# Identify the output encodes
<a name="planning-encodes"></a>

When you prepared the downstream systems, you [identified the output groups](identify-downstream-system.md) that you need. Now, as part of the planning of the channel, you must identify the encodes to include in each output group you have decided to create. An *encode* refers to the audio, video, or captions streams in the output.

**Topics**
+ [Identify the video encodes](channel-planning-video-encodes.md)
+ [Identify the audio encodes](channel-planning-audio-encodes.md)
+ [Identify the captions encodes](channel-planning-captions-encodes.md)
+ [Summary of encode rules for output groups](encode-rules.md)
+ [Example of a plan for output encodes](plan-encodes-example.md)