfectly with this responsibility - ASICs. These Application-Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs) not only promise more efficient video encoding but also contribute majorly to a lower carbon footprint.

&nbsp;

That’s why, api.video has gone forward and switched from CPU based encoding to ASICs based encoding.

&nbsp;

This blog is intended to tell you more about this switch. 

## The rise of ASICs in the video industry

In the past few years, the internet's growth sparked a rise in digital video demand. As platforms like YouTube and Netflix rose, companies leaned more toward CPU-based encoding due to its versatility. However, as streaming services gained popularity, CPU encoding's limitations started getting noticed. 

&nbsp;

Video encoding relying on CPU power is no longer a sustainable approach, as superior alternatives are now available that come without any compromises. A great example of this is Google. Google has developed its own Video Processing Unit (VPU) known as [Argos](https://9to5google.com/2021/04/22/youtube-google-custom-chip/) – a groundbreaking innovation. Through the integration of these VPUs, Google has significantly amplified transcoding capabilities per server, cut down operational expenses, reduced electricity consumption, and ultimately improved the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO). Following in Google's footsteps, Meta has also embraced this transformation. 

&nbsp;

What does this mean? It simply means that ASICs reduces the resource consumption of video encoding (see graph below) and that’s why companies are adopting it. 



Now what is the secret behind these VPUs that are replacing CPUs? VPUs are, in fact, ASICs-based chips specifically engineered for a singular purpose: decoding and encoding video frames. They support various codecs such as h.264, vp9, and AV1, among others. 

&nbsp;

Their power consumption is lower than that of CPUs, and their capacity is substantially greater. Consequently, you can expect VPUs to reduce electricity consumption by 10x to 100x, depending on the codec and the specific VPU in use.

&nbsp;

The best part is that the quality of the video output in VPUs matches that of CPU encoding. (We will delve into the technical details in an upcoming blog post.)

## What made us start ASIC based encoding at api.video

- ASICs also known as VPU (Video Processing Unit) are one order of magnitude more power efficient than CPU based transcoding. 

&nbsp;

- Using dedicated hardware allows us to increase the density which in turn reduces our environmental footprint. As a corollary, it increases our transcoding capacity.

&nbsp;

- Specialised hardware helps improve the TCO (Total Cost of Ownership). When we increase the capacity and density of a server, there is a fewer requirement of servers and less rack space. So it reduces capital expenditure and operational expenditure. 

## What does this mean for you as a customer

In today's environmentally conscious world, the impact of technology on our carbon footprint is a growing concern. This is where ASIC becomes a game-changer. 

&nbsp;

But, you might wonder, what can you, as a customer, gain from embracing ASICs technology?

&nbsp;

- **First and foremost, ASIC brings sustainability to the forefront.** By significantly reducing energy consumption compared to generic hardware, ASIC chips align perfectly with your green initiatives. Your carbon footprint shrinks, making a substantial contribution to a better environment.

&nbsp;

- **Secondly, [you get encoding at ZERO cost ](https://api.video/blog/product-updates/video-encoding-pricing-update/) with api.video.** Yes, it is because of ASICs that we are able to reduce our TCO and offer you video encoding at no cost. This means that if you choose api.video for video streaming, you save on the cost of encoding completely. 

&nbsp;

- **Thirdly, ASIC's efficiency translates to faster video processing.** This means that with ASIC’s optimized infrastructure, your complex videos are encoded faster. 

## Stepping into a greener future with ASICs

To create the environmentally responsible future we desire, changes in video encoding and distribution are imperative. ASICs-powered encoders represent a breakthrough, offering enhanced density, performance, and cost-efficiency. These advancements will ensure video applications to scale economically while significantly reducing their environmental footprint.

&nbsp;

With this initiative, let us pledge to make a greener and a better environment around us!

&nbsp;

_[Sign-up](https://api.video/) with api.video today or [talk to our team](https://meetings.hubspot.com/apivideo/talk-to-us) for more information._


Introducing ASICs-based encoding at api.video

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The comeback of specialized hardware

A Guide to Video Encoding & Video Codecs

How fast does api.video encode video? 2H 2020 data

ASICs-based encoding: Building a greener tomorrow through reduced carbon footprint

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Cédric Montet

At api.video, our goal is for video to be easy and affordable for anyone to build, be it individuals or organizations. We understand that achieving this goal means reducing costs at some stage of the video streaming process. That’s why, we now offer adaptive bitrate encoding for your videos at zero cost. 

&nbsp;

Yes, you heard me right. 

&nbsp;

**Encoding videos will be absolutely free for all video qualities (1080p or 4K) at [api.video](https://api.video/) - no hidden calculations, footer notes or tricks.**

(Check out this [video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ouosgLbW7Ts) for more details) 


## A step towards making video streaming affordable

Video encoding is crucial as it makes it possible for videos to be shared and played smoothly on the internet. It is why we are easily able to consume various types of video media, whether it’s a YouTube video, our favorite shows on Netflix, or even catching up with friends across the globe on Zoom. Video encoding basically makes the world go around in regards to anything related to video and video content.

&nbsp;

We at api.video recognize that. From [increasing the transcoding and playback speed ](https://api.video/blog/product-updates/2021-in-review/)to building [specialized hardware like ASICs](https://api.video/blog/video-trends/the-comeback-of-specialized-hardware/) cards to increase our transcoding capacities, we've been working to make video streaming easier for you every day. And after dedicating ample time to engaging with our customers and learning about their concerns, free encoding seemed to be the next step in this direction. 

&nbsp;

So, we worked tirelessly behind the scenes to give you what no one else will - free encoding for all video qualities, be it 360p or 4K. 

## How does free video encoding benefit you as a customer

The benefit is straightforward: you save a LOT of money!

