The question of what is encoding and what is transcoding often gets asked by many webmasters. They both provide very similar services, but they have different nuances that can make one or the other more suitable for a particular purpose. For the sake of this article, we will look into what is encoding and what is transcoding as best as possible. By the time you are done reading this article, you should have a better understanding of the main difference between these two services. So, let us get started.
What is Transcoding?
When we talk about transcoding, we are referring to converting an MP3 file into an HTML file. Or, we may say that it makes the file readable and executable on the internet. The encoder may do this job in just a matter of hours, but the real work that has to be done by the webmaster is to convert the files into a format that can be read and used by the right program. Even if a person has the technical knowledge required, it may still be beyond him, especially if he doesn't know what file type to use and what encoding technique is best for his needs.
What is Encoding?
On the other hand, encoding may require a longer time. There may be some limitations on the computer that the transcoder has, and even if he has the technical skills, there may still be a limitation to what he can do with the file. Sometimes, the limitations are not in the technical skills of the person, but in the file type that he can work with. Sometimes, the problem lies in the internet connection that the user has.
What is the difference between Transcoding and Encoding?
Many people would say that a transcoder can deal with all kinds of files, whether they are in video format audio format or even text format. Let us look at the next scenario, which is the opposite. When a person wants to view something on the internet, the file that he is looking for may not be available on just any ordinary computer, at least not without an advanced internet connection. In this case, the files may have to go through a series of complicated steps before they get to their destination. So, how does this relate to what is the difference between encoding and transcoding?
In simple terms, when you upload a video file to your webcam, it gets converted into a digital format that your computer can understand. At the same time, when you visit a web site, it may also take the form of a digital file, which the computer can read. If the server is slow, or the connection is not very good, then the file may take a longer time to be uploaded. This is because the server itself has to decode the complicated encodings of the video transfer protocol. So, while uploading a video to the web, or viewing a web page, the computer does not have the decoded file as yet, it has to decode all the complicated computer code first.
This is where the difference between what is the difference between encoding and transcoding comes in. Encoding refers to putting information into a file in a way that is easily readable by other programs. For example, if you want to make a picture from a digital picture, you would use a graphics program to make the necessary changes. The file would be transformed into a compatible image file type using the appropriate codec. Find out more at Ziggeo.
On the other hand, another difference between encoding and transcoding is that Transcoding is the simple conversion of a file from a digital form into an analog one. An example of this conversion process is the action of changing a video file from a digital format into an analog format. A DVD to VCD DVD-R conversion is an example of this process.
There are some other types of file transformations that can be made. One such example is the rotation of a video file. In other words, what is the difference between encoding and transcoding? It is pretty straightforward - when you have a video file that needs to be converted to an analog signal, you are dealing with the digital transformation part of the job.