> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://na-36-changelog-go-livepeer-2026-05-18.mintlify.site/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Transcoding Jobs Quickstart

> Submit a Livepeer Studio Transcode job, poll the task status, and verify completion. Built from the GitHub-validated Studio OpenAPI spec and pending TD accuracy review.

Submit an on-demand transcoding job through the Livepeer Studio API and track it to completion using the Tasks API.

## AI-ready summary (for humans and assistants)

* Use the Studio API base URL: `https://livepeer.studio/api`
* Submit jobs with `POST /transcode`
* Transcoding is asynchronous; poll `GET /task/{id}`
* A successful `POST /transcode` returns a `task.id`
* Final technical accuracy review is required from Rick (TD)

## Review status

This quickstart is structurally complete and based on the GitHub-validated Studio OpenAPI spec, but **Rick (TD) review is required** before final publish for canonical flow accuracy and user-facing defaults.

## 1. Prerequisites

* A Livepeer API key (backend use only)
* `curl` (and optionally `jq`)
* Input video accessible over HTTP **or** a S3-compatible source
* Output storage destination (S3-compatible or web3.storage delegation proof)

## 2. Base URL and authentication

* Base URL: `https://livepeer.studio/api`
* Auth header: `Authorization: Bearer <LIVEPEER_API_KEY>`

```bash icon="terminal" theme={null}
export LIVEPEER_API_KEY="<YOUR_API_KEY>"
```

## 3. Submit a transcode job

The Studio spec requires:

* `input`
* `storage`
* `outputs`

The example below uses:

* HTTP input URL
* S3-compatible storage output
* HLS + MP4 outputs

### Example request body

```json icon="terminal" theme={null}
{
  "input": {
    "url": "https://example.com/video.mp4"
  },
  "storage": {
    "type": "s3",
    "endpoint": "https://gateway.storjshare.io",
    "bucket": "outputbucket",
    "credentials": {
      "accessKeyId": "<ACCESS_KEY_ID>",
      "secretAccessKey": "<SECRET_ACCESS_KEY>"
    }
  },
  "outputs": {
    "hls": {
      "path": "/samplevideo/hls"
    },
    "mp4": {
      "path": "/samplevideo/mp4"
    }
  },
  "profiles": [
    {
      "name": "720p",
      "width": 1280,
      "height": 720,
      "bitrate": 3000000,
      "fps": 30
    }
  ]
}
```

### Example curl request

```bash icon="terminal" theme={null}
curl -sS \
  -X POST "https://livepeer.studio/api/transcode" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $LIVEPEER_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "input": { "url": "https://example.com/video.mp4" },
    "storage": {
      "type": "s3",
      "endpoint": "https://gateway.storjshare.io",
      "bucket": "outputbucket",
      "credentials": {
        "accessKeyId": "<ACCESS_KEY_ID>",
        "secretAccessKey": "<SECRET_ACCESS_KEY>"
      }
    },
    "outputs": {
      "hls": { "path": "/samplevideo/hls" },
      "mp4": { "path": "/samplevideo/mp4" }
    },
    "profiles": [
      {
        "name": "720p",
        "width": 1280,
        "height": 720,
        "bitrate": 3000000,
        "fps": 30
      }
    ]
  }'
```

## 4. Capture the task ID

Transcoding is asynchronous. The response is a `task` object. Save the `id` field and poll the task endpoint.

Example response shape (trimmed):

```json icon="terminal" theme={null}
{
  "id": "09F8B46C-61A0-4254-9875-F71F4C605BC7",
  "type": "transcode-file",
  "status": {
    "phase": "pending",
    "updatedAt": 1587667174725
  }
}
```

## 5. Poll the task status

Use `GET /task/{id}` until `status.phase` is `completed` or `failed`.

```bash icon="terminal" theme={null}
TASK_ID="<TASK_ID_FROM_TRANSCODE_RESPONSE>"

curl -sS \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $LIVEPEER_API_KEY" \
  "https://livepeer.studio/api/task/$TASK_ID"
```

Phases defined in the Studio spec include:

* `pending`
* `waiting`
* `running`
* `failed`
* `completed`
* `cancelled`

## 6. Verify completion and outputs

When `status.phase` is `completed`:

* Confirm the task did not report an `errorMessage`
* Inspect task output metadata and/or linked asset IDs
* Verify the output paths you requested under `outputs` in your destination storage

## 7. Common failure modes

### `401 Unauthorized`

* Invalid API key
* Missing/incorrect `Authorization` header

### `422 Validation Error`

* Missing required top-level fields (`input`, `storage`, `outputs`)
* Invalid `input` schema (URL vs S3 object mismatch)
* Invalid `profiles` shape

### Task enters `failed`

* Check `status.errorMessage`
* Verify input URL is accessible to the service
* Verify output storage credentials and bucket permissions
* Re-run with a minimal profile/output combination first

## 8. Rick (TD) review checklist (blocking before final publish)

* Confirm canonical user-facing transcoding flow for 2026 docs
* Confirm recommended default profile example(s)
* Confirm polling expectations and completion verification guidance
* Confirm deprecated legacy examples should be removed/labeled
* Confirm boundary with realtime APIs (what belongs elsewhere)

## 9. Next steps

* [Create Transcode Job endpoint reference](/solutions/livepeer-studio/docs/api-reference/transcode/create)
* [Transcode API overview](/solutions/livepeer-studio/docs/api-reference/transcode/overview)
* [Tasks API overview](/solutions/livepeer-studio/docs/api-reference/tasks/overview)
* [Get Task endpoint reference](/solutions/livepeer-studio/docs/api-reference/tasks/get)
* [Studio API overview](/solutions/livepeer-studio/docs/reference/api)
* [SDKs overview](/solutions/livepeer-studio/docs/reference/sdks)

## Canonical references (source-of-truth first)

* GitHub (primary): [livepeer/docs `api/studio.yaml`](https://github.com/livepeer/docs/blob/main/api/studio.yaml)
* GitHub (primary): [livepeer/docs `api/gateway.openapi.yaml`](https://github.com/livepeer/docs/blob/main/api/gateway.openapi.yaml) (for shared `generate` tag context)
* DeepWiki (corroboration only): [livepeer/docs | DeepWiki](https://deepwiki.com/livepeer/docs)
* Repo-local docs refs (unvalidated until cross-checked): `/solutions/livepeer-studio/docs/api-reference/transcode/create`, `/solutions/livepeer-studio/docs/api-reference/tasks/get`