Automated ABR Configuration Now Available in AWS Elemental MediaConvert

AWS Elemental MediaConvert has added a new feature called Automated ABR Configuration, which automatically customizes the ABR (Adaptive Bit Rate) encoding configuration for each source video. Automated ABR Configuration simplifies the set up of transcoding, optimizes video quality, and reduces ABR package size. Automated ABR Configuration is available at no additional cost for MediaConvert jobs in the on-demand, Professional pricing tier. To learn more, please read the Automated ABR Configuration documentation.

You create ABR packages when encoding video content for OTT distribution to web players, mobile devices, and smart TVs. ABR packages contain multiple renditions of a video, encoded in a range of bitrates and resolutions. Each viewer’s player can dynamically pick the rendition that meets the current bandwidth restrictions while playing back the content smoothly.

When you create ABR packages today you are required to carefully select the bitrates, resolutions, and the quantity and distribution of renditions. The ideal package configuration varies depending on the specific content being encoded, because the visual complexity of the content affects how the content can best be compressed. Automated ABR Configuration automates this setup for you and allows MediaConvert to pick the ideal rendition configuration based on a content classification analysis performed during the encoding process.

Leveraging Quality-Defined Variable Bitrate (QVBR) mode in MediaConvert to optimize the bitrate efficiency of each rendition, Automated ABR Configuration further optimizes the ABR package size by preventing redundant or overlapping renditions within each package. You can get started with this feature by creating a new MediaConvert job from the AWS Management Console and enabling Automated ABR Configuration for your HLS, DASH, CMAF, or Smooth Streaming ABR output group. Like all MediaConvert features, Automated ABR Configuration can also be invoked via the API or any of the available SDKs.

With MediaConvert, audio and video providers can easily and reliably transcode on-demand content for broadcast and multiscreen delivery. MediaConvert functions independently or as part of AWS Media Services, a family of services that form the foundation of cloud-based workflows and offer the capabilities needed to transport, transcode, package, and deliver audio and video.