Video Overview

  • Source files must not contain bars and tone, test patterns, production slates, textless material, or any other non-program content.
  • All video assets uploaded to Prime Video Direct must have a progressive scan type. If your video contains interlace, please choose the “deinterlace” function on your video editing/transcoding software when exporting your video.
  • The file header must accurately describe the display aspect ratio of the content. Anamorphic sources must include accurate 4:3 or 16:9 display aspect ratio flags.

Please see for more information on codecs, file formats (containers), and bitrates in the 

Codecs and file formatssection below.






AVC/H.264

  • Supported Containers: .mp4, .m2t, .ts
    Note   H.264 video in .mov wrappers aren’t supported.
  • Profile: High
  • Recommended Bitrate for HD Resolution: 30 Mbps
  • Recommended Bitrate for SD Resolution: 15 Mbps
  • Key Frame Interval: 2 seconds (or less)
  • Audio Format: AC-3 or AAC
  • Recommended Bitrate for AC-3 Audio:
    • 5.1 – Bitrate: 448 Kbps, Sample Rate: 48 kHz
    • Stereo – Bitrate: 192 Kbps, Sample Rate: 48 kHz
  • Recommended Bitrate for AAC Audio:
    • 5.1 – Bitrate: 768 Kbps, Sample Rate: 48 kHz
    • Stereo – Bitrate: 320 Kbps, Sample Rate: 48 kHz


Pro-Res 422

  • Supported Containers: .mov
  • Profile: HQ
  • Recommended Bitrate for HD Resolution: 220 Mbps
  • Recommended Bitrate for SD Resolution: 110 Mbps
  • Key Frame Interval: Not applicable. Pro-Res files are I-Frame only.
  • Audio Format: PCM
  • Recommended Audio Bitrate: Lossless, Sample Rate: 48 kHz



Audio Overview

  • All audio tracks in a source must be in the same language.
  • The audio track must only contain a single full audio mix. The track can include dialogue, narration, music, sound effects, and any other audio intended to be heard by the audience. Remove any additional audio tracks, including silent tracks, MOS (mit out sound, motor only sync, motor only shot), M&E (music & effects), and commentary, prior to uploading to Prime Video Direct.
  • Audio duration and video duration must match.
  • All embedded audio must meet one of the following channel onfigurations:
    • 1-Channel Mono
    • 2-Channel Stereo: Left-Right
    • 6-Channel 5.1 Surround Sound: Left-Right-Center-LFE-Left Surround-Right Surround
    • 8-Channel 5.1 Surround Sound + Stereo: Left-Right-Center-LFE-Left Surround-Right Surround-Left Stereo Total-Right Stereo Total
MPEG-2
  • Supported Containers: .mpg, .mpeg, .m2t, .m2ts, .ts
  • Profile: Main
  • Recommended Bitrate for HD Resolution: 80 Mbps
  • Recommended Bitrate for SD Resolution: 50 Mbps
  • Key Frame Interval: 1-second or less. I-Frame only preferred.
  • Audio Format: PCM or MPEG Layer II
  • Recommended Bitrate for PCM Audio: 
    • 5.1 – Lossless, Sample Rate: 48 kHz
    • Stereo - Lossless, Sample Rate: 48 kHz
  • Recommended Bitrate for MPEG Layer II Audio: 
    • 5.1 – Data Rate: 768 Kbps, Sample Rate: 48 kHz
    • Stereo – Bitrate: 384 Kbps, Sample Rate: 48 kHz



Resolutions

Common resolutions for HD videoCommon resolutions for SD video
  • 1280x720 (16:9 aspect ratio)
  • 1920x1080 (16:9 aspect ratio)
  • 640x480 (4:3 aspect ratio)
  • 640x360 (16:9 aspect ratio)








Note: 4K/UHD video isn't currently supported.

Our software automatically adjusts the delivery streams to a resolution appropriate to the customer’s device and connection speed. If you submit a 1080p HD video, and a customer streams it in SD, we automatically adjust it for you. For best results, please upload your highest quality video source. After initial publishing, if you submit a revised mezzanine or trailer, it must be at least the same resolution.


Caption Frame Rates and Drop/Non-Drop Values


There are multiple frame rates that can be used when creating captions files depending on the type of content and standards for your region. Non-Drop Frame timecode means that for every frame of video, there is a corresponding timecode number. The timecode increments without any compensation. In almost all cases, timecode is Non-Drop Frame. The following caption frame rates and Drop/Non-Drop values are supported by Prime Video:

  • 25 fps
  • 29.97 fps DF (Drop Frame)
  • 29.97 fps NDF (Non-Drop Frame)
  • 30 fps


Display aspect ratios

The display aspect ratio defines the proportional relationship between the video's width and height. We support the following display aspect ratios:

  • 4:3 (format most common for SD video)
  • 1.66:1
  • 16:9 (standard format for HD video)
  • 1.85:1 (35 mm film standard for U.S. and UK widescreen theatrical releases)
  • 2:1
  • 2.20:1 (70 mm film standard)
  • 2.35:1 (35 mm anamorphic standard prior to 1970)
  • 2.39:1 (35 mm anamorphic standard since 1970)
  • 2.40:1 (anamorphic standard for Blu-ray film releases at 1920×800 resolution)



Frame rates

Prime Video Direct supports video sources with the following frame rates: 23.976, 24, 25, 29.97, and 30 frames per second (FPS). There is no requirement to perform frame rate conversion on your content to meet specific regional broadcast standards (e.g. NTSC, PAL, SECAM). For best results, we recommend exporting your videos at the same frame rate at which the content was shot and edited.

If you don’t know what frame rate your content was shot in, select Current or Same as Source when exporting your video.If your footage exceeds 30 FPS, you should encode your video at half that frame rate. For example, if content was shot at 60 FPS, encode your final video at 30 FPS.

Important: Always choose "constant" frame rate instead of "variable" frame rate. Variable frame rate sources will be rejected.



Bitrates

Bitrate (also known as data rate) controls the visual quality of the video and its file size. Bitrate for source files is commonly measured in Megabits per second (Mbps). If your video editing software gives you the option, choose a “variable” bitrate. Best practices for video and audio bitrates vary by video format and resolution. Please see the Codecs and file formats section for suggested bitrates.