VAST XML Load Time Detector

VAST Ad System Detector

It's not actually important, but it's just nice to know with who you're dealing with. Some publishers have a restricted list of ad server technology partners with whom they are doing business with.

VAST CORS Header Detector

Without a proper CORS header, the browser won't be able to load the XML document. In that case, the video ads won't load and is considered a big configuration mistake.

VAST Creative Count Detector

If no creatives are returned, the ad server either targets the campaign to a subset of users, or the campaign is no longer active. Note that the creative count does not reflect the number of media files. A creative can have multiple media files for the player to choose from.

VAST SSL-Compatibility Tester

Non-secure http:// pages are almost gone these days. It's imperative your VAST URL loads over a secure TLS connection (https). If not, browsers will refuse to download the XML document and consequently no ad will be played.

VAST Version Detector

The video player on the publisher's side may only be capable of handling certain versions of the VAST specification. This test allows you to double-check if the correct version has been chosen.

VPAID Detector

Some publishers (or video players) only accept MP4 video files, and not VPAID.

VAST Wrapper Redirect Detector

Multiple parties may want to track metrics of the campaign (publishers, networks, agencies). By wrapping tags, each can add their own measurement pixels. Wrappers however increase latency and should be kept at a minimum.

VAST XML Content-Type Detector

It's good practice to set the correct content-type header, depending on the type of content the server sends back. In case of XML, the content-type should be text/xml.

VAST XML Load Time Detector

Servers that are under load or mis-configured may send the XML file in multiple parts, which results in additional download time. The faster the XML document is loaded, the faster the video can play.

VAST HTTP Code Detector

This tells the video player if the XML document was received correctly. That doesn't necessarily mean a video ad is available — think about geotargeting or frequency capping. Campaigns that are no longer active may return a 404.

VAST XML File Size Detector

Users on slow networks may have to wait some time before the XML file has been downloaded. During that time, no video can be played. This has a negative impact on user-experience.

VAST Mezzanine File Detector

It's important because it ensures consistent visual quality across devices, allows future re-encoding without degradation, and helps platforms adapt the creative to varying bandwidths or screen resolutions.

VAST Mezzanine Bit Rate Detector

A higher mezzanine bit rate means better visual fidelity but also larger file size - which matters because this file is usually downloaded by ad servers or transcoding systems, not end users. Maintaining a sufficiently high bit rate (typically 10–50 Mbps) ensures the file can be re-encoded into lower-bitrate delivery versions without visible quality loss.

VAST Low Rendition Bit Rate Detector

Many users watch on mobile networks with limited or fluctuating bandwidth. A 4 Mbps video will buffer or fail to play. A 1 Mbps rendition ensures smooth playback.

VAST High Rendition Bit Rate Detector

Many users watch on mobile networks with limited or fluctuating bandwidth, in which low bit rates are favorable. On TVs or laptops, a high bit rate video may be played.

VAST Approved Vendor Domain Detector

Having an Approved Vendor List prevents data from being sent to unknown or unauthorized third parties, helping with GDPR and CCPA compliance. It also avoids slow or redundant tracking that can affect video load times.

Video Bit Depth Detector

Lower bit depths will have a detrimental impact on image quality. Higher bit depths may result in a larger file size.

Video Scan Type Detector

Progressive scans transmit all lines of a video at once, and yields high quality. It's the common scan type for the web today. With interlaced scanning, lines of visual information are alternated as odds and evens. Only half of a frame's visual information is broadcast at a time (the even lines will be displayed on a viewer's screen, THEN the odd lines will be displayed; not simultaneously).

Video Letterboxing Detector

Letterboxing is not appreciated by most publishers, as it's not a great user-experience, nor does it use make full use of the ad unit's available space.

VAST Audio Channels Detector

Verifying the correct number of audio channels is critical to ensuring the creative functions as intended across devices and environments. Ads that incorrectly use multi-channel audio might experience compatibility issues or degrade the user experience. This test ensures the right audio channel configuration, optimizing for both performance and playback quality across platforms.

VAST Audio Compression Detector

Optimizing audio compression ensures that the file size remains manageable without sacrificing audio quality. Over-compression can result in low-quality sound that could deter users, while under-compression may result in slower loading times. This test ensures that audio is adequately compressed to maintain a balance between quality and performance, which is vital for high-quality ad playback.

VAST Audio Sample Rate Detector

The sample rate affects both the quality and file size of the audio. A higher sample rate typically produces better audio quality but increases the file size. This test ensures that the audio sample rate is appropriate for the ad, balancing quality and performance while maintaining compatibility across different platforms.

