Talk:Transcoding

With regards to audio/video:Transcoding usually refers to compressing files(such as MPEG) to a lower bitrate without changing formats,Encoding(also called Rendering) usually refers to changing formats(such as AVI to MPEG).

In a strict sense, the definition of this word has absolutely nothing to do with the lossy/losslessness of the conversion, and if anything the 'literal' definition would be more likely to imply a lossless conversion than a lossy one. Transcoding is, quite simply, transfering the same information from one encoding to another. It matters not whether the conversion induces loss, as long as it represents the same information (ie. it doesn't matter if it's bit-perfect, as long as it represents the same song). I don't think we should be perpetuating the current definition. Only the first line is even close to technically accurate. --Ktims 10:00, 28 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Merging with http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video_transcoding

This should some how be merge with the article in video tracoding. There should also be more examples of software transcoder, and maybe link to the mpeg formats in some way. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Ing tes (talk • contribs) 08:44, 7 March 2007 (UTC).[reply]

Transcode vs Encode

The process of converting CD audio, or DVD audio, for example, into a digital format (lossly or not), is generally called encoding. I've also seen it called transcoding. Any thoughts on whether a difference between "encode" and "transcode" actually exists as I've described, or am I just mixing up expressions for the same thing? Bernard S. Jansen (talk) 08:49, 4 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Additional Input about Transcode vs Encode

as far as I understood it: the difference between transcoding and reencoding is that transcoding converts from one compressed format into another compressed format without decompressing the input, reencoding does the same but with decoding the material before encoding it. Since most tools that reencode like tranzcode/mencoder/ffmpeg do the decompressing internally (in RAM) most people confuse them with transcoders.

short:
transcoding = compressed -> compressed with no decompression in-between
encoding = uncompressed -> compressed
reencoding = compressed -> uncompressed -> compressed

Can we simplify the introductory paragraph?

Hello, techies out there....

May we please simplify the introductory paragraph and put some plain, easily understandable English up front and save the technical jargon (and concepts beyond a lay encyclopedia-user's grasp) for a second sentence or short follow-up paragraph there? *Please*.

I just ran into the word reading a Google article. I popped it into Wikipedia and still did not have a remote grasp of what "transcoding" was until I had read the entire thing (and initially was wildly confused and nonplused just reading the introduction, going backwards in understanding rather than forward: lay expression is only introduced later when discussing consumer product applications of the concept like music players and cell phones).

May we not begin the article by saying something to the effect that "transcoding" is the process of utilizing a universally understood intermediate code to allow devices employing disparite ones to communicate (or something to that effect, technically accurate in expression), then, once the reader understands what the concept represents, get into the tech talk of "lossy codecs", "bitstreams" PCM, and YUC, later.

I realize the intro may sound simple to one who is technically familiar with the concepts and terminology, and may even appear to do what is being suggested to the tech savvy, but as a layman I can assure you it does not.

Perhaps something like:

"Transcoding is the process of transforming one body of data into a format readable by a device employing another by utilizing a universally understood intermediate format. Digital media players and mobile phones often rely on such transcoding to display content generated by otherwise incompatible devices.

"Transcoding often but does not necessarily result in diminished file size and resolution or audio quality, which may or may not be problematic depending on the type of data being transcoded and the nature of the destination device. Diminished audio quality on a home audio system may not be desirable, for example, while a reduction in file size and resolution to the level of a mobile phone's capabilities may not result in a diminished experience for the end-user."

"[Get more technical here]...."

Anyone out there capable of tackling this? I'm just passing through, trying to get enlightened by Wikipedia while reading the morning news.

PS: I've bracketed "Transrating" as a concept that deserves but as yet does not have its own Wikipedia article. Maybe someone who knows enough about Transcoding to make the above suggested changes in its introduction can bat out a paragraph or two for a new Transrating page, that at the least could reference a reader back to the Transcoding page for a fuller fleshing out of a related technology. That would be great.Wikiuser100 (talk) 12:31, 28 August 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Merge to transcode

The article transcoder is a narrow constrained subset of transcooding. It should be moved to transcode and shown as an example. algocu (talk) 16:57, 10 February 2009 (UTC)[reply]