How to compress a video for iPhone, Mac, and more | Blog
In the world of digital small is usually better. Sure, creatives and video professionals alike always want greater pixel counts and larger RAW file sizes. However, the real trick everyone wants is to make those big RAW files smaller and easier to manage (while maintaining the same high quality).
And how does that happen you ask? Compression Of course!
Let's look at the mysterious art of compression -- and the best way to apply its magic to your videos. In this article, we'll explain how you can compress video across a range of platforms (like iPhone, Android, Mac and even PC) without sacrificing quality and look into some of the top video compressors that are available online.
In this article
- What is video compression?
- Do I need to compress a video before I can upload it to the internet?
- What exactly is a codec, and why do I need to be aware of it?
- What are all the formats of files that are available?
- Check out our video tutorial on how to compress video
- How to compress video files in iOS as well as on Macs
- How can I compress video files on Windows 10
- How do you reduce a video using an Android
- How to reduce the size of video files online
- Ready to keep learning?
- More video compression FAQs
What exactly is compression in video?
With today's digital video production process, video compression is quite regular and necessary because most video files which you'll deal with need to be reduce so that your workflow can be made more efficient.
Wanna send a video file over email? It is necessary to compress.
Are you unsure of what a ZIP file's purpose is? It's video compression.
When done properly A good video compression will reduce the size of the video file to nearly 1,000x smaller than the original. But, if done using incorrect software or the wrong way it can corrupt a file and make it inaccessible, so it is important to ensure you're using the right software , and that you follow the correct procedures.
Video compression 101
Video compression is the process to reduce the total file dimensions of the video clips. This is done by applying a certain compression technique to decrease the number of bits needed for each frame (or image) included within the video footage.
If you shoot video footage using your phone, for instance, it's likely getting compressed right away and could get compressed further throughout the editing, transfer the process of exporting, editing and uploading.
In the end, compression of video makes it possible and easier to transfer files among any number of sources. The video you record on your smartphone will need compression to transfer it to cloud storage, your computer to edit it, or even to another person by email or via messaging.
Do I need to compress a video before I can share it?
This is another great question. And while the technical answer may be yes, you do not necessarily need to compress video before sharing it. In the majority of instances, you'll need to compress your videos before sharing it.
If you're not working in professional video production at a high level, working with uncompressed video can drastically slow down your workflows and make data management nearly impossible when you start adding in larger and larger uncompressed files.
What is a codec, and why do I need to be aware of it?
Moving along...When discussing video compression you must mention codes. What exactly are codecs, and what is their importance? A codec is a specific algorithm device or program that is able to compress video (and audio) information. Its name stands for "compressor-decompressor" as it can be used to encode or decode a data stream or signal.
Codecs play a crucial role in the process of video compression , as they are used in the majority of editing, sharing or streaming techniques. If you're not acquainted with codes chances are you're employing them regularly but you don't realize that you are. A majority of computers and operating systems come preloaded with the majority of codecs required for playing and managing different video file types.
What is the difference between lossy and lossless codecs?
Another thing to keep in mind when looking at video compression is the difference between lossless and lossy codescs. Let's take a quick glance at what the two terms mean and what you need to consider when it comes to your requirements for compression.
Lossy Lossy files are small files in general and are suitable for all types of delivery and transfer via digital. Lossy files are compressed using a method which is meant to be imperceptible to the human eye This means they are an excellent choice to stream any type of video on the internet. Although, they're not perfect they may not be the best choice for those who want to perform any more advanced editing, coloring or other effects.
Lossless: these are larger files overall but still compressed which is beneficial in speeding transferring and delivery. Unlike Lossy though, Lossless files are compressed following an approach that is designed to preserve all the original data. The result is a larger files size, leading to slower playback, but also provides more information for those looking to use raw data.
What are all file types available?
Now let's go over some of the different formats of file that you may come across while working with video compression. It's crucial to be aware of the distinctions when making your choices about how you want to compress the video files, and also where and when they could use them.
