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In this article, you'll see how billable encoding time is calculated for both Video on Demand (VOD) and live streaming with key concepts, calculation details and examples.
Why are we encoding your content?
Media (VOD and Live streams) are encoded to be transformed from their original format into different versions with various resolutions and frame rates, optimized for different devices, bandwidth or playback scenarios.
Billable encoding time calculation
What's the billable encoding time?
Billable encoding time for VOD and live streams represents the total computed time used to encode your content, based on:
- The duration of the input content.
- The resolution and FPS multipliers applied for each generated output content.
VOD billable encoding time calculation
For VOD (Video on Demand), the total billable encoding time is calculated by multiplying the video length with the resolution and FPS multipliers for each output, then summing the total.
Calculation formula:
VOD billable time = Input duration × Resolution multiplier × FPS multiplier
Example:
For a 60-minute 1080p video at 30 FPS, the billable time for 3 output configurations is computed as follows:
| Output files | Calculation | VOD encoding billable time (in minutes) |
|---|---|---|
| 480p, 30fps | 60 x 1 x 1 | 60 |
| 720p, 30fps | 60 x 2 x 1 | 120 |
|
1080p, 60fps |
60 x 4 x 2 | 480 |
| Total billable time | 660 |
Live billable encoding time calculation
For live streams, we are encoding in real time while content is being streamed: The same resolution and FPS multipliers apply, but the input duration is determined by the live stream’s actual duration.
Calculation formula:
Live billable time = Stream duration × Resolution multiplier × FPS multiplier
Example:
For a 60-minute 1080p live stream at 30 FPS, the billable time for 3 output configurations is computed as follows:
| Output streams | Calculation | Live encoding billable time (in minutes) |
|---|---|---|
| 480p, 30fps | 60 x 1 x 1 | 60 |
| 720p, 60fps | 60 x 2 x 2 | 240 |
|
1080p, 60fps |
60 x 4 x 2 | 480 |
| Total billable time | 780 |
Resolution and FPS multipliers
Multipliers are used to reflect the increase in resources needed to encode in higher resolutions and frame rates.
VOD resolution multiplier
| Resolution code | Output resolution | Multiplier |
|---|---|---|
| HQ | 480p | 1 |
| HD | 720p | 2 |
| FHD | 1080p | 4 |
| QHD | 1440p | 10 |
| UHD | 2160p | 20 |
Live resolution multiplier
| Resolution code | Output resolution | Multiplier |
|---|---|---|
| HQ | 480p | 1 |
| HD | 720p | 2 |
| FHD | 1080p | 4 |
FPS multiplier
| Output FPS | Multiplier |
|---|---|
| 30 FPS | 1 |
| 60 FPS | 2 |
Notes
- Output resolution cannot exceed the original input resolution.
- Output FPS cannot exceed the original input FPS.