Do videos uploaded via cloud on-demand need to be transcoded before they can be played?

Whether videos uploaded via cloud on-demand need to be transcoded before playback depends on the format, resolution, and compatibility requirements of the target playback devices.

1. If the video is already in a widely supported format (e.g., MP4 with H.264 codec) and matches the target device's capabilities, transcoding may not be necessary. For example, a standard 1080p MP4 file can often be played directly on most modern devices.

2. If the video uses an uncommon format or high-resolution format (e.g., RAW, ProRes, or 4K HEVC), transcoding is typically required to convert it into a more compatible format (e.g., MP4 with H.264 or H.265) for smooth playback across devices.

3. Adaptive bitrate streaming (e.g., HLS or DASH) often requires transcoding to generate multiple resolution and bitrate versions, ensuring smooth playback under varying network conditions.

For cloud-based video processing, Tencent Cloud's Media Processing Service (MPS) provides efficient transcoding capabilities, supporting format conversion, resolution adjustment, and adaptive bitrate streaming generation. This helps optimize videos for different devices and network environments.