Shrink videos, keep quality.
It is rightly said that one cannot achieve Quality without going through the Quantity. This is true for video files too. A high-quality video will have a larger size. But, there are times when we need to reduce the size of the video and use it for practical purposes. As camera technology advances, our video files are becoming increasingly larger, often reaching several gigabytes. This can pose a challenge when you want to share your videos, for instance, by uploading them to a platform like YouTube.
Fortunately, there are effective ways to reduce file size without sacrificing video quality, including various compression techniques. In this guide, we’ll walk you through some of the ways to compress videos on Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android.
It is the art of finding the delicate balance between preserving the beauty and detail of a video while shrinking its overwhelming size, allowing for easy and seamless sharing and uploading, and ensuring that the cherished memories captured on film can be enjoyed by all.
Video compression is the process of reducing the file size of a video without significantly impacting its quality. This can be seen through the decrease in the video's overall pixel density and resolution, making it appear slightly fuzzier or less sharp.
It's crucial to remember that compression is a delicate process that involves finding the balance between reducing file size and preserving high-quality video and bitrate. Therefore, it's imperative to use suitable settings and formats when compressing video files to achieve the optimal balance between file size and visual integrity for your specific needs.
Before beginning the tutorial we need to understand the need for compressing the video. Here are some of the most common uses:
There are two main types of video compression: Lossy and Lossless.
The first is lossy compression. As the name suggests, this one reduces the file size but some quality is lost in the process. It can shrink file sizes while keeping picture and sound quality acceptable.
The other type is lossless compression. With this one, it compresses without getting rid of any data. So you can reconstruct the video and audio perfectly.
The important thing to remember here is that with lossy compression once data is removed, you can't get it back. So each time you use it, the quality goes down a little more.
Even so, lossy compression is commonly used for things like video streaming, video calls, and sites like YouTube. It finds a good balance between smaller file sizes and quality that works for watching.
Since lossless compression doesn't delete any data, you can compress and uncompress as many times as you want with no quality loss. Therefore, it is generally used when keeping the original quality is essential. It is mostly used in medical imaging, science experiments, and video editing workflows.
There are four main ways to achieve a compressed video. We will list each one by one with the relevant online tools and help.
To trim a video means to edit it by removing unwanted sections and keeping only the parts you want to share or upload. If there are unwanted and avoidable part of the video that can be removed, this is the most efficient way to go about it.
There are several ways to trim your video. For example, Windows has a Video Editor that comes with the operating system and that you can use to do your trimming. Mac also has good options, including iMovie and Quicktime, both of which can trim videos too. You can also use any of the online video tools for trimming such as Canva, online-video-cutter, and Clideo.
Remember this is not technically a video compression method but it is an effective trick.
The easiest way to compress a file is to zip it. Simply select the files and let your OS take care of the rest.
On Windows, right-click and choose "Send to > Compressed (zipped) folder," or on Mac, right-click and select "Compress [file name]”
Done.
You can now easily distribute your video to others.
In this method, there will be a compromise with the quality. Lower resolution means less clarity. Video resolution is determined by the number of pixels in each dimension, such as 4K, 1080p, 720p, and 480p. Lowering the resolution decreases file size but also reduces detail and clarity. Finding the right balance between quality and size is important for specific needs.
You can use any video editing software to achieve this. Also, there are many online tools available that can convert the resolution for you.
When is this technique useful:
Different file formats have different levels of compression, and some are more efficient than others. Here are some of the best formats for compressing videos:
MP4 is one of the most widely used formats for compressed videos. It uses the H.264 codec which provides good quality while keeping file size relatively small. MP4 files can be played on most devices, making it a versatile option.
High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC), also known as H.265, is a newer and more advanced format compared to H.264. It uses more efficient encoding techniques to reduce file size without sacrificing quality. However, not all devices support HEVC playback yet.
WebM is an open-source format developed by Google specifically for web use, which makes it ideal for online distribution and streaming platforms like YouTube and Vimeo. It uses VP8 or VP9 codecs that provide good compression while maintaining high-quality playback.
When choosing a format for your compressed video, consider where you will be using it and what devices will play it to ensure compatibility and optimum quality.
To compress a video by changing the file type, use a video converter software like HandBrake, FFmpeg, or Any Video Converter. Choose an appropriate format like MP4, HEVC, or WebM for good compression.
You can also use online video compression websites. There are many such websites, for example, Clideo, Online UniConverter, and Kapwing. Upload your video, choose the format, and click a button to compress it. You can adjust settings like compression level, resolution, bitrate, and format for better optimization.
In essence, bitrate quantifies the speed of data transfer based on the video's file size, while resolution denotes the dimensions of an image in pixels (width by height). Together, these two factors significantly impact your video's quality. Optimizing both bitrate and resolution can lead to superior video quality.
Video compression is essential for modern video production and distribution, no matter the system or platform. It allows for efficient sharing and streaming, reducing storage and bandwidth costs while providing a smooth viewing experience for all devices and connections.
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