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Use encoding tiers

HeapStream lets you choose an encoding tier per video. The tier determines which quality levels are encoded for the asset, and with them its cost.

Choosing a tier

  • Set the default tier for the project in the Project Settings page.
  • Or pick a tier for one video in the upload page's settings panel.
  • Set the project default with the update project ⧉ endpoint's encoding_tier field.
  • Or set metadata.encoding_tier to full or baseline when uploading ⧉ or fetching ⧉ a video. When omitted (null), the project's tier is used.

The project default is full.

Full encoding

The default encoding tier is full, offering both high visual quality and extensive scalability. It is optimized for video-centric applications.

Baseline encoding

baseline assets present a cost-effective option for video applications with simpler quality requirements.

For any given video, it will always encode the highest & lowest qualities, but will have fewer qualities in-between.

Full vs baseline

Uploading a 4K asset will result in the following resolutions for each tier:

Quality Full Baseline
4K ✅ ✅
2K ✅ -
1080p ✅ ✅
720p ✅ -
480p ✅ ✅
360p ✅ -
240p ✅ ✅

Watch encoding progress

While a freshly uploaded video is processing, the Video Preview panel on its Video Edit page shows live encoding progress in place of the player. It lists every quality being prepared — one progress bar per rendition (e.g. 1080p, 720p, 480p) plus an overall percentage — and fills in as the encode advances. The panel updates on its own, with no need to refresh.

Encoding runs in two passes: the essential lower qualities are produced first, then the higher ones. So as soon as those essentials are ready the player appears and you can start watching, while a slim strip beneath it keeps showing the higher qualities still being prepared. Each rendition turns green with a check as it finishes, and once the whole video is done the strip disappears.