CMAF VOD ᴮᴱᵀᴬ Overview

JWX’s CMAF VOD workflow provides flexible transcoding and rendition management for advanced video-on-demand (VOD) use cases. You can upload a source file for JWX to transcode or supply renditions encoded outside JWX. JWX packages and delivers the resulting media using Common Media Application Format (CMAF).

CMAF VOD supports workflows that require greater control over encoding, rendition ladders, and playback than Traditional VOD. Use it to:

• Apply custom transcoding configurations at the property or media-item level
• Access premium transcoding features, such as next-generation codecs and audio normalization, with the required paid entitlement
• Upload pre-encoded video, audio, and text renditions
• Add or remove individual renditions to a media item
• Deliver content through HLS or DASH with DRM, analytics, advertising, and other JWX capabilities

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CMAF VOD workflows

CMAF VOD offers three distinct workflows to meet your needs.

Automatically create renditions

When you upload a source file through the dashboard or Management API v2, JWX uses a transcoding config to automatically generate its audio and video renditions.

Every property receives a default CMAF VOD transcoding config. The standard default config creates:

• AVC video renditions at 1080p, 720p, 540p, 480p, 360p, and 270p, capped at 60 fps
• AAC-LC stereo audio up to 192 kbps
• AAC-LC or E-AC3 5.1 surround track up to 512 kbps when the source contains multichannel audio

JWX adapts the output to the source:

• The source frame rate is preserved, including fractional frame rates.
• Vertical video retains its original orientation.
• Sources are not upscaled. For example, a 720p source produces renditions at 720p and below.
• Mono audio is upmixed to stereo.

Contact your JWX representative to create a custom transcoding config if you have other encoding requirements or want to build a customized rendition ladder. You can set the config as the new property default or assign it to an individual media item. If you do not assign a config, JWX uses the property default.

Manually create individual renditions

To transcode all renditions individually rather than generate an automatic rendition ladder, first ask your JWX representative to create an empty transcoding config. Next, select the empty config when uploading a source file through the dashboard or Management API v2. The empty config prevents JWX from automatically creating renditions from the source file. After the upload is complete, use the custom audio and video rendition endpoints to transcode each rendition with your preferred settings.

Bring your own renditions

If you encode media outside JWX, use the Management API v2 to upload individual pre-encoded CMAF VOD video, audio, and text renditions that adhere to the guidelines below. After uploading them, you can manage the renditions through the dashboard or API.

To ensure smooth delivery, all uploaded pre-encoded renditions must meet the following specifications.