&nbsp;

- With free video encoding, you will have one less thing to worry about. As you know, you pay for three things for streaming videos — encoding, hosting, and delivery – out of which encoding is the most expensive, especially if you have a lot of videos. Free video encoding will allow you to focus your attention and resources to what is most important.

&nbsp;

- As the video needs of your app users grow, you might need to scale up your encoding capacity. Free video encoding services will give you the power to scale without any additional costs, meaning your users can handle more videos without increasing your expenses.

&nbsp;

- You can [migrate from your previous provider to api.video](https://api.video/compare/azure-media-services/) without paying an ‘entry tax’ to us. With free video encoding, you no longer need to spend money on encoding videos with a new provider when you have already paid for encoding with an older one.

&nbsp;

Now with all the saved cost, you can allocate your resources and money to a place where it is actually important – building your product and delighting your users. 

## How to get started

To use the free video encoding benefit, getting started is easy. 

&nbsp;

- If you’re a new user, [sign-up](https://dashboard.api.video/register) for a free sandbox account and start uploading your videos
- If you are looking to migrate from another vendor, [import](https://import.api.video/) your videos from your current vendor
- If you have any questions, [talk to us](https://meetings.hubspot.com/apivideo/talk-to-us) by booking a slot in our calendar

&nbsp;

To know more about our[ features](https://api.video/features/), [pricing](https://api.video/pricing/) or ask any other questions, [talk to our team ](https://meetings.hubspot.com/apivideo/talk-to-us)and we will help you out. 

&nbsp;

Or, you can straightaway [sign-up](https://dashboard.api.video/register) for a free sandbox account and check our product out for yourself. 


Huge pricing update: Introducing video encoding at no cost

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Encoding and transcoding: what's the difference? 

Huge pricing update! Introducing video encoding at zero cost

Erikka Innes

Encoding and transcoding are often used interchangeably but they have slightly different definitions. **Encoding is the initial process of converting raw video files into a specific digital format or codec.** It involves compressing and packaging the video data, often to reduce file size while maintaining acceptable quality. Encoding prepares the video for storage, transmission, or playback.

&nbsp;

**Transcoding, on the other hand, involves converting a video from one digital format or codec to another.** This is typically done to optimize the video for different devices or platforms, adapt to varying network conditions, or ensure compatibility with specific playback requirements. Transcoding occurs after encoding and often involves changing resolution, bitrates, or formats without altering the content itself.

## What goes on behind encoding a video?

It's easy to say that encoding is when you go from an _uncompressed source_ to a _compressed source_, but you may ask, what exactly do compressed and uncompressed sources mean?

&nbsp;

Uncompressed sources are video files that contain data that comes directly from a camera sensor vs. encoded video. In the digital space, it's SDI (Serial Digital Interface) or HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface). Both of them are popular standards. You'll find HDMI in places like your GoPro camera, or a mini camcorder. These days, you might also find HDMI in professional settings, but SDI is more common due to its reliability. Another example of an uncompressed source would be something analog, for instance, VHS tapes.

&nbsp;

A compressed sources, on the other hand, are video files that have undergone compression during the encoding process. Compression involves reducing the file size by removing unnecessary information or encoding the data in a more efficient format. This process results in a smaller file size, making it more manageable for storage, transmission, and playback.


## What are the types of transcoding methods?

There are three types of transcoding, depending on what you are trying to do to get a video to suit a particular browser, player, or platform:

* **Lossless-to-lossless** - This type of transcoding maintains the quality of your video across formats but allows you to take advantage of better hardware or compression algorithms. 
* **Lossless-to-lossy** - This type of transcoding will decrease your video in quality, but it will benefit you in ways such as – you will get a smaller and/or faster playing file, or a file that is compatible with the requirements of a particular platform, player, or browser.
* **Lossy-to-lossless** - Sometimes people think this means they are regaining quality. This isn't the case in this type of transcoding. If you transcode from a lossy format to a lossless format, all that it means is that you will not lose additional quality in the conversion process. You will not regain data you already lost through compression.

## Codecs for encoding and transcoding

For both encoding and transcoding, you will need to make use of codecs. A codec's job is to compress and decompress video files. It's right there in the name -  **co**mpress **dec**ompress or encode decode. So basically, codec is an algorithm that takes the video and shrinks it or changes it into a format that makes it compatible with the requirements of wherever you want the video to play. There are many codecs because there are many ways to compress a video or livestream for playback.



## What is transmuxing?

Now that you know the difference between encoding and transcoding, let's throw one more term in there - transmuxing. Transmuxing is when you change the container for a video instead of the format. It's a way of repackaging a video to make it compatible somewhere without changing what's in the file. 

&nbsp;

This process is faster than encoding or transcoding and takes less computing power because you only change the container, not the file. It's great when you need to quickly make something available, but the downside is that it doesn't handle things like making multiple video resolutions available. If you choose a container type that's incompatible with your video file, you may also cause compatibility issues, resulting in not being able to play the video.

## In closing

* **Encoding** - Encoding happens when you compress a raw data file from a video camera sensor or an analog source like a VHS tape. 
* **Transcoding** - Transcoding happens when you take an already compressed video file and change it to another format.
* **Transmuxing** - Transmuxing happens when you change the container of a video file but leave the video file untouched. 

We hope that explains the difference between encoding and transcoding clearly. 

_If you are looking for an affordable video API solution that does not burn a hole in your pocket for transcoding and encoding videos, check out our offerings on our [homepage](https://api.video/) or [sign-up for a free account here](https://dashboard.api.video/register)!_

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Modern technology has been helpful for an increasingly fast and simple method of consuming various types of video media, whether it’s a YouTube video, our favorite shows on Netflix, or even catching up with friends across the globe on Zoom. Despite the relative ease of doing anything related to video, a few complex processes take place behind the scenes, away from public view. One such process is video encoding.

