VOD storage format is evolving to MP4

June 2024

What’s changing

MK.IO is evolving the format of the VOD asset storage to a standardized MP4 format.

Who is impacted

Anyone who is using MK.IO for VOD transcoding is impacted by this change since the output from the transcode will be generated in the new MP4 format. If you are using MK.IO to deliver VOD assets directly, this will be transparent for you since our streaming endpoints already work with this format.

Why you would use this / Why it matters

This change is mainly motivated by our ability to add more capabilities to our VOD assets. Shortly after the MP4 format is rolled out, you will see new features coming in such as generation of thumbnails, ability to use download presets, side-loading of subtitles or AI-based transcription and translation.

Your existing assets generated by MKIO will not be impacted. Streaming endpoints will be able to deliver both the new format and existing formats. Assets generated by Azure AMS will also continue to be fully supported.

Additional details

Until now, MK.IO was storing transcoded VOD assets in the form of a Smooth Streaming Fragmented MP4 content with the following files:

• Video files (.ismv), one per rendition, all segments concatenated into one file
• Audio files (.isma), one per rendition, all segments concatenated into one file
• Server manifest (.ism) used as the access point for streaming endpoints
• Client manifest (.ismc)

MK.IO is now evolving to an MP4 file format. The new asset on output of VOD transcoding will contain the following files:

• MP4 files (.mp4), one per video rendition with all audio streams interleaved
• Server manifest (.ism) used as the access point for streaming endpoints
• Client manifest (.mpd)
• Index files (.mpi), one per rendition (used to enhance performance of the streaming delivery)

The naming of the files on output of VOD transcoding is also evolving to use the input filename as a prefix for all files in the asset.

Getting started

There is nothing to do on your side to benefit from this new format. Once rolled out, all the existing VOD transforms will be updated to use this MP4 format instead of the Smooth Streaming Fragmented MP4 format used previously.

If you want to convert your existing assets to the new MP4 format and benefit from the new capabilities, MK.IO provides asset conversion transforms to perform this operation.

Availability & rollout plan

Asset conversion capability has been rolled out in all regions June 27th.

Native use of MP4 for transcoding transform will be rolled out in all regions July 9th.