ApsaraVideo VOD is an end-to-end solution for video collection, editing, and content management. You can use ApsaraVideo VOD to upload, transcode, moderate, and deliver content based on your business requirements.

Before you begin

  • Activate the ApsaraVideo VOD service before you can use the ApsaraVideo VOD console. For more information, see Activate ApsaraVideo VOD.
  • Prepare audio or video files on the on-premises machine.
  • Prepare a domain name that has completed real-name verification and has obtained an ICP filing. This domain name is added to CDN for acceleration.
    Note If you do not have a domain name, skip this step. For more information, see Configure an accelerated domain name.

Procedure

Log on to the ApsaraVideo VOD console. The following procedures describe how to upload, process, and play media files in the ApsaraVideo VOD console.

  1. Enable storage management
  2. Configure a transcoding template
  3. Configure a workflow
  4. Upload audio and video files
  5. Process media files
  6. Obtain the playback URL
  7. Configure an accelerated domain name

Enable storage management

ApsaraVideo VOD stores your media resources in Alibaba Cloud Object Storage Service (OSS) buckets. You can allocate an independent bucket in the ApsaraVideo VOD console and store your media files and templates in the bucket.

  1. In the left-side navigation pane of the ApsaraVideo VOD console, choose Configuration Management > Media Management > Storage.
  2. In the top navigation bar of the ApsaraVideo VOD console, select the region in which you want to enable storage management, for example, China (Shanghai).
  3. Click Enable to allocate a storage bucket.
  4. Click Manage to configure the permissions and origin domain name based on your needs.

Configure a transcoding template

A transcoding template is used for video transcoding. The parameters determine how the videos that you upload to ApsaraVideo VOD are processed. You can create multiple types of transcoding templates.

  1. In the left-side navigation pane of the ApsaraVideo VOD console, choose Configuration Management > Media Processing > Transcoding Template Groups.
    After you enable storage management, the system automatically adds the No Transcoding template group and the TranscodeTemplateGroup template group.
  2. Click Create Transcoding Template Group. The Create Transcoding Template Group page appears.
  3. Enter a template group name in the Template Group field. In the Normal Transcoding Template section, click Add Template. Configure the parameters displayed on the page to create a template.
  4. Click Save to return to the Transcoding Template Groups page.
    The newly created transcoding template group is displayed on the Transcoding Template Groups page. You can edit or delete the transcoding template group.

Configure a workflow

You can create a workflow and use the workflow to process videos when you upload or process media files.

  1. In the left-side navigation pane of the ApsaraVideo VOD console, choose Configuration Management > Media Processing > Workflows.
  2. Click Add Workflow to go to the Add Workflow page.
  3. Specify Workflow Name.
    This example adds the Media transcoding workflow. In the Start section, click + and select Transcode. Click the edit icon next to Transcode to modify Node Name and Transcoding Template Group.
  4. Click Confirm. You are automatically redirected to the Workflows page.
    The newly created workflow is displayed on the Workflows page. You can view details about the workflow and delete the workflow.

Upload audio and video files

Media files are uploaded to your ApsaraVideo VOD storage bucket. After the upload is complete, you can process and distribute these files.

  1. In the left-side navigation pane, choose Media Files > Audio/Video.
  2. Click Upload to go to the Upload Media page.
  3. Click Add Media, select an upload method, and select Use Transcoding Template Group or Use workflow.
    • If you select From Local as the upload method, click Add Media to upload the files. Alternatively, you can drag and drop the files to upload them to ApsaraVideo VOD.
    • If you select From URL as the upload method, you must specify the URL, Extension, and Video/Audio Name fields. This option is supported only in the China (Shanghai) region.
  4. Click Upload.
    The upload status of the video is displayed on the Upload Media page. When the status changes to Uploaded, the video has been uploaded.

    You can return to the Audio/Video page to view the uploaded video.

    Note If transcoding is used during upload, you are charged for transcoding. To avoid unexpected transcoding costs, we recommend that you use the No Transcoding template group.

Process media files

You can use transcoding template groups or workflows to process videos.

  1. In the left-side navigation pane, choose Media Files > Audio/Video.
  2. Select the video that you want to process and click Media Processing in the Actions column.
  3. Specify Processing Type, select a template or a workflow, and then click OK.
    When the status is Normal, video processing is complete.

Obtain the playback URL

Uploaded media files are stored in the ApsaraVideo VOD storage bucket. The system provides the playback URL. You can enter the URL in a browser for playback.

Notice If you use this URL for playback before CDN is configured for the region in which media files are stored, you are charged for OSS outbound traffic. If an accelerated domain name is configured in the region, you are charged for ApsaraVideo VOD traffic. The traffic used is offset by your ApsaraVideo VOD data transfer plan.
  1. In the left-side navigation pane, choose Media Files > Audio/Video.
  2. Find the video that you want to manage and click Manage in the Actions column.
  3. Click the Video URL tab.
  4. Click Copy in the Actions column.

Configure an accelerated domain name

After you add a domain name and configure it, you can use CDN to improve playback experience. You can purchase a data transfer plan to offset the traffic costs. Data transfer plans are more cost-effective when compared with pay-as-you-go pricing.

Note If you do not have a domain name, you do not need to configure an accelerated domain name. However, you are charged for OSS outbound traffic if media files are played. ApsaraVideo VOD data transfer plans cannot be used in this case.
  1. In the left-side navigation pane, choose Configuration Management > CDN Configuration > Domain Names.
  2. Click Add Domain Name.
    Specify Basic Information and Source Station Information as prompted.
  3. Click Submit.
    If your domain name is configured on Alibaba Cloud for the first time, you need to verify the ownership of the domain name. Select Method 1: DNS Settings or Method 2: Verification File.
  4. On the Domain Names page, obtain the CNAME record.
  5. Point the accelerated domain to the CNAME record assigned by Alibaba Cloud CDN.
    You can configure CNAME by following the CNAME instructions on the Domain Names page.
  6. On the Domain Names page, click Configure in the Actions column to configure settings such as Back-to-Origin and Cache based on your needs.