Compose handles video conversion for you. Export the best file your video editing tool can produce as .mp4, .mov or .webm, drag it into your media library, and Compose transcodes it into a TSS-ready format automatically.
How Compose handles your uploads
Compose converts every video you upload into the format TSS Play expects - an MP4 (H.265 / HEVC) for normal video, or a WebM (VP8 with alpha) when the source contains transparency. Codec, colour space, audio layout and bit depth are all handled automatically. You don't have to pre-process anything, as long as the file is an .mp4, .mov or .webm.
This page is split into two parts: a short guide for story builders at the top, and a detailed technical reference at the bottom. Use whichever one fits.
For story builders
Normal video
Compose accepts video files in .mp4, .mov and .webm format, up to the maximum file size shown in the upload window (this can differ per organisation). For the best results on screen, aim for the settings below when exporting from your editing tool. Apart from the file type, none of this is strictly required, but these are the sweet-spot recommendations.
File type | .mp4 |
Codec | H.264 or H.265 |
Bitrate | 20–60 Mbps, depending on resolution (higher resolutions need a higher bitrate). |
Frame rate | 30 or 60 fps for the smoothest playback. |
Resolution | Match the size the video will be displayed at. Anything up to 16K is supported. |
Bit depth | 8 bit |
Export, don't rip. Videos ripped from the internet (for example with a free YouTube converter) often produce fragmented or non-standard files. They may upload but fail to play correctly in TSS. Always export from your editor, or use the original master file.
Transparent video
Transparent (alpha-channel) video is what makes overlays work - floating logos, animated mascots, lower-thirds, badges over a hero shot, particle effects across a talking head. Anywhere the background needs to show through, you need a transparent video.
Export a .mov with Apple ProRes 4444 from After Effects or Premiere, or a .webm with VP8 / VP9 + alpha from a media encoder.
One rule: keep transparent sources 3840 px wide or narrower. Anything wider is automatically processed as a normal (non-transparent) MP4 and loses its transparency. Full HD (1920×1080) is the standard.
Technical reference
The section below lists the containers, codecs and edge cases Compose accepts. If you're a story builder, the guide above is all you need. This part is for technical content creators and integrators.
Source specs: normal video
File extensions | .mp4, .mov and .webm. Other containers, such as .mkv, .avi, .mxf or .ts, are refused at upload: convert them first (see Converting unsupported videos). |
Video codec | H.264 is the most common. H.265 / HEVC, Apple ProRes (including ProRes 4444), DNxHR, MPEG-2, VP8, VP9 and MJPEG are also accepted, inside an .mp4, .mov or .webm file. |
Audio codec | AAC is the most common. Most other audio codecs are accepted; Compose re-encodes audio during processing. |
Channels | Mono, stereo (2 ch), 5.0, 5.1 and 7.1 are preserved. Other layouts (quad, 4.0, 6.0, etc.) are downmixed to stereo automatically. |
Bit depth | 8, 10, 12 or 16 bit source files are all accepted. Compose delivers 8 bit. |
Chroma subsampling | 4:2:0, 4:2:2 or 4:4:4 source files are all accepted. Compose delivers 4:2:0. |
Length | No (realistic) limit, within the maximum file size. |
Bitrate | No specific minimum or maximum. Final quality follows source quality. |
Frame rate | 24, 25, 30, 50 or 60 fps. 30 is the most common. |
Resolutions | No upper limit. Sources smaller than about 130 px on either side are upscaled automatically. |
Source specs: transparent video
File extensions | .mov (typically with Apple ProRes 4444 or an RGBA codec) or .webm (typically with VP8 or VP9 + alpha). |
Video codec | Apple ProRes 4444, VP8 with alpha, VP9 with alpha, and any RGBA / YUVA pixel-format video are accepted. |
Audio codec | Optional. If audio is present, it is preserved and re-encoded. |
Audio bitrate | Capped at 256 kbps. |
Channels | Mono, stereo, 5.0, 5.1 and 7.1 are preserved. Other layouts are downmixed to stereo automatically. |
Bit depth | 8, 10, 12 or 16 bit source files are all accepted. Compose delivers 8 bit. |
Chroma subsampling | 4:2:0, 4:2:2 or 4:4:4 source files are all accepted. Compose delivers 4:2:0 with alpha. |
Length | No (realistic) limit, within the maximum file size. |
Frame rate | 24, 25, 30, 50 or 60 fps. 30 is the most common. |
Resolutions | 1920×1080 px (Full HD) is the standard. Maximum 3840×2160 px to retain transparency (see above). |
How Compose detects transparency
A video is treated as transparent when either:
the source uses a pixel format that explicitly carries alpha (
yuva,rgba,argb,bgra,abgr,gbrap), orthe video stream carries an
alpha_modetag.
If a video you exported as transparent shows up opaque, the source is encoding its alpha in a way our detector doesn't pick up. Re-export with one of the pixel formats above and try again.
Limits and known causes of failure
Files of other types, or larger than your organisation's maximum file size, are refused when you upload them, with the message "File … cannot be uploaded."
Most uploads that are accepted are processed without problems. The cases where processing fails and the file is shown as ERROR in the Media library are:
H.265 sources (normal video, or transparent video wider than 3840 px) that exceed 8192 px on either side may fail on GPU hardware.
Source files where duration or dimensions can't be determined - usually a malformed export.
Codecs that can't be decoded at all (very rare in practice).
If the same source consistently fails, contact support.
Images
Backgrounds
• Before creating your story, always check the actual resolution of the experience you are designing for.
• Make sure you prepare your backgrounds in the right resolution.
• Choose backgrounds over normal media assets to use as background image for your scenes.
• Avoid using high resolution media (stay within 4000 px width and 2000 px height). Going beyond this resolution will impact performance and it does not improve the actual image quality. Use an AI upscaler like Gigapixel to upscale low-res images.
• Only use the crop function in TSS if necessary. The cropped part of the asset will still be loaded in the scene, which means it will have an impact on performance.
• Avoid placing media close to the edges of the screen. This may cause touch errors.
File extensions | .png, .jpg, .jpeg |
Animated | .apng, .gif |
Resolutions | Up to 15360 px (8K on older Windows machines). |
Other image types, such as .webp or .svg, can't be uploaded.
Images wider than 15360 px aren't supported. If an image isn't loading, check its width first.
Audio
File extensions | .mp3, .ogg |
Bitrate | No (realistic) limit. |
Channels | 2 (left/right) |
TSS plays stereo. Extra channels in 4/6/8-channel files are ignored — only the first two are processed. Other audio types, such as .wav, can't be uploaded.
File extension |
PowerPoint
PowerPoint plays in TSS, but the font has to come along with the file or your slides may render incorrectly. Save in one of these formats before uploading:
Windows: save as a PowerPoint Picture Presentation, or export to PDF with 'bitmap text' unchecked.
Mac: export to PDF with Best for printing ticked.
Both options embed the font so your slides look the same in TSS as they do on your laptop.
URL (web)
Domain | http(s)://any.domain |