Encoding, storage and delivery

Here are the technical specifications of Kinow video hosting.

Encoding format: video files are encoded in MP4/H264 using a container HLS (HTTP Live Streaming).

Each video is encoded in various assets (adaptive streaming) to adapt the broadcast quality according to the user connection speed, in order to offer an uninterrupted viewing.

Encoding credits: to encode a video you need encoding credits, which can be purchased from your Kinow member area. Credits are consumed for each video encoded.

The credits consumption depends on the previously selected assets. A basic configuration is provided : 1h encoding credit = 1h source video, including 2 SD assets and 1 HD asset. Of course you can customize the number of activated versions, which means that your credits will be consumed more or less quickly.

Source files: we recommand that you upload a source file with a resolution at least equal (or greater) than the largest HLS asset selected for encoding.

We accept most of video codecs as source files, however, to ensure maximum compatiblity, we recommand you to proved a file encoded using codec MP4/H264. If you are working from DVD, we invite you to use Handbrake.fr freeware, to perform the encoding of your source file.

Assets: the assets configuration can be made through the back-office (in tab "Video source").

Each asset has its own bitrate (for example 8.5Mbps - bitrate/second). Higher the bitrate is, more it requires a high internet connection speed to be broadcasted without interruption.

Protection system: streaming video are protected with DRM using AES 128 bits encryption, a temporary access token generated on the fly and for each customer video viewing, and SSL certificate encryption.

Consequently, only users with access (pay per view, subscription or free) will be able to watch the video stream.

Storage: the tab "File explorer" in back-office display the storage size used for each video encoded (source file + various assets).

Video source file is always kept, in order to be able to re-generate encoding if needed and to provide the file download. This one is never directly broadcasted by the video player: only HLS assets (.TS files) are used for streaming delivery.

Video player: video files are delivered in streaming using a video player 100% HTML5/CSS3, FlowPlayer 6, compatible with most of the recent browsers.