Methods and apparatus are provided for automatically transcoding media files. An exemplary method comprises obtaining an input media file having an input file format and encoded with a codec of a first type; automatically determining output media file formats for transcoding the input media file based on statistics of previously transcoded files and statistics of trending media formats for previously downloaded files; transcoding the input media file into transcoded output media files using a codec of a second type to obtain the determined output media file formats; and generating metadata for each of said plurality of transcoded output media files, wherein said metadata is stored in memory as a media catalogue separately from said one or more transcoded output media files.