What does transcoding mean?
Converting from one format to another
Transcoding can refer to both the action of conversion (verb) and the result of that conversion (noun).
What characterizes a good transcode?
The file has never been converted to lossy, or only converted to lossy once
Good transcodes are acceptable and maintain quality.
List examples of good transcodes.
- uncompressed lossless → compressed lossless
- compressed lossless → uncompressed lossless
- compressed lossless → compressed lossless
- uncompressed lossless → lossy
- compressed lossless → lossy
These examples illustrate acceptable conversions.
What defines a bad transcode?
The file has been converted to a lossy format more than once, or from lossy to lossless
Bad transcodes are prohibited on RED.
List examples of bad transcodes.
- higher lossy bitrate → lower lossy bitrate
- same bitrate lossy → same bitrate lossy
- lossy → lossless
These conversions compromise quality and are not allowed.
True or False: A transcode can only refer to a file that has been converted to lossy format.
False
A transcode can refer to any converted file, regardless of the format.
Fill in the blank: A _______ is usually used in a negative context regarding converted files.
transcode
The term ‘transcode’ often implies an undesirable conversion outcome.
