Deinterlaced inputs
All input channels must be deinterlaced for accurate, predictable capacity calculation across the transcoder.
GPU-based transcoder, assisted by CPU — fully flexible, so providers choose their own capacity-to-quality ratio. Adjust resolution, aspect ratio, bitrate, codecs, streaming protocols, and interlacing to fit any workflow.
The most common container for live streaming is MPEG-2 TS (MPEG-TS). Standard supported formats are H.264 AVC and H.265 HEVC for video, and AAC for audio. Resolutions cover several SD formats (including PAL), HD-ready 720p, Full HD 1080p, and emerging Ultra HD 4K.
The most common streaming protocols used by Plum iTV Transcoder are UDP, RTP, and RTMP — covering the full spectrum of broadcast and contribution workflows.
For a single Plum iTV Transcoder to run stably, CPU load should stay at 60–70% and GPU utilisation at around 90% — those thresholds are the only practical limits on a single transcoder instance. Within them, you can push the hardware to its full design capacity without sacrificing reliability.
When the standard capacity conditions are not fully met, transcoder capacity can decrease compared to the estimated baseline. As a rule of thumb, one HD-ready channel in three profiles consumes the resources of three SD channels in three profiles. One Full HD channel in three profiles consumes the resources of five SD channels in three profiles.
Plum iTV Transcoder supports redundancy through a Cold Spare model. Files are backed up from the regular Transcoder, and if the primary unit fails, the spare can be up and running within minutes — provided adequate human resources on the provider's side are available to execute the switchover.
All input channels must be deinterlaced for accurate, predictable capacity calculation across the transcoder.
Profiles follow the provider's demand exclusively — resolutions, bitrates, and the number of profiles per channel.
Input and output resolutions match — HD input produces HD output, SD input produces SD output. No upscaling assumed.
Input codecs are MPEG-2 or MPEG-4 — the standard formats expected for IPTV transcoding workflows.
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