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Source Transcoding
Live video distribution rarely operates on a single output specification. The same source feed must simultaneously satisfy the requirements of OTT platforms, broadcast partners, CDN ingest points, archive systems, and direct-to-consumer endpoints — each with their own codec preferences, bitrate envelopes, resolution requirements, and container formats. Managing that diversity without a flexible, platform-native transcoding capability means additional hardware, additional processing hops, and additional points of failure in the signal chain.
Livelink’s Source Transcoding engine addresses that complexity directly — enabling engineers to derive multiple output variants from a single source feed, each independently configured to meet the exact specification of its downstream destination.
Transcoding Configuration Wizard
Resolution and Quality Tiers
Resolution and Quality Tiers
Source Transcoding supports the creation of discrete output variants across the full resolution range, from standard definition through HD and up to Ultra High Definition.
Each variant is independently configured, allowing a single ingest feed to simultaneously produce a UHD output for a premium broadcast partner, a 1080p variant for OTT platform delivery, a 720p stream for lower-bandwidth distribution endpoints, and a reduced-resolution proxy for monitoring or preview purposes, all derived from the same source without duplicating contribution infrastructure.
Resolution control extends beyond simple scaling. Aspect ratio handling, frame rate conversion, and output cropping can each be configured per variant, ensuring that downstream platforms receive content that conforms precisely to their ingest specifications rather than requiring post-delivery normalisation.
Codec and Format Flexibility
Different distribution endpoints have different codec requirements — and those requirements do not always align with the codec used at the point of contribution. Livelink’s transcoding engine supports codec conversion between the formats in active use across modern broadcast and streaming infrastructure, allowing operators to transcode from contribution codecs into the output formats demanded by each downstream partner without introducing additional processing infrastructure.
Bitrate can be configured independently per output variant, giving engineers precise control over the quality and bandwidth envelope of each stream. For adaptive bitrate delivery workflows, multiple variants at different bitrate tiers can be produced simultaneously from a single transcode job — feeding ABR packaging pipelines directly without requiring a separate ladder generation stage.
Adding Data Tracks via the Wizard
Audio Isolation Workflow
Workflow Integration
Source Transcoding operates as a native component of the Livelink workflow orchestration layer. Transcode profiles can be defined, saved, and reapplied across events and channels reducing configuration overhead for recurring distribution workflows and ensuring consistency across output variants for long-running or repeat productions.
Output variants from a transcode job feed directly into Livelink’s distribution engine, meaning that the full capability of the platform’s One-to-Many distribution, failover protection, and protocol flexibility is available downstream of the transcode stage. Engineers build a single, coherent workflow from ingest through transcoding to delivery without stitching together separate tools or platforms at each processing stage.
Operational and Infrastructure Efficiency
The infrastructure implications of platform-native transcoding are significant. Dedicated hardware transcoders represent substantial capital expenditure, require physical rack space and power, and introduce fixed processing capacity that does not scale dynamically with production demand. By consolidating transcoding within Livelink’s cloud-based processing layer, organisations can replace or reduce that hardware footprint with on-demand capacity that scales to the requirements of each production.
For managed service providers and multi-tenant operations, this flexibility is particularly valuable enabling transcoding capacity to be allocated dynamically across clients and productions rather than provisioned statically against peak demand.
Case Studies
Find out more about customer workflows on our case studies page >>>
Transcoder Overview
Still managing output variants through dedicated hardware transcoders?
Consolidate your transcoding within Livelink and derive every output variant you need from a single source feed without the hardware overhead.
Speak to our team about your distribution requirements today.