VAST Audio Codec Detector

Choosing the correct codec is vital because not all browsers or devices support every codec. Testing the codec ensures compatibility, preventing playback issues that could affect user engagement with the ad. This validation helps avoid situations where audio fails to play correctly, leading to poor ad performance.

VAST Audio Loudness Detector

Excessive loudness can irritate users, while audio that is too quiet may go unnoticed. The loudness test ensures that the ad's audio stays within acceptable loudness levels, preventing potential rejection from ad networks that enforce loudness standards. This helps to maintain consistency, ensuring your ad sounds professional and isn't disruptive to users.

VAST True Peak Detector

High peaks results in audio distortion, which can significantly detract from the user experience. This test ensures that the true peak level remains within an acceptable range, preventing distortion or other audio issues. Verifying true peak helps maintain the audio quality and ensures that the ad sounds professional.

VAST Audio Bit Rate Detector

A higher bit rate typically results in better audio quality, but it also increases file size, which can slow down load times and affect ad performance. Ensuring the bit rate is optimized is crucial in balancing quality and loading efficiency. This test ensures the audio component of your ad maintains acceptable quality without negatively impacting performance or exceeding size limits.

Bit Rate Mode Detector

Contant bit rates means that the amount of data your device has to load every second remains the same. It's therefore more reliable on slow networks. Variable bit rates result in higher quality, but the data stream will not be contant. If bandwidth is not an issue, variable bit rates are generally preferred.

VAST Video Aspect Ratio Detector

Ensuring that the aspect ratio matches platform requirements is vital for preventing distorted visuals. An incorrect aspect ratio can result in ads being rejected or shown incorrectly on screens, affecting campaign performance.

VAST Video Dimensions Detector

Validating dimensions ensures that the video ad fits within the allowed size for various platforms. Incorrect dimensions can lead to a poor user experience or disqualification of the ad by the publisher.

VAST Video Duration Detector

Publishers commonly have restrictions regarding the duration of videos. Videos taking too long may abandon users. Too short and it may be difficult to transmit the message. Validating the duration ensures compliance with platform guidelines and prevents the ad from being cut off or rejected.

VAST Video Bit Rate Detector

VAST Video Bit Rate Mode Detector

VAST Video Chroma Subsampling Detector

Chroma subsampling takes advantage of the human's visual system's lower acuity for color differences than for black/white. Savely removing information that we can't notice saves bytes, resulting in lower file sizes.

VAST Video Color Space Detector

YUV encodes a video taking human perception into account, allowing for reduced bandwidth and file size. It's doesn't make sense to show colors you can't see anyway, as compared to RGB.

VAST Video Frame Rate Detector

Ensuring an appropriate frame rate is crucial for maintaining a smooth playback experience without consuming excessive bandwidth.

VAST Video File Size Detector

Higher file sizes require users to have a higher bandwidth. To avoid buffering or stalling, the file size (bytes) divided by the video duration (seconds) should not exceed the user's bandwidth (in Mbps).

VAST Video Container Detector

In order to play the video, the browser or device must understand the container format to find out where the video and audio parts are located. MPEG-4 is supported by almost all browsers and devices. If you're serving the video in a different format, make sure your targeted device supports it. For example, serve videos in QuickTime formats only to Apple users.

VAST Video File Extension Detector

Publishers commonly have a restricted number of video file types they accept.

VAST Video Codec Checker

The most common codecs, like H.264 for MP4 or VP9 for WebM, ensure that your video ads are playable across various devices and browsers. Validating the codec prevents playback errors and ensures optimal compression for streaming.

VAST MOOV Atom Location Detector

In order for the video to start playing, the MOOV atom has to be read first. If that atom is located at the end of the file, the whole file has to be downloaded before playback can begin. For the video to start playing virtually immediately, the MOOV atom has to be placed at the beginning of the file.

VAST Delivery Type Detector

With progressive delivery, the video is actually downloaded to the user's device. It starts playing as soon as the necessary data is available. Streaming delivery requires a streaming server that only sends the part of the video that is currently watched. For most use cases, progressive delivery is the standard. If you're working with CTV or live-streams, the delivery type should be set to streaming.

VAST Skip Offset Detector

If the publisher requires a skip offset, this test makes sure it has been configured correctly.

VAST Video Mime-Type Detector

The MIME type is essential for proper file recognition and delivery. Ensuring the correct MIME type helps avoid playback issues or misinterpretation by ad servers.