Video encoding basically makes the world go around in regards to anything related to video and video content. Thanks to the technologies behind the video encoding process, it has become much easier for people and companies to share video content on the internet. But what exactly is video encoding, and what happens during the process? We’ll take a closer look at this and much more in this handy guide to video encoding.

## What is video encoding?

In a nutshell, video encoding occurs when you take raw video footage, either from a digital camera or an analog film camera, and digitally compress it to make it a more manageable file size. Video encoding happens daily in both professional and personal capacities, and many people don’t realize it.

But, without encoding, services like Netflix and YouTube would not exist – or, at least, not in the same way that it does today. Without it, we couldn’t send videos of our beloved pets to our friends and family as easily as we can today.

## Why is video encoding used?

There are a variety of reasons why video encoding is used, but all factors point to the single function of video encoding – **compression**.

This is done to ensure optimal performance and compatibility with a selected suite of software and hardware, be it for DVD/Blu-ray playback, mobile viewing, online video streaming, or general video editing. A file's video and audio information undergo transformation and compression during the encoding process, all in accordance with the requirements of the selected encoding standard.

On a professional level, the ability to compress raw video into more manageable sizes makes it easier to transmit video content such as training, promotion, presentation, and so on over the internet. 

On a personal level, video encoding makes it much easier to send videos taken from your phone directly to friends and family. Most modern-day personal devices have built-in video encoding capabilities to allow for this to happen without a second thought.

To put things in perspective, uncompressed or unencoded video can have a data rate that’s as low as 3,000 Mbps and as high as 12,000 Mbps, depending on the length and quality of the video recorded. 

**Without encoding, it would take up to days for anyone to not just transmit video, but to be able to consume it, too.**

## Differences between video encoding and video transcoding

You need to be familiar with two more [essential terms related to video encoding](https://api.video/what-is/) – transcoding and codecs.

Transcoding relates to the conversion from one digital encoding format to another. It takes the already encoded video file, decompresses it, and then alters it before re-encoding or compressing it into a different codec. Codecs are what allow encoding to occur in the first place. They are software or hardware that gives us the ability to compress video to make them more easily stored and delivered tightly.

While you may hear “encoding” and “transcoding” used interchangeably, the two terms actually mean different things. Putting it succinctly, encoding is the initial process of compressing a video from a source – such as a camera – into a codec, while transcoding takes an already encoded video file to convert it into a different codec.

## Examples of video codecs

In order to understand video encoding, you must first be familiar with two interrelated terms: [video codecs and video formats](https://api.video/blog/product-updates/every-video-format-codec-and-container-explained/). These also tend to be used interchangeably, but much like the terms encoding and transcoding, they refer to two different things.

Video formats are the type of files in which the compressed video/audio is stored. Also known as a “container”, you can tell what a video format is by looking at the file’s extension — the three to four characters that sit after a period in a file name. Here are some of the most common video formats used today:

* MP4
* FLV
* MOV
* MKV
* LXF
* MXF
* AVI
* WebM
* QT

On the other hand, **the codec is short for “Coder / Decoder” (compression / decompression)** and relates to the video compression algorithms that allow encoding to happen. Over the years, codecs have gone through multiple iterations as it coincides with the increasing sophistication and rise in the quality of filmmaking. 

If you’re a content creator, you might be aware of some of the video codecs that exist today:

- **H.264 – also known as AVC, this is the most widely-used video codec available on every platform and mobile device.**
- H.265 – also known as HEVC, stands for High-Efficiency Video Coding, and it’s slowly overtaking H.264 as the standard. This codec can compress video much more efficiently than its predecessor.
- **VP9 – is an open-source, royalty-free codec developed by Google and is considered the direct competitor of H.265. The video compression codec VP9 was created to reduce file sizes, making streaming videos simpler.**
- **AV1 – is another royalty-free, open-source codec released in 2019 by the non-profit Alliance for Open Media. It was developed to become the successor to Google’s VP9 and contend with HEVC more directly.**

## How do different technologies handle video encoding

As you may have suspected, there are a majority of ways that different technologies handle the video encoding process. Let’s take a look at the most common technologies that use video and how video encoding works on each of them:

### Video editing software

When it comes to video content creation, a majority of people will use one of two video editing software — Adobe Premiere Pro or Apple’s Final Cut Pro. Both of these video editing software handle video encoding in very similar ways: when exporting the finished video.

Depending on which device the video content is recorded on, it will already be encoded and formatted according to the settings of the device. For those using iPhones recording 1080p video at 25 frames per second (FPS), for example, the iPhone will automatically encode the video using H.264 and contain it in a .mov file format. The video editing software will “open up” the container to get to the encoded, compressed video file within so the editing process can begin.

After editing the footage is complete, it will need to be exported, which typically concerns video encoding. The edited raw media taken from a recording device such as a camera will be encoded via the codec of the person’s choosing before being put into a .mp4 container once they’ve hit “export”. As we’ve mentioned before, the most common codec used in video content creation is H.264 for HD videos, with 4K videos using H.265. 

### Websites

Different websites utilize different techniques to handle video encoding – with a majority of the major sites like YouTube, Netflix, and so on using their own technologies to handle the process. A majority of social media websites allow you to upload video files directly onto the site to share, although most of them require the files to be saved in specific containers. 

These websites will take your video file and transcode it before using their own systems and serves to re-encode it to match multiple display resolutions. This process will happen regardless of your video file's original codec and settings. Different websites have different processes, but companies that don’t have the capacity to build their own video encoding systems can use a third-party application programming interface (or API) to handle this process. These APIs act as [dedicated video encoder](https://api.video/what-is/video-encoding/) that allows companies to add on-demand videos to their websites more efficiently.

