VdoCipherCMAF (Common Media Application Format)
CMAF is a standardized media container that lets a single set of encoded, encrypted segments serve both HLS and MPEG-DASH. Using CENC in CBCS mode, one CMAF encode can be delivered to Apple devices via HLS and to others via DASH, reducing storage and simplifying multi-DRM packaging.
What is CMAF?
CMAF (Common Media Application Format) is a standardized media container designed so that one set of encoded, segmented media can serve both HLS and MPEG-DASH, instead of packaging the video twice.
How It Simplifies Delivery
Historically, serving Apple devices meant HLS and everyone else meant DASH, often requiring two separate encodes. CMAF uses a common segment format so a single encode, encrypted once with CENC in CBCS mode, can be wrapped in either an HLS playlist or a DASH manifest. FairPlay handles the Apple side, Widevine and PlayReady the rest, all from the same underlying files.
Why It Matters
- Less storage: One encode instead of separate HLS and DASH copies.
- Simpler multi-DRM: A single encrypted asset feeds all three DRMs.
- Lower cost and complexity: Fewer pipelines to maintain.
For Platform Owners
CMAF is an efficiency the provider handles behind the scenes. Its practical benefit is that protecting content for Apple and non-Apple devices no longer means doubling encoding and storage.