Output parameters after transcoding: bitrate, frame rate, and codecs

What is transcoding with ABR?

In a nutshell, transcoding is converting the original video from one format to another format with a set of extra qualities (ABR). Transcoding aims to make videos viewable across different platforms and devices and to expand the number of viewers, e.g., adding those who couldn't watch the video in its original format. Learn more about transcoding with our in-depth article.

Transcoding with adaptive bitrate streaming (ABR) works like this:

1. Decoding of the original video (list of accepted parameters for input video)
2. Processing, including scaling (resizing,) frame rate conversion, aspect ratio conversion, and other types of video processing
3. Encoding into the desired output format

Discover how we lowered the bitrate for live and VOD streaming by 32.5% without sacrificing quality.

Audio and video codecs

A transcoded video stream has the following codecs by default:

• Audio: AAC, 44.1KHz, stereo
• Video: H264, 30FPS, ABR

Output parameters after transcoding

The table below shows the available output quality levels after transcoding. Video and audio parameters are optimized for adaptive bitrate streaming, providing smooth playback across devices and network conditions.

Video Quality	Resolution	FPS	Video bitrate, Mbps	Audio bitrate, Mbps
UHD 8K*	7680 × 4320	-	-	-
UHD 4K*	3840 × 2160	30	14,000	0,196
QHD 2K*	2560 × 1440	30	7,200	0,196
Full HD 1080p	1920 × 1080	30	4,050	0,128
HD 720p	1280 × 720	30	1,800	0,128
SD 468p	832 × 468	30	0,800	0,096
360p	640 × 360	30	0,450	0,064
240p*	427 × 240	30	0,200	0,064
144p*	254 × 144	30	0,072	0,064
Audio only*	-	-	-	0,128

*To enable these qualities, contact the support team.

The values in the table are given for videos with a horizontal aspect ratio of 16:9. The values must be reversed for vertical videos. For example, if a horizontal resolution is (1280 × 720), the relevant vertical resolution is (720 × 1280).

We use variable bitrate (VBR) for encoding video. The table above shows average values. The Gcore Customer Portal shows a sum of audio and video bitrates.

Note: We don’t upscale videos. Your output will range from the lowest quality to that of your original bitrate. So, if you upload a 4K video, your output will range from the lowest quality up to 4K. Similarly, if you upload a 720p video, your output will vary from the lowest quality up to 720p only.

Custom quality sets

We provide an optimized set of quality presets designed for smooth streaming across all devices. These settings balance quality and bandwidth efficiency, making them ideal for most users. However, if you have specific requirements—such as higher audio quality, cost reduction by removing unnecessary renditions, AV1 encoding, or custom settings for individual videos—you have full control over your transcoding presets.

Each video can have its own unique quality settings, so you’re not limited to a single configuration. Default and custom presets work together, giving you the flexibility to fine-tune streaming quality as needed. Check out the API documentation to explore available custom quality sets. If you need assistance, our support team is always ready to help you customize the best option for your needs.

HTTP response codes when requesting Live and VOD videos

The following table includes the possible HTTP response codes returned when requesting videos and live streams for manifests (.m3u8, .mpd) and chunks (.ts, mp4, etc.).

Code	Function	Description
200	OK	All OK
403	Forbidden	Access is denied. If you use any distribution restriction such as geo-restriction or token, you must satisfy this condition for access.
404	Not Found	There's no requested video, or the live stream is temporarily not delivering chunks. Check the request link or activate your video. For Live streams in CMAF format, you can check the extra header "X-Err-Code": 1000 – Master-stream is missed. The stream is not pushed or not transcoded, so start a stream or restart transcoding. 2000 – Invalid StreamID. The identifier is not parsed from the requested URL; check the URL. 3000 – Stream is not ready for delivery. Inspect the logs or contact support. Oftentimes, this happens when the master-stream has wrong parameters, such as video and audio codecs, FPS, or bitrate. Verify the parameters to ensure everything works as expected.
422	Not Found	This is advanced functionality (i.e. custom encoding presets). To enable it, contact your manager or the support team.
500	Internal Server Error	An unexpected issue happened on the server. This may be a local error in a specific video. In this case, check the video processing status in your personal account. If the error is global, the information will be on the status page.
502	Bad Gateway	An unexpected issue happened on the server. This may happen when VOD or Live can't be delivered over CDN because an incorrect response was received from an origin (storage or live transcoder). In this case, check the video processing status or live stream transcoding in your personal account. If the error is global, the information will appear on the status page.
503	Service Unavailable	An unexpected issue happened on the server. This may be a local error in a specific video. In this case, check the video processing status in your personal account. If the error is global, the information will be on the status page.
504	Gateway Time-out	Timeout for receiving data from the source. Try checking the status of video sending/ingesting and transcoding.

The system health status page is available at https://status.gcore.com/

How to apply 2K/4K+ and custom advanced settings

Some settings require manual control. If you need them, contact the Gcore support team or your manager.

The basic tariff plan doesn't include 2K/4K+ in the transcoding quality preset. For information about high-quality video processing costs, check our pricing page. To work with high-quality video, we'll provide you with new quality presets and a new tariff plan.

Additionally, you can ask to activate the following settings:

• Use codecs H265 HEVC, VP9, AV1, etc.,
• Add 8K quality,
• Add super-low quality 144p,
• Change preset of output ABR qualities for all or some renditions, remove low-quality renditions,
• Use 60+ FPS or use original FPS values,
• Increase bitrate for audio; use 48KHz,
• Use Dolby Digital, Dolby Atmos,
• Transmux VOD MP4 files into HLS on the fly.
• Transmux and “pass-through” instead of transcoding for LIVE streams.