Using [api.video](https://api.video) as an example, all of the videos submitted to the platform will be transformed into H.264 codec in an MP4 container. This may be done using transmuxing and/or transcoding.

We expect the video bitrate to be lower than 16 Mbps for up to 1080p resolution and 50 Mbps for up to 4K resolution. We accept any bitrates, however, we will scale them down to the limits mentioned because anything above is usually challenging for most viewers’ connection to watch.

### API

The ability to generate, store, and distribute video is made possible via a video API. [api.video](https://api.video)’s solution can be tailored to suit any specific need. 

The backend process of video on demand (VOD) is exceptionally complex, even if you’re a software programmer specializing in video. It is necessary to encode, package, and typically transcode the data before sending it to any of several possible destinations. All of these things, and more, may be done with minimal fuss using api.video.

Our API basically keeps the complexities of streaming media hidden from view, so you can rapidly develop apps with as much control as you need. This saves time and effort so developers can concentrate on making the product.

## Conclusion

As you can see through this video encoding guide, a lot of work goes into making the video you watch and the video you share possible. Without video encoding compressing raw video footage, it could take days to upload and transmit video content over the internet and perhaps even longer to be able to download and enjoy them. 

The best part about encoding at api.video is that is offered at ZERO cost. You will only be charged for delivery and hosting of your videos, and the encoding will be free. Now integrate your videos in minutes with api.video or [contact us](https://api.video/contact/) for more information.

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Once I upload my video, how quickly will it be ready to be viewed?

Our reply to this question has always been “it's really fast.”  And it is really fast. But, the dev team gave me access to the backend database, and pointed me to a few tables that might be helpful (thanks to Thomas Persohn for your patient help!)

Thus armed, I waded into a sea of data to better understand how fast our videos are encoded at api.video

## Encoding

When a video is uploaded to api.video, it is re-encoded to a HLS stream, with several different video dimensions and bitrates.  This allows api.video to deliver properly sized video to all users - no matter the device or network connection. (Read our post on [Responsive video delivery](https://api.video/blog/video-trends/responsive-video-delivery/) to learn more.)

> Summary:  All videos are encoded at 240p, 360p, 480p, 720p, 1080p and 2160p. However, the videos are only encoded up to the initial size of the video (so if the original video is 720p, there will not be 1080p or 2160p versions available). 

**FYI:** For our customers, encoding is absolutely free – we offer adaptive bitrate encoding at zero cost. 

How long does this step take? If a customer uploads a video to our service - they want to know how efficient api.video creates the content for viewing.

### Data in the study

We are constantly making adjustments to our infrastructure to speed the encoding step of our video (and that is one reason this post is dated 2H 2020 - we expect to be faster in early 2021). The last major adjustment was made in mid October, so the data presented in this study from every video uploaded to the api.video service between 15 October and 2 December 2020.

### Parameters that affect encoding

There are 2 major parameters that affect the speed of encoding a new video stream: the output dimensions and the length (duration) of the video.  

#### Dimensions

The output video dimensions have a huge impact on video creation - a 3840 × 2160 (or 4K or 2160p) video has millions more pixels than a 320x240 (240p) video, so it takes a lot longer to create.  In general, the videos exit the encoding process from smallest to largest.

#### Duration

If a video is 30 frames per second, and is 60 seconds long, there are 1800 frames to be created.  If a 30 frame per second video is an hour long 3600s), there are 108,000 frames to be created, so the longer the video - the more time for creation.

## Analysis

To better understand the encoding time, I divided the data by the size of the output video size, and looked at 2 lengths of video  - those under 5 minutes, and videos that are 45-75 minutes long (we are often asked how long a 1 hour video takes to encode).

I calculated encoding time for each bucket of video using percentiles.  

> Quick review - percentiles break the data into 100 evenly sized segments, so the 25th percentile is when 25% of the videos have been encoded. The median is the 50th percentile, and is when 50% of videos have been encoded.  We report here to the 95th percentile for video encoding.

### Short videos - under 5 minutes long

Many of the videos uploaded to api.video are short - under 5 minutes long.  These videos are generally ready to play in a few seconds:



The above chart has a lot of data, the 25, 50, 75, 90 and 95th percentile encoding times for all 6 variants of the video that api.video creates.

The median video is ready to play (at 240p) in 5.6 seconds, but a 720p version will be ready in 15s after encoding begins, and the 4K version will be ready in 37 seconds.

95% of all videos (under 5 minutes) will be playable in 32.6s, and will have 1080p versions ready in just over 2 minutes (140s).

### Long videos - 45 - 75 minutes long

Our most frequently asked question on encoding is "how long for a 1 hour video to be encoded and ready?"  Here are the numbers:


Observant viewers will see there are no 4K videos in this report. At this time, there are very few 4K streams that reach the 1 hour timeframe, and the data was quite noisy.  Hopefully, more of our 'long uploads' will add 4K support, so we can add this metric in our next update.

The median hour long video (red line) will be ready to play (at 240p) in just over 9 minutes (555s), and a 720p version will be ready about 18 minutes after encoding begins (1099s).

95% of hour long videos will have a 240p version ready in 33 minutes, and 720p in 54 (3230s).  the 1080p version will be available for 95% of videos in 108 minutes,

## Conclusion

Short videos will be ready to play - even at high resolution - in under a minute: the median 4K encoding for a short video is 37s. 

Hour long videos take longer to encode, and the median 720p video will be ready in 18 minutes.  95% of 720p videos will be ready to play in 54 minutes.

