---
type: concept
title: Transcoding
tags: [video, processing, media, video-processing, bandwidth-optimization]
related: [grypstube]
created: 2026-07-01
updated: 2026-07-01
sources: ["output/rz_uni_greifswald_de_dienste_webdienste_grypstube_datenschutz.md", "output/rz_uni_greifswald_de_dienste_webdienste_grypstube_faq.md"]
---

# Transcoding

**Transcoding** is the process of converting a digital file from one encoding format to another. This may include converting a digital video file from one format, resolution, or bitrate to another.

## Application in [[grypstube]]

In the context of the [[grypstube]] service at the Universität Greifswald, transcoding is the server-side process of automatically processing raw uploaded video files into various versions with different resolutions.

### Purpose and Benefits
The primary goal of transcoding is to optimize the user experience by providing adaptive bitrate streaming. This ensures that content is:
- Optimized for different bandwidths and device types.
- Accessible to users worldwide, regardless of their device capabilities, available network bandwidth, or technical constraints (specifically for students).
- Stable during playback; the video player can switch to a lower resolution if the viewer's bandwidth is restricted, which prevents buffering.

### Process and Queue
- **FIFO Logic**: The server processes videos in a **First In, First Out (FIFO)** order based on the upload timestamp.
- **Processing Delay**: Because videos are processed sequentially, high volumes of uploads can lead to significant wait times (several hours) before a video is fully "complete" and available in all resolutions.
- **Availability**: Users can typically edit metadata (tags and text) and view the video in a limited capacity before the transcoding process is fully finished.