Encoding times after upload
VideoBB encodes each upload in two passes. It plays in low quality first, then gets sharper. See how long it takes and what to do if it fails.
VideoBB makes the small quality levels first, so your video can be watched soon after the upload ends. The sharper levels follow in the background. You do not need to keep the page open while this happens.
The two encoding passes
Encoding means turning your file into the formats the player streams. VideoBB uses FFmpeg for this and works in two passes.
| Pass | What it makes | What you see |
|---|---|---|
| First pass | Three thumbnail choices with smaller copies for video grids, the storyboard for scrub previews, a short silent preview clip, and 144p to 360p | The video goes live and can be played |
| Second pass | 480p, 720p and 1080p, then 1440p and 2160p where the source allows | Each level is added as soon as it is ready |
Each level is cut into short HLS segments of six seconds. The player can then switch quality between segments. Our guide to video transcoding explains why this step takes time.
How long each stage takes
| Source | Playable after | Complete after |
|---|---|---|
| 1080p, 10 minutes | under a minute | a few minutes |
| 4K, 10 minutes | about a minute | roughly the running time or more |
Times depend on the length, the resolution and how busy the servers are. Encoding usually takes less time than the video runs, but 4K takes longer.
Why the video looks soft at first
For the first few minutes, only the low levels exist. Once the HD levels are ready, new playback picks them up. Reload the page to get them sooner. The guide to blurry video after upload covers other causes.
Following progress in the studio
The video list in the studio shows each video's stage. While the second pass runs, it shows the highest level that is live and the level still to come.
- Queued for encoding: waiting for a free encoder.
- Encoding: the first pass is running, with a percentage.
- Ready: the video plays. Higher levels may still be on the way.
- Failed: something went wrong. The reason is shown on the video's page.
If encoding fails
Open the video in the studio to read the reason. A file that was cut short needs a fresh upload. A file with no picture, such as an audio file, cannot be encoded. For other errors, press Re-queue encoding on the video's page to try again.