This is really fast! You can have responsive streaming video ready for your customers in just a few minutes with a simple upload!

That said, our team is working hard in the background to improve our infrastructure to make our encoding speeds even faster! 

We're really excited to have hard numbers to share with you on our encoding speeds, and we cannot wait to re-benchmark this data in 2021 to see how much faster your videos will be encoded as we improve our service.

Do you have questions about api.video or video encoding? Reach out on our [community page](https://community.api.video).


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With video playback technology witnessing quite an evolution because of the increasing popularity of videos, we have the codec comparison of H.264 vs. H.265 coming up quite frequently. You might be wondering, in the battle of H264 vs. H265, what reigns supreme?

## H.264 vs. H.265: What do they mean?

Let’s start from the basics and understand what the two terms – H.264 vs. H.265 – mean.

### What is H.264?

[H.264](https://api.video/what-is/h-264/), also referred to as Advanced Video Coding (AVC), operates by using advanced algorithms, inter-prediction and spatial intra-prediction. These units, termed macroblocks, consist of 16x16 pixel samples which can be further subdivided into sub macroblocks. The H.264 codec is known to achieve significantly [reduced bitrate](https://api.video/blog/video-trends/video-bitrate-importance/) compared to its forerunner and remains in use across various streaming sources.

### What is H.265?

[H.265](https://api.video/what-is/h-265/) represents the advanced iteration of H.264, alternatively also known as High Efficiency Video Coding ([HEVC](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_Efficiency_Video_Coding)). Diverging from H.264's macroblock approach, H.265 utilizes Coding Tree Units (CTUs) for information processing. While blocks in H.264 were confined to 16x16 sizes to 4x4 sizes, H.265 can use a complete range of blocks from 64x64 pixels all the way to 4x4, resulting in notably more efficient compression. HEVC also demands higher computational power for effective data compression.

## Difference between H.264 vs. H.265: Let’s get into the details

Both H.264 and H.265 can provide high quality and small file size but there is a slight difference between them.


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### 1. Video Quality
H.264 and H.265 codecs exhibit significant disparities in video quality at equivalent bitrates. In the case of H.264, the borders of the blocks are likely to be distorted because each macroblock is fixed, and each macroblock’s data is independent of another. In contrast, H.265 delivers sharper, more detailed images with fewer artifacts. This enhancement arises from its ability to determine CTU (Coding Tree Unit) sizes based on contextual information, making H.265 superior to H.264 in terms of compression and image quality.

### 2. Compression and File Size
The degree to which a codec compresses digital videos directly influences the resulting file size for transmission or streaming. Smaller file sizes equate to lower bandwidth at a certain quality. Since H.265 uses a smaller bitrate to transmit the same quality as H.264, we can conclude that H.265 can export smaller files. Consequently, H.265 takes the lead in scenarios where limited storage capacity or constrained bandwidth is necessary for smaller file sizes.

A corollary of this is that, H.265 also achieves a higher coding efficiency as compared to H.264 at the same quality.

### 3. Compatibility
In the realm of compatibility, H.265 surpasses H.264 but it lags behind it in popularity. While H.264 enjoys support from a larger number of devices and browsers, support for H.265 is limited to a lesser number of devices and browsers. This is mainly due to H.265’s patent issues that are preventing its easy adoption.

### 4. Patent and licensing
The AVC or the H.265 codec has just one patent licensing. On the other hand, HEVC has four: HEVC Advance, MPEG LA, Velos Media, and Technicolor. This fact complicates the adoption of H.265 and makes it more expensive for companies to afford.

## Tabular comparison between H.264 and H.265

It’s no fun for technology-geeks until we talk numbers in the ‘Is H.265 better than H.264’ debate.

## AV1: The game-changer in video technology

AV1 is a royalty-free, open-source video compression standard developed by the [Alliance for Open Media](https://aomedia.org/) (AOMedia), a consortium of technology companies including Google, Mozilla, Netflix, and Amazon. AV1 was designed to provide even better compression efficiency than H.265, and it also addresses the patent and licensing issues associated with it.

&nbsp;

Recently, Apple also announced hardware-accelerated decoder for AV1 as part of an upgraded video engine in the A17 Pro chip for iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max.

## H.264 vs. H.265: Which codec is better?

In a nutshell, the H.264 and H.265 codecs are different in terms of video compression efficiency. Each of them have their advantages and disadvantages, and it depends on your video needs as to what you decide to choose.

&nbsp;

If you intend to stream a large amount of videos (like Netflix or Amazon), H.265 may be better for you. If your video needs are limited, H.264 may be your best bet. So, it's worth noting that despite its advancements, HEVC has its share of drawbacks, and so does H.264. Make sure you consider both for a comprehensive perspective.

&nbsp;

So, which codec are you going to choose?


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## Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
### **Does using H.265 (HEVC) require specialized hardware or software?**


While some older hardware and software may not support H.265 natively, most modern devices and software platforms have built-in support for this codec. However, encoding H.265 videos may require specialized hardware or software for optimal performance.

### **What are the implications of using H.265 (HEVC) for live streaming?**

H.265 can significantly improve the quality of live streaming by reducing bandwidth requirements and delivering higher-quality video at lower bitrates. Make sure that your streaming platform and devices support H.265 to avoid compatibility issues, before you choose to opt for it. 


### **Are there any licensing fees associated with using H.265 (HEVC)?**

Yes, H.265 is subject to patent licensing by various organizations, which may entail licensing fees for certain use cases. But many software and hardware manufacturers have negotiated licensing agreements, so end-users may not directly encounter these fees. Do review the licensing terms for your specific use case to ensure compliance.

