VideoTranscode

VideoTranscode is a video encoding API. You send a source URL and the name of a preset. We run the FFmpeg pipeline on managed workers, write the result to object storage, and either call your webhook or wait for you to poll.

There are no encoder flags to write and no infrastructure to operate. A preset is a reviewed encoding recipe with fixed codecs, bitrates and packaging, so the same preset always produces the same shape of output.

Base URL

https://videotranscode.cloud/api/v1

Every request is authenticated with an API key sent as a bearer token. Keys are created in the dashboard and look like spk_ followed by 48 hexadecimal characters.

curl -X POST https://videotranscode.cloud/api/v1/jobs \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $VT_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "inputUrl": "https://cdn.example.com/master.mov",
    "preset": "mp4_264_720p"
  }'

What the service does

  • Progressive MP4 in H.264 and HEVC, from 240p to 1080p.
  • Adaptive streaming as HLS or DASH, packaged as CMAF fragmented MP4, with H.264, HEVC, VP9 or AV1 ladders.
  • Live HLS for continuous sources.
  • Social formats in square and portrait framing.
  • Audio extraction to AAC or Opus.
  • Thumbnails, sprite sheets and caption conversion.
  • Repair and conversion, including deinterlacing, denoising, stabilisation and HDR10 to SDR tone-mapping.
  • Timeline editing through an Edit Decision List, so you can trim, reorder, join, change speed, replace audio and burn in logos or text.

There are 23 presets in total. Which ones you can use depends on your plan.

The shape of a job

A job moves through a small set of states.

StateMeaning
queuedAccepted and waiting for a worker
processingA worker is running FFmpeg on it
completedOutput is in storage and a signed link is available
failedProcessing stopped; the reason is on the job
cancelledYou cancelled it before it finished

Output is never public. Reading a job returns a signed URL with an explicit expiry, and you can ask for a fresh link at any time while the file is kept.

Where to go next

  • Quick start creates your first job in a few minutes.
  • Authentication covers API keys and how to keep them safe.
  • API reference documents every endpoint, field and error.
  • Guides cover the decisions you have to make, such as which preset to pick.
  • Examples are complete, runnable integrations.
  • Preset catalogue lists all 23 presets with their exact settings.
  • Webhooks explains the payload, the signature and the retry policy.
  • Plans and limits lists every quota the service enforces.
Quick start