Define your output format with transcoding presets
Transcoding presets
When you deliver live video, your destinations usually expect a specific format — a given resolution, framerate, codec, bitrate or audio layout — whatever the source looks like. A transcoding preset lets you define those output settings once and reuse them across as many outputs as you need, so every destination receives content that matches its requirements.
Presets are defined at the pool level. Any output in the pool can use one, and when several outputs share the same preset, Quortex Link processes the transcoding once and fans it out — keeping your encoding consistent and avoiding duplicate processing.
Creating a preset
In your pool, open the Presets page and select Add a preset. Give it a name that's unique within the pool, then set the video and audio configuration described below.
The configuration is split across two tabs: one for video settings and one for audio settings.
Starting from a template
You don't have to start from scratch. Quortex Link includes templates for common delivery formats — select one in the starter configuration to prefill the settings, then adjust them to your needs.
Video settings
Select the resolution (from the available choices), the codec, the frame rate, and the frame rate conversion (see Apply motion-compensated frame rate conversion).
A few combinations are constrained: 4K requires HEVC — AVC isn't available at that resolution — interlaced output is limited to the base framerates (25, 29.97, 30), and the available bitrate range depends on the codec and resolution.
Resolution | Base framerates (25, 29.97, 30) | Double framerates (50, 59.94, 60) | HEVC bitrate | AVC bitrate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
3840×2160p (4K) | ✓ | ✓ | 5.0 – 20.0 Mbps | Not available |
1920×1080p (Full HD) | ✓ | ✓ | 1.8 – 20.0 Mbps | 0.5 – 20.0 Mbps |
1280×720p (HD) | ✓ | ✓ | 1.0 – 20.0 Mbps | 0.5 – 20.0 Mbps |
1920×1080i (Full HD interlaced) | ✓ | — | 1.0 – 20.0 Mbps | 0.5 – 20.0 Mbps |
Looking for SD or another resolution? Those aren't available yet — contact us and we'll help.
The preset can't be saved until the audio settings are also defined.
Audio settings
Audio settings are codec, channels, sample rate and bitrate. The same configuration is applied to all audio tracks, and up to 4 audio tracks are supported.
HE-AAC v2 is stereo only, and MPEG-L2 supports mono and stereo but not 5.1. Sample rate can be 32, 44.1 or 48 kHz. The supported bitrates depend on the codec and channel layout:
Codec | Channels | Bitrate (kb/s) |
|---|---|---|
MPEG-L2 | Mono | 32, 48, 56, 64, 80, 96, 112, 128, 160, 192 |
MPEG-L2 | Stereo | 64, 96, 112, 128, 160, 192, 224, 256 |
AAC-LC | Mono | 32, 40, 48, 56, 64, 80, 96, 112, 128, 160, 192 |
AAC-LC | Stereo | 32, 40, 48, 56, 64, 80, 96, 112, 128, 160, 192, 224, 256 |
AAC-LC | 5.1 | 32, 40, 48, 56, 64, 80, 96, 112, 128, 160, 192, 224, 256 |
HE-AAC v1 | Mono | 32, 40, 48, 56, 64* |
HE-AAC v1 | Stereo | 32, 40, 48, 56, 64, 80, 96* |
HE-AAC v1 | 5.1 | 96, 112, 128, 160, 192, 224, 256 |
HE-AAC v2 | Stereo | 32, 40, 48, 56, 64* |
* Not available at a 32 kHz sample rate.
Assigning a preset
A preset only takes effect once you assign it to an output: open the output, choose the preset in its transcoding settings, and save. You can also assign an existing preset when you create an output. The same preset can be assigned to as many outputs as you like.
A preset is mandatory for RTMP outputs, and it must use the AVC codec.
Editing a preset
You can rename a preset or change its settings at any time — but the change applies to every output using it.
Before you apply a change, Quortex Link shows which outputs are affected and how. Some won't be impacted at all; others will briefly enter Configuring status and be unavailable for a few seconds, or for a few minutes for larger changes. Review this and, for significant impact, make the change during a maintenance window.
Deleting a preset
To delete a preset, first make sure no output is using it — Quortex Link won't remove a preset that's still assigned. Reassign or clear it from those outputs, then delete.
Updated on: 12/06/2026
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