### **Can I convert H.265 (HEVC) videos to H.264 (AVC) format?**

Yes, it is possible to convert H.265 videos to H.264 format using video conversion software or online converters. Keep in mind that the conversion process may result in some loss of quality, as H.264 is not as efficient at compression as H.265.

&nbsp;

_api.video enables you to quickly and securely deliver on-demand and live-stream videos directly from your website, software, or app. [Sign-up ](https://dashboard.api.video/register)for a free sandbox account to try out api.video’s video API, or [talk to our team](https://meetings.hubspot.com/apivideo/talk-to-us) to get a demo._

What is the difference between H.264 vs. H.265?

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Twitter (Anne-Sophie)

Anne-Sophie Poupard

[Video encoding](https://api.video/what-is/video-encoding/) is the process of exporting digital video into a format and specification suitable for playback by a user. 

Each video file contains two elements: 
* Codecs, or “compression-decompression“ algorithms which compress the video
* Formats, the type of file the data is compressed to. 

Imagine a shipping container filled with packages of many types. In this analogy the shipping container is the format, and the codec is the tool that creates the packages and places them in the container.

## Video Codecs


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Video codecs used today include H.264, HEVC, VP9, and AV1. Common formats includes MKV, AVCHD, MP4, and WebM. 
There are pros and cons to each video codec and file format. There is no silver bullet when it comes to streaming content on the web. Certain video codecs and video formats are open source, meaning the source code is available to the user, who is given the rights to study, change, and distribute software to anyone for any purpose. VP9 and AV1 are both open source codecs types. MKV and WebM are also both open source, developed by nonprofit organizations and allowed to be used without a license.

## Video Formats

Video formats are often equated to a file’s extension, for example the .mp4 in Video. mp4. Video formats are much more than that and include a whole package of files, including a files video stream, the audio stream, and any metadata included with the file. All of the data put together, both of the streams and the metadata, is read by a video player to stream video content for playback. A file’s video stream includes the data necessary for motion video playback, while the audio stream includes any data related to sound. Metadata is any data outside of audio and sound, including bitrate, resolution, subtitles, device type, and date of creation.

## Bitrate
Bitrate or bit rate, is the rate at which bits are processed or computed over time. The higher the bitrate, the more data there is, which generally means a higher quality video file. When choosing a bitrate it is important to consider the device your videos will be played on. High bitrate file streams need lots of processing power to encode, and a fast internet connection to download for playback. If you’re having trouble choosing the right bitrate, file format, video codec, and video resolution, maybe it’s time to consider api.video.

With the api.video you can easily and quickly transcode video for your audience no matter the quality, format or bitrate. We wrote this article to help you sort through the hundreds of codecs and formats, and help you take the guesswork out of streaming video content on your site, application, or platform.

## The Most Popular Codec: H.264


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First let’s talk about H.264, also known as AVC. 

H.264 is the most widely used video codec. Sure, the H.264 codec may be a bit outdated by now, but this type of compression technology is present everywhere, with decoders available for pretty much every platform and mobile device. H.264 likely won’t be the standard for long. 
HEVC, short for High Efficiency Video Coding, or H.265 is slowly becoming ubiquitous thanks to the proliferation of 4K content. If AVC or H.264 was the codec of 1080p content, then HEVC and H.265 is the codec for the 4K era. H.265 compresseses videos far more efficiently (hence the “high efficiency”) when compared to H.264. This means H.265 4K content that is easier to stream and at a higher quality than 4K content compressed using H.264.

## New Codecs: H.265 and VP9


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H.265 is a licensed codec, meaning you have to pay to use it. Its main competitor, VP9 is a royalty free and open source codec developed by Google. This means that anyone can use the codec to compress their videos license free. Generally, VP9 produces more consistent or more reliable streams, whereas H.265 (HEVC) produces videos of higher quality. 

The differences between the two codecs are due to the strengths and weaknesses of their compression algorithms. VP9 was developed to produce videos with a smaller file size and therefore ones that are easier to stream. H.265 compresses videos using a large variety of processing techniques which ultimately create a compressed video that retains a very high level of detail.

In addition to VP9, there is another open source codec still under development called AV1. AOMedia Video 1 (AV1) is an open source, royalty-free video coding format specifically designed for streaming video content over the internet. AV1 was developed to succeed the VP9 codec and compete directly with HEVC codec on both video quality and file size. AV1 is still a highly experimental codec, but is supported by Firefox, Google Chrome, VLC media player, FFmpeg among others.

## The Most Popular Video Formats
We mentioned this before, but formats are the entire set of storage rules that package a video file’s container, codecs, and metadata. File formats are used so that a variety of devices, platforms, and players can process and playback any number of codecs. Formats are developed to improve image quality, decrease file sizes, allow for universal playback on a variety of devices, and provide special features such as subtitles. Since there are new formats getting developed every day it’s difficult to cover each and everyone. Instead, we’re going to focus on video formats used specifically for online distribution or content streaming.

The most popular video format is MP4, also known as MPEG 4. MP4 is a multimedia container for video, audio, and data, including things like subtitles and still images. Make sure you don’t confuse MPEG 4 and MPEG 4 Audio. MPEG 4 has the file extension .MP4, while MPEG 4 Audio has the file extension .M4A and can only contain audio files. So, why exactly is MP4 so popular? Well it mainly has to do with how ubiquitous it is across a range of devices. Both mobile and desktop devices can playback MP4 video files, so it makes sense that it would be used by most content producers.

## Playback Techniques for Video and Livestreaming
MP4 files are played at a constant bit rate (CBR), meaning the quality of your video stream will remain at the same bitrate no matter the variance in your internet bandwidth. There are other file formats that support adaptive bitrate (ABR), which will adapt the quality of your stream to match the internet speed of your player. One of the most popular formats that supports ABR is HLS..

