# Configure encoding

You can modify the encoding settings for a channel. The encoding settings let you fine tune your channel recording or live stream. You can select a specific frame size, bitrate, audio or video codec, and more.

### Codecs and file format compatibility

Unify supports the following codecs:

**Table 8 Supported video codecs **

| **Value** | **Description** |
| --- | --- |
| H.264 | H.264 provides high quality video while using low bandwidth. |

**Table 9 Supported audio codecs and bitrate guidance**

| **Value** | **Description** |
| --- | --- |
| AAC | AAC is comparable to MP3 and may even provide better sound quality at a similar sample bitrate. Supported sampling bitrate values are: 16, 22, 44 and 48K kHz.   Setting the channel bitrate to match the audio source's bitrate provides the best sound quality and avoids audio resampling. Most digital signals (HDMI or SDI sources) use 48 kHz. Most digital signals (HDMI or SDI sources) use 48 kHz audio. For analog signals, 44 kHz provides a good quality audio sample. The maximum bitrate for mono encoding of a 44 kHz signal is 264 kbps. For stereo, 320 kbps is supported. Note that lower bitrates (e.g. 32 kbps) with a 44 kHz signal may result in distorted audio. |
| MP3 | MP3 provides a common audio format for audio storage. Supported sampling bitrate values are: 22 kHz, 44 kHz and 48 kHz. Setting the channel bitrate to match the audio source's bitrate provides the best sound quality and avoids audio resampling. Most digital signals (HDMI or SDI sources) use 48 kHz. For analog signals, 44 kHz provides a good quality audio sample. Web browsers that use Flash (FLV) do not support 48 kHz MP3 audio. When selecting this encoding, you must use a web browser that supports HTML5 or a media player to preview your channel. |

The following table displays the compatibility between the video/audio codecs and the supported recording formats.

**Table 10 Video/audio codecs and formats for recording**

| **Video Codec selected** | **Audio Codec selected** | **MP4 and MP4-Fragmented** | **AVI** | **MOV** | **MPEG-TS** |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| H.264 | No audio codec | ü | ü | ü | ü |
| H.264 | MP3 | ü | ü | ü | ü |
| H.264 | AAC | ü | ü | ü | ü |

> product: unify · topic: audio · source: unify-userguide.md · updated: Oct 7, 2026