# Configure VOD transforms

A _transform_ is a reusable template that defines how MK.IO should process a piece of content. You create a transform once with a specific type and preset, then apply it to assets by running jobs. This means you can encode hundreds of assets consistently without reconfiguring the settings each time.

## Transform types

Three transform types are available in the MK.IO portal:

| Type                 | What it does                                                                                                                                                             |
| -------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| **Encoding**         | Re-encodes video into streaming-optimised formats (HLS/DASH). Supports adaptive bitrate with multiple resolution tracks. This is the most common type for VOD streaming. |
| **AI**               | Generates transcriptions or translations from audio. Output is a subtitle file (WebVTT or TTML) attached to the asset.                                                   |
| **Asset conversion** | Converts between container formats or extracts audio without full re-encoding.                                                                                           |

> **Info:** Additional transform types (for example, thumbnail generation and track insertion) are available through the [MK.IO API](/api-reference/media-api) but not in the portal. See [Reference: transform presets](/mkio/reference/encoding-transform-presets/encoding-transform) for the full list.

## Create a transform

### Open Transforms

Go to **Video Processing** > **Transforms** in the left navigation and click **+ Create Transform**.

### Name the transform

Give it a descriptive name (for example, `streaming-720p` or `transcription-english`). You reference this name when creating jobs. Avoid spaces: use hyphens or underscores.

### Select the type and preset

- **For Encoding**: Select **Encoding** as the type, then choose a preset. The preset defines the output resolutions, codecs, and bitrates. Common presets:

  - `H264MultipleBitrate1080p`: Adaptive bitrate 1080p, good for general streaming
  - `H264MultipleBitrate720p`: Adaptive bitrate 720p, lower cost
  - `H264SingleBitrate1080p`: Fixed quality single output

  See [Encoding transform presets](/mkio/reference/encoding-transform-presets/encoding-transform) for the complete list with bitrate specifications.

- **For AI**: Select **AI** as the type, then choose the pipeline (for example, speech transcription). Specify the source audio language code (for example, `en-US` for English). See [AI workflows](/mkio/reference/encoding-transform-presets/audio-speech-transcription) for supported languages.

- **For Asset conversion**: Select **Asset conversion**, then choose the conversion preset.

### Create

Click **Submit**. The transform appears in your Transforms list and is ready to use.

## Run the transform

A transform on its own does nothing: you apply it to an asset by creating a job. See [Run VOD processing jobs](/mkio/how-to/video-processing-encoding/run-vod-transcode-jobs) for how to create and monitor jobs.

Use the [Transforms and jobs API Guide](/api-guides/how-to/media/transforms-and-jobs) to create and manage transforms through the Media API.