Media Live Transcoding

Media Live provides standard transcoding and low-bitrate HD transcoding. The fee is calculated based on the actual codec standard, and the resolution and duration of the input and output videos.

Concepts

Service delivery mode of Media Live

Standard pipeline: also called dual pipelines. Two input streams are ingested and transcoded into two output streams (primary and standby). If the primary stream is interrupted, the standby stream instantly takes over, providing uninterrupted delivery that is completely transparent to viewers.
Single pipeline: One input stream is ingested and transcoded into one output stream. If the output stream is interrupted, viewers may briefly experience issues such as dropped frames, freezing, or visual artifacts. When this happens, the retry mechanism can be used to reconnect and resume transcoding.

Resolution definition

SD: The vertical resolution is less than 720 px.
HD: The vertical resolution range is [720, 1080] px.
UHD: The vertical resolution range is (1080, 2160] px.

Billing modes

Pay-per-use is a postpaid billing mode. You pay as you go and just pay for what you use. In each billing cycle, the system calculates the fee based on the actual usage of each resource multiplied by the unit price, and then deducts the fee from your account balance.
Resource packages are prepaid. You pay in advance for a subscription term, and in exchange, you get a discounted rate. Both monthly and yearly packages are available, and they are applicable to long-term, stable services. To buy a monthly package, submit a service ticket. To buy a yearly package, visit here.
If you purchase a yearly package in a region, the total transcoding duration of all channels is limited to one hour per. If you purchase two yearly packages of the same specifications, the total transcoding duration limit increases to two hours per hour. Any usage beyond these limits will be charged in the pay-per-use mode. You can evaluate the total transcoding duration per hour to purchase the corresponding number of packages.

Notes

Media Live transcoding supports only the single-pipeline mode. It supports pay-per-use billing mode and resource packages. After your purchased resource package expires, you will be billed for subsequent usage on a pay-per-use basis. You need to pay attention to the validity period of your resource package and renew the subscription before the validity period expires.
Currently, low-bitrate HD transcoding supports only the pay-per-use billing mode. It does not support resource packages.

Prices

Billing description of Media Live transcoding

Media Live will charge you for both the input and output of transcoding.
Prices vary depending on regions, that is, prices are different in AP-Singapore and ME-Riyadh.
Prices vary depending on the billing mode (pay-per-use or resource packages) in the same region.
With the same billing mode in the same region, prices vary depending on the transcoding type (standard transcoding or low-bitrate HD transcoding).

Pricing details

Pay-per-use
Live Pricing Details shows the input and output pricing of Media Live transcoding in AP-Singapore and ME-Riyadh.
Prepaid resource packages
For details about the input and output pricing of Media Live transcoding in the AP-Singapore and ME-Riyadh regions, click Buy Package in the Billing Mode area on the Overview page of the Live console.
The fee of Media Live transcoding is charged by MPC.

Billing Rules

For details, see Table 1.

**Table 1** Billing rules
Rule Item	Description
Billing Rule	You are charged based on the codec standard, and the resolution and duration of the input and output videos. The duration is measured to four decimal places, with the fourth digit rounded off based on the fifth digit. If there are multiple output specifications, the total transcoding fee covers the transcoding input and each output specification. The unit system of the transcoded stream bitrate is 1,024. For example, 1 kbit/s = 1,024 bit/s.
Billing Cycle	Pay-per-use: billed by hour and deducted in real time Prepaid resource packages: billed by the subscription term you purchase
Billing Mode	Pay-per-use Prepaid resource packages
Bill Run Time	Pay-per-use: After the current hourly billing cycle ends, the exact time when charges are posted is determined by the system. Prepaid resource packages: In prepaid mode, usage during the package validity period is deducted from the package allowance and will not incur additional charges.
Settlement Time	Pay-per-use: Settlement occurs automatically after the charges are posted. Prepaid resource packages: Settlement is performed based on the subscription term.

Billing Examples

Assume that you are in the AP-Singapore region and use the single-pipeline mode with pay-per-use billing to transcode an HD video stream using H.264. If there are five transcoded streams with different resolutions, the total cost per hour is calculated as follows:

Cost of an input stream using H.264 per hour:
$0.243 USD for HD (1080 px)
Cost of an output stream using H.264 per hour:
$0.729 USD for HD (1080 px)

$0.729 USD for HD (720 px)

$0.3661 USD for SD (576 px)

$0.3661 USD for SD (432 px)

$0.3661 USD for SD (288 px)