Updated on 2024-11-22 GMT+08:00

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
  • Dual transcoded streams: Two streams are input and two streams (primary and standby) are output after transcoding. When one stream is interrupted, the other stream can seamlessly take over the transcoding, so you are not aware of the fault.
  • One transcoded stream: One stream is input and one stream is output after transcoding. Video streams may be interrupted for a short period of time on terminals, such as frame loss, frame freezing, and artifacts. If stream interruption occurs, the retry mechanism can be used to 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.
  • Yearly/Monthly is a prepaid billing mode. You pay in advance for a subscription term, and in exchange, you get a discounted rate. The longer the subscription term, the bigger the discount. This mode is a good option for long-term, stable services.

    If you purchase a yearly package in the same region, the total transcoding duration of all channels per hour cannot exceed one hour. If you purchase two yearly packages of the same specifications, the total transcoding duration of all channels per hour cannot exceed two hours. The excess is charged in the pay-per-use mode. You can evaluate the total transcoding duration per hour to purchase suitable yearly/monthly packages.

Notes

Media Live transcoding supports only the single-pipeline mode with pay-per-use billing.

Prices

Billing description of Media Live transcoding

  1. Media Live will charge you for both the input and output of transcoding.
  2. Prices vary depending on regions, that is, prices are different in AP-Singapore and ME-Riyadh.
Pricing details
  • Pay-per-use

    Price Calculator shows the input and output pricing of Media Live transcoding in AP-Singapore and ME-Riyadh.

  • The transcoding fee of Media Live is charged by MPC.

Billing Rules

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 accurate to four decimal places, and the fourth digit is 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 number 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

Billing Mode

Pay-per-use

Bill Run Time

Pay-per-use: After the current billing cycle (hours) ends, the bill run time is subject to the system.

Settlement Time

Pay-per-use: Fees are automatically deducted after bill run.

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 resolution levels, 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)

Total cost: $0.243 USD + $0.729 USD x 2 + $0.3661 USD x 3 = $2.7993 USD/hour