HLS or HTTP [Live Streaming](https://api.video/product/live-stream/) use adaptive bitrate streaming techniques to enable high quality streaming with small HTTP-based file segments. The key to this format’s popularity is the use of HTTP. HTTP is the universal language protocol for the internet, and allows for reduced infrastructure costs, greater reach, and simple HTML5 player implementation. Another great feature for the HLS format is the M3U8 file descriptor. This file allows the client or device to automatically select the best quality stream at any time, to prevent playback buffering regardless of bandwidth or CPU power.

Now that you know how file formats and codecs work it’s time to get streaming. Visit [this page](https://dashboard.api.video/register) to create a free account, so that you can quickly and easily integrate streaming video content into your application, site, or workflow. Our API can accept pretty much any type of broadcast (even 4K native content), and can quickly transcode and adapt the stream for any type of network, including EDGE. No matter the screen, size, quality, or bitrate, api.video can manage it for you. Our web service is built to answer the most demanding video and streaming needs. If you want to learn more check out our website at [api.video](https://api.video/) or join our [community forum](https://community.api.video/). Good luck and happy streaming!

## You May Also Like...
If you liked this article, you may also be interested in:

* [Create a Live Stream](https://api.video/blog/tutorials/live-stream-tutorial/) - Create your first live stream!
* [Videostreaming with a Raspberry Pi](https://api.video/blog/tutorials/video-streaming-with-a-raspberry-pi/) - Now that you've got a live stream working, have some fun adding one using a Raspberry Pi. 
* [Video Upload](https://api.video/blog/tutorials/video-upload-tutorial/) - Upload your first video. 

Every video format, codec, and container explained

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Software video codecs are very diverse. Each one is carefully optimized depending on what the codec designers hope to achieve. For example codecs used when capturing video will probably try to retain as much data as possible. However a codec that's going to be used to compress video for conferencing might decrease video quality and increase transmission speed to lower latency. While they may have diverse use cases, one thing software codecs have in common is the design principles applied to their creation. There are five principles applied to every software codec. 

## Principle 1: Maximize allocation of processing resources based on your codec use case 
As I just mentioned, different codecs may hope to achieve different levels of efficiency across their elements based on what they'll be used for. For software codecs, processing resources and available transmission bit rate are what limit the design. Each design is about considering trade-offs, if you put more resources into one area of functionality in a codec, it will become more efficient, but then less resources are available for other areas of functionality. There are four main areas a codec will allocate resources to:

* **Encoded frame rate** - You'd refer to the use case for your codec, say it's video conferencing, and then try to maximize allocation of resources to efficiently achieve the standard 12-15 frames per second that's expected for desktop video conferencing. If you have a unique, efficient way of increasing quality, maybe you would be able to increase the frames per second. At a minimum though, you'd want to achieve the standard.
* **Frame size** - Frame size is what it sounds like, how many pixels wide and tall each frame of your video is. Depending on what level of quality or detail you want to offer with your codec, you'd want to maximize frame size as much as possible. Your use case for the codec would dictate how you choose to maximize frame size. 
* **Peak coded bit rate** - The coded bit rate is how many bits are used per second to represent video. While higher coded bit rates mean the video is less compressed, they can be useful if you want to be able to store or transfer video at a high quality. High bit rate is hard on processors, so it's a decision that must be made carefully. Again, depending on your use case you might want to maximize the peak coded bit rate, or focus your resources on other areas that are more important for your codec. 
* **Video quality** - Video quality is tied to bit rate, so depending on use case, strategies will vary. Quality and computational complexity have a complicated relationship, but within any codec there are many places where you can trade off quality for decreased computational complexity. 

## Principle 2: Minimize latency whenever possible
No matter the codec, the less the delay, the better. Delays are less important for some codecs, but to be avoided at all costs for other codecs - like those used for video conferencing. 

## Principle 3: Minimize compiled code and storage requirements
Not all systems using software video codecs will have a lot of available memory, so codec designs take this into account. Whenever possible, they cut down on the amount of code that needs to be compiled and the amount of storage needed for the video codec to function.

## Principle 4: Make your platform code robust and portable
The more places a codec can easily be used, the greater the chance it will be adopted everywhere. Easy-to-use means the code's been well tested so the codec isn't buggy, and the codec is easy to use on many different platforms. 

## Principle 5: Provide a flexible API
Make your codec developer friendly by providing an easy-to-use, well documented API. 

## Resources 

1. Chapter 13 of Video Codec Design - http://lad.dsc.ufcg.edu.br/mpeg/VCD/Ch13.pdf 
2. Codec - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Codec 
3. A Comprehensive Guide to Video Codec Design - https://www.semiconductorstore.com/blog/2014/A-Comprehensive-Guide-to-Video-Codec-Design/866/
4. Thumbnail by Photo by [Diego PH](https://unsplash.com/@jdiegoph?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText) on Unsplash
  

The five design principles applied to software video codec

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The five design principles applied to every software video codec

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In a world where attention spans are shorter than an Instagram cat video, integrating videos into your product can be your secret weapon to grab eyeballs, build connections, and turn clicks into conversions. But with the immense information available on the internet, how do you filter the best video API for your business? 

&nbsp;
 
Here’s a list of top 5 video APIs, with detailed information about what they do and their pros and cons. Let’s start! 

&nbsp;
 

## What are video APIs and why do I need them?

Video APIs are tools that let you add video capabilities to your products or services without building everything from scratch. They handle complex tasks like uploading, encoding, streaming, and playback, saving time and effort. Using video APIs means quicker and cost-effective integration, enhancing user experience with engaging video content. You could be using video APIs for boosting customer engagement or creating a feature-rich app – in both cases, they do the job of simplifying the process, making your offering more appealing and competitive.

