How to Compress a Video File Without Sacrificing Quality Part 2
Choosing the best video codec and container
Ideally, when recording video, you should always set the maximum video settings for the device you are recording with. Only the maximum of a camcorder will allow you to get the highest quality video, which can then be compressed without losing virtually any quality. The basis of video reduction is to use the most efficient codec and container for the video.
What is a codec? Basically, a codec is a way to encode or decode video for storage or playback, respectively. The codec converts a video file into a stream of information that is understandable to a video player.
What is the container file format? The file format in which the codec stores streaming audio and video data. Different file formats are needed so that different devices and players can use the same limited list of formats, that is, the same format must be played on different players.
Go to the Video tab and select H.264 as your preferred codec. It is the most efficient and popular codec for high definition video and allows you to compress video by almost half, which is comparable in efficiency to MPEG-4 when compressing video. In addition, today it is compatible with most devices, from a player in Windows 10 to a TV with SmartTV.
A newer codec, which compresses H.265 video files even better, is not yet supported by all devices. If you want to compress a video file as efficiently as possible without losing quality, select H.265 in the settings. But once the compression process is complete, I advise you to check the output video file on the device the video was designed for.
Decrease video resolution
It’s good when your phone can record 4K video, the purchased TV or monitor plays 4K monitor video. But most people have HD Ready or Full HD technology, which isn’t really that bad. After all, the main secret of video quality is not the great resolution, but the bitrate of the video.
Of course, resolution affects video size significantly, but video quality (bit rate) affects just as much. Also, the viewing distance between the viewer and the TV will affect the video quality and the estimated size, for example; TV screen technology.
Here is a list of the most commonly used resolutions on modern playback devices:
2160p (3840 × 2160)
1440p (2560 × 1440)
1080p (1920 × 1080)
720p (1280 × 720)
480r (854 × 480)
360p (640 × 360)
240p (426 × 240)
As a general rule of thumb, to ensure file size reduction, check the original video resolution and select a lower level or two. In Handbrake, the resolution settings are on the Image tab. Here you can independently specify the resolution required for the output video file.
Also, after specifying the resolution, you can click on the kpopku Preview and evaluate the video quality before compression.
If you plan to upload your videos to YouTube, then the resolution can be set to 4K. On Instagram – up to 720p, on Facebook, VK – up to 1080p.
