Add custom renditions

The JW Platform allows you to upload video, audio, or text files that you have already transcoded to meet your own quality, bitrate, or format standards. This gives you precise control over how your content is delivered, ensuring playback that meets your broadcasting requirements.

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Prerequisites

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Create a custom renditions media item

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If you are a developer or have developer resources, you can use the Management API to create a custom renditions media item.

1. In your Media library, click either Create custom renditions or Create new > Custom renditions. The media details page for the new media item appears.

After creating your custom renditions media item, you can upload custom renditions to the media item.

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A media item moves through different states before it can be streamed:

• Before renditions are uploaded, the media exists in the Created state.
• After at least one rendition upload is initiated, the media enters the Processing state.
• The media transitions to the Ready state when at least one video or audio rendition is successfully uploaded.

Once the media item reaches in the Ready state, you can stream it or add it to playlists.

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Once the media item is Ready, you can stream it using the media or playlist endpoints in the Delivery API. You can also retrieve HLS and DASH manifests from the Manifests tab for non-DRM media.

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Upload custom renditions

You can upload custom video, audio, or text renditions using the JWP dashboard.

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If you are a developer or have developer resources, you can use the Management API to upload your custom video, audio, and text renditions.

Upload a video rendition

Follow these steps to upload a custom video rendition:

1. In your Media library, click the name of a custom renditions media item. The media details page appears.
2. Below the preview player, click the Renditions tab.
3. In the Video row, click Manage. The Video renditions panel appears.
4. In the textbox, enter a list of .cmfv rendition URLs, with one URL per line.

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   You can upload a maximum of 16 video renditions per media item.

5. Click Upload. A rendition tile appears in the panel below for each uploaded rendition.

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   Select metadata from your .cmfv file will be applied to the custom video rendition. Unlike audio and text renditions, you cannot assign additional metadata to video renditions.

6. Click Close. The Video renditions panel closes.

Once uploaded, your renditions are automatically packaged into DASH and HLS manifests for streaming through the JW Platform.

Upload an audio rendition

Follow these steps to upload a custom audio rendition:

1. In your Media library, click the name of a custom renditions media item. The media details page appears.
2. Below the preview player, click the Renditions tab.
3. In the Audio row, click Manage. The Audio renditions panel appears.
4. In the textbox, enter a list of .cmfa rendition URLs, with one URL per line.

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   You can upload a maximum of 32 audio renditions per media item.

5. Click Upload. A rendition tile appears in the panel below for each uploaded rendition.
6. Click the rendition tile to expand the rendition settings.
7. Enter a Label for the rendition.

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   This is the label that the viewer sees when selecting a rendition in the player.

8. Enter an integer to assign the rendition’s Priority.

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   A lower value places the rendition higher on the list of options that the viewer sees in the player.

9. Enter a two-letter ISO Language code.
10. Click Save.
11. Click Close. The Audio renditions panel closes.

Once uploaded, your renditions are automatically packaged into DASH and HLS manifests for streaming through the JW Platform.

Upload a text rendition

Follow these steps to upload a custom text rendition:

1. In your Media library, click the name of a custom renditions media item. The media details page appears.
2. Below the preview player, click the Renditions tab.
3. In the Text row, click Manage. The Text renditions panel appears.
4. In the textbox, enter a list of .cmft rendition URLs, with one URL per line.

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   You can upload a maximum of 48 audio renditions per media item.

5. Click Upload. A rendition tile appears in the panel below for each uploaded rendition.
6. Click the rendition tile to expand the rendition settings.
7. Enter a Label for the rendition.

   📘

   This is the label that the viewer sees when selecting a rendition in the player.

8. Enter an integer to assign the rendition’s Priority.

   📘

   A lower value places the rendition higher on the list of options that the viewer sees in the player.

9. Enter a two-letter ISO Language code.
10. Click Save.
11. Click Close. The Text renditions panel closes.

Once uploaded, your renditions are automatically packaged into DASH and HLS manifests for streaming through the JW Platform.

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FAQs

What should I do if my upload fails?

If the JW Platform cannot process your uploaded rendition, it will return a Failed status. In this event, delete the failed rendition and upload it again.

What happens if my custom renditions don’t align with my DRM policy?

Custom renditions must follow your property’s DRM rules. For example, if your policy limits resolution to 1280p, you need to upload at least one rendition at ≤1280p. If no renditions meet the policy, only audio will play, or playback will fail if no audio rendition exists.

Which features are not supported for custom renditions in the beta release?

Some features available for other media types are not yet supported for custom renditions. These may be added later based on demand.

The following features are not supported:

• Automatic creation of static or motion thumbnails

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  BYOR allows you to upload thumbnails manually.

• Copying custom rendition media items to another property
• Trimming or clipping of custom rendition VOD media
• Live-to-VOD conversion
• Only in-manifest captions are supported (no sidecar captions or chapters)
• Progressive MP4 playback
• MRSS imports