Encoders and decoders help with the video distribution process in the IPTV business. They will help you stream your content to the audience, and people will be able to view content online.
In this article, we will focus on the encoding and decoding processes of video streaming. If you want to learn how to start IPTV business, visit the blog article.
The Process of IPTV Video Content Distribution
To deliver videos to users, the following elements are required:
- A video
- Encoder
- Decoder
- Device to receive a video
Of course, first, you need to record a video to deliver it to an end-user. The video can be stored on a DVD, CD, reels, and Blu-Ray discs. But here we are talking about videos stored on servers.
A video just recorded is usually uncompressed, and that’s why its size is huge and requires a lot of space on a storage medium. Due to that, the delivery through the Internet process is hindered.
The IPTV encoder can help by compressing the video into a format appropriate for transfer via the Internet. During the process, the video size is reduced, and the content is transmitted easier. It’s essential that the IPTV encoder has high processing power so that there are low latencies or none of them.
Also, IPTV video transcoding is sometimes a necessary process. It converts the file from one format to another. It helps adapt a streaming video to a device a viewer uses. The process also includes converting a video into a more transferable size and quality level. The process influences the transmitting speed.
Encoding and transcoding are similar processes, but they differ from each other. Transcoding takes an already encoded video and makes some alterations. For example, a video gets a watermark or is converted from one format to another.
Decoding is the process of uncompressing a streaming video (more info). Due to an IPTV decoder, videos are received and displayed on a TV or any other device screen. Viewers see a clear picture, not something promiscuous.
Decoders can prevent unauthorized access to content and its thefts. Sometimes, users need an additional device to run videos on their TVs. These devices are called set-top boxes. They connect to a TV and decode the content.
Do Encoding and Transcoding Impact Video Quality?
A video goes through many processes from the moment it is created to the moment a user accesses it and receives it on a device.
The truth is that encoding and transcoding can affect the quality of a video, but not necessarily. The video compressed is exposed to some data loss, but it doesn’t necessarily affect the quality in such a way a video even cannot be watched, says LifeWire. These alterations usually are too small; it’s hard to see them with our eyes.
In Conclusion
As you see, the encoding and decoding processes are important parts of a transmitting video content procedure. Encoding converts a video so that it’s transferable via the Internet, while decoding converts it back and transmits it onto the end-user devices.