The leaves are starting to change around the country and summer is coming to a close.   When we are not out taking pictures of the Aspen trees we are building new features for you.  This month was all about edge case bug fixes but we still managed to squeak out a few cool features  within our September release.

Async Audio Correction
Some of you have experienced some audio sync issues especially when your source had variable framerates, or had its own timescale problems.
You can now utilize a simple new feature in the API to resolve this problem: <audio_sync>1</audio_sync>
When used, we will adjust the output audio stream to match the source timestamps in # of samples per second.    Watch the infamous video engineer Markus Peek talk about Async in his short vid.ly video   

Fade IN/OUT for Audio and Fade IN/OUT to Black for Video
With our simple fade_in and fade_out parameters you can now add a dissolve during the encoding process.  Specify the start time of the dissolve and well as the length of the dissolve and we will automatically add this effect during the encoding process.  Great for a little post post product clean up work.  See our KB article on the topic for more details.

Advanced Roku Presets
5 Brand new Roku presets that have been tested and approved by Roku video engineers for optimal playback on the Roku set top box.  Roku HLS (multi bitrate adaptive http stream) and Roku 800kbps, 1200kbs at 640x480 as well as 1800kbps and 2700kbps at stunning 1280p.  We have watched ( I mean tested) all of these outputs on the new Roku2 and the results are unbelievable, definitely worth a try.  See our API docs for the specific Roku preset name.  

Almost As many bug fixes as leaves fell in my backyard
Optimized WebM default settings,  Fixed a bug where Apple ProRes source fails with rotate feature, RS Cloud Files as destination error, Apple ProRes encoded to fl9 error, iPad / iPod Streaming optimization, VP6 + rotation errors, logo parameter fixes with VP6, Noise reduction + 3gp - media's duration increased, Fixed errors with cropping that only appeared in AWS West DC, Sub user account permissions in UI, Rotate feature set to "if necessary" by default  from "no rotating" as previous default.  Turbo speed optimization for Apple HLS presets.

We are excited to announce that we recently teamed up with Firstborn, one of the hippest digital agencies around, to deliver SoBe Try A New Look - SoBe Beverages, the fun and edgy iPhone/iPad App for SoBe®, a product of Pepsi-Cola North America Beverages.

"Cloud vendors usually offer their services 'as is' and the best we can expect is a User Forum.  Then Encoding.com reached out directly and consistently made things better for us.  In our experience, this is truly unique," said Francis Turmel, CTO of Firstborn.  "Now we know we can bring Encoding.com a whole problem, instead of just a question, and they give us a solution rather than just an answer.  This is awesome."

The video management component of this application made the development and deployment a complicated effort, but was dramatically simplified by leveraging the Encoding.com platform and expertise of the Encoding.com engineering team.  Originally scoped as a three-month, in-house project, Firstborn was able to deliver in just three weeks!

What can we do for you?  Call us at 800.513.1740 or email us: sales at encoding.com

Encoding.com is proud to sponsor the inaugural 24-hour video hackathon in NYC called Hackday.tv.  The event takes place on Saturday and Sunday, September 10th / 11th and is being produced by our friends at Shelby.tv.  Visit here for the complete information.  There's also a meet-and-greet Happy Hour on Friday, 9th.  

We are providing APIs and free account access for both Vid.ly and Encoding.com.  There will also be awards and prizes given out for the most creative and compelling video applications.  

If you're passionate about developing video apps, then please join us for a weekend of hacks, demos and prizes.  We'll be there.  Feel free to drop us a note ahead of time as well: clive@encoding.com. 

Hack on!