MediaLab makes it easy to quickly preview and stream your media without having to download large source files. This ensures fast access and a smooth experience whether you are working on desktop or mobile.

How Previews Work

When you upload a file, MediaLab automatically creates web-optimized preview versions for quick playback and viewing. These previews are smaller than the original file, making them faster to load and easier to share. For example, a high-resolution video might be transcoded into a lower-bitrate MP4 preview for streaming.

Differences Between Source Files and Previews

• Source files are the original, full-quality versions of your media. They are preserved exactly as uploaded and are available for download if permissions allow.
• Previews are optimized copies created for online playback and quick access. These are what you see when you stream a video or open an image in MediaLab.
• Depending on your share settings, you can restrict access to source files while still allowing previews to be viewed.

Streaming on Desktop and Mobile

On desktop, previews can be streamed directly in your browser without additional software. On mobile, previews are automatically optimized for playback in the MediaLab app or your mobile browser. When internet speed is limited, lower-resolution previews ensure smooth playback without buffering.

Note: Administrators can change the default bitrate for previews in the settings. See this article

Best Practices

• Use previews for quick reviews and approvals to avoid sending large files unnecessarily.
• Share previews when you want stakeholders to watch or review content, but restrict source downloads to protect your originals.
• For mobile use, rely on the MediaLab app to get the smoothest experience and quick access to previews.
• If you need to work with the highest-quality version of a file, always download the source file rather than relying on the preview.

Note: Previews are automatically generated and may not always reflect the exact quality of the source. For final use, distribution, or editing, the original source file should always be used.