Amazon Elastic Transcoder is a media transcoding service that AWS introduced to help convert (transcode) media files — usually videos and audio — from their original format into different formats that can be played on various devices (smartphones, tablets, browsers, TVs, etc.).
🔹 What it does
Takes an input media file (e.g., MP4, MOV).
Converts it into multiple output formats (different resolutions, bitrates, codecs).
Makes it easy to stream or download on a wide range of devices.
For example:
You upload a 4K .mov file → Elastic Transcoder can generate:
A 1080p MP4 for desktops.
A 720p MP4 for tablets.
A 480p MP4 for mobile streaming.
Audio-only output (e.g., AAC or MP3).
🔹 Key Features
Fully managed (no servers to manage).
Pay-as-you-go pricing.
Integrated with Amazon S3 (store source and destination files).
Presets for common devices and formats.
Can generate thumbnails and watermarks.
🔹 Current Status
⚠️ Important: Elastic Transcoder is a legacy service.
AWS now recommends using AWS Elemental MediaConvert, which is more powerful and supports modern streaming standards (HLS, DASH, DRM, 4K/8K, advanced codecs).
👉 So in short: Elastic Transcoder = old AWS video/audio conversion service, mainly replaced by MediaConvert today.
Amazon Elemental MediaConvert is an AWS service for video transcoding — basically converting video files into different formats so they can be played on different devices and platforms.
What it does
- Takes a source video (like MP4, MOV, etc.) and converts it into different formats, resolutions, bitrates, and codecs.
- Supports outputs for web, mobile, broadcast, and OTT (Over-the-Top) streaming.
- Allows you to make videos that work on different devices and screen sizes.
Key features
- File-based transcoding (not live streaming).
- Supports a wide range of codecs (H.264, HEVC, MPEG-2, etc.).
- Can produce adaptive bitrate outputs for streaming (HLS, DASH, CMAF).
- Supports closed captions, DRM, audio normalization.
- Works at scale with pay-per-use pricing.
How it’s used
- A streaming company can upload a high-quality master video → MediaConvert creates different versions for mobile, web, and TV streaming.
- A media company can repackage content for different devices and formats.
- An enterprise can transcode training videos for compatibility with various internal platforms.
💡 Quick analogy:
If your raw video is like a loaf of bread, MediaConvert is the bakery that slices and packages it in different ways so everyone — whether they want a sandwich, toast, or croutons — can enjoy it.
Top comments (0)