Practical video encoding tips for hitting the broadest range of Internet connected devices with an optimized array of H.264 encoding profiles.

1. Multi-Device Encoding Recommendations
H.264 Profiles and Device Support
Consumers demand video on all of their devices, but it can be challenging to encode
outputs targeted to the various screen sizes, operating systems, and generations of
gadgets. This is partially because older devices have less processing power, and thus can’t
crunch complex video profiles, like H.264 High.
This chart shows the three H.264 profiles in ascending order of complexity, and the
corresponding devices and video formats that are supported with those profiles. Devices
that are struck-through are not supported. As the video profiles get more complex, video
quality increases, but you reach fewer devices.
H.264 Profiles Targets
Baseline Flash (web) Android
H.264 Baseline Profile LC, Level 3.0 HTML 5 (MP4) Blackberry (newer)
640x480 or smaller HTML 5 (WebM) Blackberry (older)
Up to 1.5 Mbps, 30fps iPad 1-2 Desktop
AAC-LC, 128 kbps, stereo, 44100 Hz iPad 3 Roku
MP4 format iPhone 1-3GS Playstation 3
iPhone 4+ Xbox 360
Main Flash (web) Android
H.264 Main Profile, Level 3.1 HTML 5 (MP4) Blackberry (newer)
720p or smaller HTML 5 (WebM) Blackberry (older)
Up to 5 Mbps, 30fps iPad 1-2 Desktop
AAC, stereo, 48000 Hz iPad 3 Roku
MP4 format iPhone 1-3GS Playstation 3
iPhone 4+ Xbox 360
High Flash (web) Android (some)
H.264 High Profile, Level 4.0 HTML 5 (MP4) Blackberry (newer)
1080p or smaller HTML 5 (WebM) Blackberry (older)
Up to 30fps iPad 1-2 Desktop
AAC, stereo, 48000 Hz iPad 3 Roku
MP4 format iPhone 1-3GS Playstation 3
iPhone 4+ Xbox 360

2. Optimized Encoding Mix
This mix of H.264 profiles, resolutions, and bitrates lets you reach a broad range of
devices, while maximizing video quality across devices.
Transmux video into these three formats to hit all target device: MP4, Smooth Streaming,
HTTP Live Streaming.
Resolution Profile Bitrate Targets
1080p High@4.0 4 Mbps Flash (web)
HTML 5 (MP4)
720p Main@3.1 2.5 Mbps HTML 5 (WebM)
iPad 1-2
480p Main@3.1 1.6 Mbps iPad 3
iPhone 1-3GS
320p Main@3.1 1 Mbps
iPhone 4+
480x320 Baseline@3.0 600 Kbps Android
1 ref frame Blackberry (newer)
Blackberry (older)
400x288 Baseline@3.0 400 Kbps Desktop
1 ref frame Roku
Playstation 3
400x288 Baseline@3.0 250 Kbps Xbox 360
1 ref frame
Notes:
• Bitrate requirements vary widely depending on content type (complex or simple); these
recommendations are just a starting points.
• All video should have AAC audio, 1-2 channels.
• All video should use frame rate of 30 fps or less.
• Low-bitrate audio should be used for iOS (56kbps HE-AAC stereo). The Roku device
only supports AAC-LC, so two audio outputs may be required.