Roku Developer Program

[axmc]

Are there recommended profiles for encoding content for Roku using Sorensen Squeeze ?

Default profiles include MP4 for streaming servers at 1Mbps, 768Kbps, and 512Kbps

1 Mbps : Main Concept 1-pass CBR 1:1 frames Target rate 819Kbps 480x360 keyframe =300 hinted
768Kbps : Main Concept 1-pass CBR 1:1 frames Target rate 659Kbps 320x240 keyframe =300 hinted
512Kbps: Main Concept 1-pass CBR 1:1 frames Target rate 409Kbps 320x240 keyframe =300 hinted

There are also Progressive Streaming profiles for MP4 explicitly 360p and 480p in both 4x3 and 16x9

What's the best place to start ?

[SolveLLC]

"axmc" wrote:
Are there recommended profiles for encoding content for Roku using Sorensen Squeeze ?

Default profiles include MP4 for streaming servers at 1Mbps, 768Kbps, and 512Kbps

1 Mbps : Main Concept 1-pass CBR 1:1 frames Target rate 819Kbps 480x360 keyframe =300 hinted
768Kbps : Main Concept 1-pass CBR 1:1 frames Target rate 659Kbps 320x240 keyframe =300 hinted
512Kbps: Main Concept 1-pass CBR 1:1 frames Target rate 409Kbps 320x240 keyframe =300 hinted

There are also Progressive Streaming profiles for MP4 explicitly 360p and 480p in both 4x3 and 16x9

What's the best place to start ?

We are seeing issues with the Main Concept encoder when using a GPU engine to encode. If you're not using a GPU, I'd stick with the apple h.264 setting.

[axmc]

Thanks very much for the quick reply. I was surprised that I could not find mention of Sorensen here and Roku on their forums, so really appreciate the info.

I just got a GT120 NVidia card to add to the MacPro workstation but have not installed it yet. If I understand your reply correctly, with or without the GPU I will be ok if I switch the codec selection and create a custom profile using the Apple H.264 instead of Main Concept, and use the three data rates as reasonable choices for high, medium and low quality encodes.

I assume that if I do that and DO add the GPU that I will get some faster encode times.

Do the Sorensen Squeeze Progressive Streaming profiles have any applicability or are the Streaming Profiles all I need ?

The content is 16x9 SD which I understand in Roku terminology is HD, and a 4x3 version of the same content is termed SD. The MP4 default profiles that they offer for Progressive Streaming are 320p or 480p.

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[SolveLLC]

"axmc" wrote:
Thanks very much for the quick reply. I was surprised that I could not find mention of Sorensen here and Roku on their forums, so really appreciate the info.

I just got a GT120 NVidia card to add to the MacPro workstation but have not installed it yet. If I understand your reply correctly, with or without the GPU I will be ok if I switch the codec selection and create a custom profile using the Apple H.264 instead of Main Concept, and use the three data rates as reasonable choices for high, medium and low quality encodes.

I assume that if I do that and DO add the GPU that I will get some faster encode times.

Do the Sorensen Squeeze Progressive Streaming profiles have any applicability or are the Streaming Profiles all I need ?

The content is 16x9 SD which I understand in Roku terminology is HD, and a 4x3 version of the same content is termed SD. The MP4 default profiles that they offer for Progressive Streaming are 320p or 480p.

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We haven't been able to get anything to work using the Main Concepts encoder with the GPU. GPU encoding is only supported with the Main Concepts encoder. I'm getting a file ready to be sent off to Roku to find out what's going on. With that said, GPU acceleration cuts encode times by 1/3 depending on the Nvidia card used. With enough money you could have 4 nvidia cards in the same machine and cut the encoding time to near nothing. The profile depends on resolution and intended device. For instance, you can't play a 3.1 encoded file on an iphone 3G.. Please refer to the Roku encoding guide for a complete break-down of encoding options.