How to Choose an Encoding Solution

High-Density Encoding Appliances
As a subset of encoding appliances, the need for high-density encoding appliances is also on the rise. Two companies, Optibase and Visionary Solutions, offer rack-based encoding systems that are ideal for dense encoding applications.

Optibase created its Media Gateway (MGW) series when it purchased a company that created telco- and MSO-grade gear. The MGW series consists of large, blade-based, legacy MPEG-2 encoders with the recent addition of an H.264 encoder blade. The high-density redundant design means blades are hot-swappable.

The Visionary Solutions series is based on a newer design that enables a high-density form factor. The unit, like the Optibase MGW series, has redundant power supplies and hot-swappable blades, making it ideal for enterprise conference centers and the MTU/MDU industry. Unlike the Optibase system, though, this system can fit 17 encoders in a 3U rack-mount chassis.

Summary
As you can see, the number of choices for streaming encoders and transcoders in both hardware and software is growing dramatically. The system you choose should be based on your primary needs, and it’s quite possible you’ll want to use software for some solutions and specialized hardware for others. We’ll be sure to keep you updated throughout the year as new options become available, both in the form of our press-release depository and product reviews on the StreamingMedia.com website and in each issue of Streaming Media magazine.