&nbsp;

## The best video APIs in 2023

Let us look at the top 5 video APIs that will help you manage your videos and live-streams efficiently.

&nbsp;

### **1. Api.video**

[Api.video](https://api.video/) ranks at the top when it comes to building an app for live streaming videos or creating video-on-demand. The video API lets you build on-demand and livestream videos directly from your application, website or software. What makes api.video the best video streaming API is its scalability, [easy-to-understand documentation](https://docs.api.video/), and affordable [pricing.](https://api.video/pricing/). We also recently launched the Analytics feature – that helps you analyze your users, videos, and live streams.

&nbsp;

Another unique [feature](https://api.video/features/) of api.video is that it does not increase the prices with improvement in quality, that is – we charge you the same for 480 p and 4K resolution. There's also zero platform fee and you only pay for what you use. With volume discounts in place, your costs decrease when the volume increases. 

&nbsp;

**Pros:**

&nbsp;

- Simple and extremely user-friendly API for video hosting and streaming.
- Real-time analytics for viewer engagement.
- Built-in transcoding and adaptive streaming.
- Pay-as-you-go pricing model so you pay only for what you use
- Ability to white-label your videos

&nbsp;
 
**Cons:**

&nbsp;
 
- You need a developer to implement the video API 

&nbsp;
 

_Don’t believe what we say? [Talk to our team](https://meetings.hubspot.com/apivideo/talk-to-us) or [sign-up ](https://dashboard.api.video/register)for a sandbox box and test the features of api.video for yourself._

&nbsp;
 
### **2. Vimeo**

Vimeo is one of the most popular video streaming API. It is a valuable asset for businesses aiming to incorporate video into their business models without requiring dedicated technical resources of their own. It uses multiple languages like PHP, Python, and Node.js, making it usable by and accessible to a larger variety of businesses. Vimeo is so popular also because of its features of Video Player API, Upload API and Embed API, which give the user immense flexibility of options while creating and editing their content.

&nbsp;

**Pros:**

&nbsp;
 
- Robust video management and organization.
- Customizable video player and embed options.
- Rich video analytics for insights into viewer behavior.
- Privacy settings and access controls.
- Integration possibilities with applications and workflows.
- Offers APIs for developers.

&nbsp;
 

**Cons:**

&nbsp;
 
- Costs can vary based on storage, bandwidth, and features.
- Limited free tier with some restrictions.
- Dependency on an external service for streaming.

### **3. Wowza**

The API provides a range of features, including adaptive bitrate streaming, real-time analytics, and customizable player options. Wowza Video API simplifies the complexities of video streaming, enabling users to deliver high-quality content to global audiences with ease. You could be building interactive live events or deploying video-on-demand services, Wowza Video API is a good option for building video streaming experiences.

&nbsp;
 

**Pros:**

&nbsp;
 
- Advanced streaming capabilities for both live streaming and video-on-demand.
- Scalable infrastructure that can accommodate various streaming demands.
- Customizable video players to align with branding.
- Support for multi-platform compatibility, reaching a wider audience.
- Low latency streaming for real-time applications.
- Security features, including secure streaming and authentication.
- Analytics and monitoring tools for insights.

&nbsp;

**Cons:**

&nbsp;
 
- Complex for those new to streaming APIs.
- Higher costs for advanced features.

### 4. **Muvi**

Muvi Video API is one among the best API for video streaming as it lets developers easily integrate video streaming capabilities into their websites or apps without much technical complexity. It provides a simple and user-friendly solution to stream videos, manage content, and offer an immersive viewing experience to users. With Muvi Video API, you can customize your video player, securely deliver content, and even monetize your videos through pay-per-view or subscription models. 

&nbsp;

**Pros:**

&nbsp;
 
- End-to-end video streaming solution covering content hosting to monetization.
- Customizable platform for creating branded apps and websites.
- Multi-device compatibility.
- Built-in security features.
- No revenue-sharing model, allowing you to keep your earnings.

&nbsp;

**Cons:**

&nbsp;
 
- Slightly complex for setting up and managing a full-fledged streaming platform.
- Potentially higher costs for comprehensive features.

### 5. **Twilio**

Twilio Video API stands out for its versatility, allowing smooth integration of video communication across various platforms like web, mobile, and IoT devices. It offers a wide range of communication options beyond standard video chat, such as multi-party conferencing, screen sharing, and recording. Additionally, Twilio's robust infrastructure ensures low-latency and high-quality video streams, making it ideal for real-time applications like virtual events, online collaboration, and telemedicine. The API's reliable global reach, multi-platform support, and extensive developer tools make it an apt as a comprehensive and powerful solution for video communication needs.

&nbsp;
 

**Pros:**

&nbsp;
 
- Comprehensive communication platform that includes video capabilities.
- Scalable and reliable infrastructure.
- APIs for embedding video into applications.
- Integration with other Twilio communication tools.

&nbsp;
 

**Cons:**

&nbsp;
 
- Primarily designed for communication with video as an added feature.
- Might require additional development effort to fully integrate video functionality.

&nbsp;

Video APIs have changed how we engage with online videos. These tools easily add video features to apps, sites, and services, letting developers create interactive video experiences. Live streaming, playback, and content analysis become simple with video APIs, improving viewing. 

&nbsp;
 

Now that you know all about video APIs and the best recommendations for the same, let’s get streaming! 

&nbsp;
 

_[Sign-up](https://dashboard.api.video/register) for a free sandbox account to try out api.video’s video API, or [talk to our team](https://meetings.hubspot.com/apivideo/talk-to-us) to get a demo._



These 5 Powerful Video APIs can help you Boost your Business

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