ApsaraVideo VOD:Workflow 2.0

What is a workflow

Workflows streamline and modularize most media processing features. You can build custom processing flows in advance and then use them to process specified videos. This approach reduces repetitive and complex API calls and provides a one-stop media processing service.

Version updates

The latest version of ApsaraVideo VOD workflows includes nodes for existing ApsaraVideo VOD features and adds new nodes from Intelligent Media Services (IMS), such as video translation, caption extraction, caption removal, and video logo removal. This version also supports task queries and workflow task callbacks. We will continue to add more feature nodes to meet various business needs.

Capability comparison

The ✔️ symbol indicates that the feature is supported. The ❌ symbol indicates that the feature is not supported. The — symbol indicates that the feature is not required or not available.

Limits

• The video translation, caption extraction, and caption removal nodes are available only in the China (Shanghai), China (Beijing), China (Shenzhen), and Singapore regions. The video logo removal node is available only in the China (Shanghai), China (Beijing), and Singapore regions. ApsaraVideo VOD feature nodes are available in all regions.

• To use ApsaraVideo VOD and Intelligent Media Services feature nodes, you must activate ApsaraVideo VOD and Intelligent Media Services.

Common workflow scenarios

• Sequential translation and transcoding

  In this scenario, a video is first translated after it is uploaded to ApsaraVideo VOD. Then, the translated video is transcoded. For an example of how to configure this workflow, see Workflow configuration examples.

• Parallel caption removal and transcoding

  In this scenario, after a video is uploaded to ApsaraVideo VOD, caption removal and transcoding are performed in parallel.

• Parallel source file distribution and transcoding

  In this scenario, the source file is used as one playback stream, and other streams are generated by transcoding the source file based on the configured transcoding nodes.

  

Workflow process

First, you must configure a workflow in the console.

1. Obtain an upload credential and specify a workflow. ApsaraVideo VOD then returns an upload credential.

2. Upload the video.

3. The workflow is automatically triggered after the upload is complete.

4. The ApsaraVideo VOD workflow engine automatically performs media processing and video AI operations based on the workflow configuration.

5. After all nodes are processed, the workflow completes and sends a callback.

How to use workflows

1. Create a workflow.

   You can create workflows only in the ApsaraVideo VOD console.

   Expand to view the procedure

   1. Log on to the ApsaraVideo VOD console.

   2. In the left-side navigation pane, choose Configuration Management > Media Processing > Workflows.

   3. Click Add Workflow Template and enter a name for the workflow.

   4. Click the + button to the right of Start, edit the workflow topology, and click Confirm.

   5. After you create a workflow, you can retrieve its ID from the Workflow Management page to start workflow tasks.

2. Start a workflow task.

   You can use the workflow that you created to start a processing task for a video. The task can be started during or after the video upload.

   Start a workflow task in the console

   Start a workflow task during video upload

   1. Log on to the ApsaraVideo VOD console.

   2. In the navigation pane on the left of the ApsaraVideo VOD console, choose Media Library > Audio/Video and click Upload Audio/Video.

   3. Click Add Audio/Video, configure parameters such as the upload method and storage address, select Use Workflow, and specify the workflow that you created in the previous step.

      For more information about supported upload formats and parameter descriptions, see Upload files in the console.

   4. After you add the audio or video files, click Start Upload.

   Start a workflow task after video upload

   1. Log on to the ApsaraVideo VOD console.

   2. In the navigation pane on the left of the VOD console, choose Media Files > Audio/Video.

   3. On the Audio/Video page, click Media Processing in the Actions column for the target audio or video file.

   4. Select Use Workflow and then choose the workflow that you created in the previous step.

   5. Click OK.

   Start a workflow task using OpenAPI

   Start a workflow task during video upload

   Note

   The CreateUploadVideo operation is used only to obtain the upload URL and credential and to create basic media information. It does not upload files. You must implement the upload logic yourself. For a complete example of how to upload files by calling an API operation, see Upload media files by calling the ApsaraVideo VOD API.

   1. When you call the CreateUploadVideo or UploadMediaByURL operation to upload audio or video files, set the WorkflowId parameter to the ID of the workflow from the previous step. After the files are uploaded, ApsaraVideo VOD automatically processes them according to the specified workflow.

   Start a workflow task after video upload

   1. Call the SubmitWorkflowJob operation with the WorkflowId parameter set to the ID of the workflow from the previous step to immediately process the audio or video files.

Workflow configuration examples

Sequential translation and transcoding

This example shows how to configure a workflow for sequential translation and transcoding. The video is first translated and then transcoded.

1. On the workflow editing page, click the + button to the right of the Start node to add a video translation node, and then configure its parameters in the right panel.

2. Click the + button to the right of the translation node to add a transcoding node, and then select a transcoding template group in the right-side panel.

   Note

   For more information about how to configure a transcoding template group, see Transcoding templates.

   

3. After you configure the workflow topology, click Confirm. A workflow ID is generated. Record this ID to use when you specify the workflow for future uploads.

Parallel caption extraction and transcoding

To perform caption extraction and transcoding in parallel, add two child nodes to the right of the Start node: one for Caption Extraction and one for Video Transcoding. You can build a workflow as shown in the following figure.