MP4
One of the most well-known formats for video files, MP4 stands for MPEG-4 Part 14 and is the preferred format for any Apple device. It's also quite common for audio and video generally and can be an excellent choice for uploading videos to social media channels like Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.
AVI
AVI signifies Audio Video Interleave and is the preferred format for any Windows device. It is compatible with the majority of operating systems (Windows, iOS and Linux) and also with the majority of the top web browsers and social networks. AVI is among the highest quality formats used for videos, however it can also be more large in terms of file size.
FLV
FLV is a less-common but popular Flash video file format. FLV is the format of choice used in Adobe Flash Player and Adobe AIR to compress and decompress audio and video streams online. There are two main FLV formats: F4V along with H.264. It is important to know that FLV does not work with Mac devices.
MOV
This is one of the best video file formats available for TV and web. MOV (also known as QuickTime Movie) is one of the more large file types however it is great for high-quality video, audio and other file type playback. MOV is optimized for QuickTime on Windows however it also supports the majority of social media platforms as well as streaming.
WMV
WMV is another larger but quality video file format. WMV stands for Windows Media Viewer which is clearly made specifically for Windows devices. WMV is similar to MOV with regard to dimensions and quality, with the same high-quality playback. Mac devices are able to view videos in WMV but they can't play them using Windows Media Player.
Check out our video tutorial on how to compress videos.
How can you learn by watching? Peep this helpful tutorial video, or consult the steps-by-step guides that follow.
How do you compress a video on iOS as well as on Macs
Let's take a look at some of the various tools available to you on your computer, smartphone or your preferred video sharing, hosting and platform for services.
These are the steps you should follow to compressing videos using QuickTime using your Mac:
- Launch QuickTime on your Mac
- Choose and open the video
- Select the File > Export and then select
- Select the file format you'd like to use for your video
- Choose your output file name and location
- Click the Save button
A quick trick for working with compressed video on your iPhone is to open your settings and go to Camera, go to the "Record Video" section and select a lower resolution.
How to reduce a video in Windows 10
For compressing a video to a smaller size on an Windows PC or laptop, making use of Windows Video Editor, built into Windows Video Editor is a great choice. The steps below are what you'll have to follow:
- Open Video Editor
- Start a new video project card
- Upload the video that you'd like to compress.
- Click the "Finish Video" button.
- Choose the type of file you'd prefer to use for the video
- Hit Export
How to reduce a video using an Android
Just as we went over making smaller video files on your iPhone, you can use the same process for your Android devices as well. All you need to do is follow these steps:
- Open your Android Device
- Navigate to"Apply Menu. "Application Menu"
- Select the camera icon
- Click the "Resolution" icon
- Select your preferred recording format
How to reduce the size of video files on the internet
In addition to the choices previously mentioned, there are many compression applications and platforms available to you online. Below are the guidelines you should follow to use FreeConvert.com:
- Go to freeconvert.com/video-compressor
- You can upload your video (up to 1GB unless you need to set up an account)
- Choose the Video Codec you want to use as well as the compression method and target Size
- Just click to Compress Now!
Popular online video compressors
There are many additional free compression of video services available on the internet. Other examples are:
Are you ready to continue learning?
You've also probably been already dealing with various formats of files and codecs your whole life to this point, and perhaps you haven't noticed it. Hopefully these definitions, insights and resources have helped you to get a better grasp of the basic concepts of video compression.
They're only the basic though, so if you'd wish to understand more about the process of video compression and how it functions when you upload, render and playbacks, make sure to read our complete audio and video compressing guidelines.
Continue to improve your editing chops with these recommended books:
More video compression FAQs
What can I do to reduce the size of files in a video?
It is possible to reduce the size of a video in a number of ways such as using video editing software as well as an online file converter or just making changes to your camera's settings. How do I compress a large video file?
You can compress a large video file by opening it in the video editing or playback software then exporting it to smaller format file. Do you have the ability to compress videos on your phone?
You will need to upload the video file to an online converter , or an application for editing videos. How do I make a video compressable ?
You can compress a video with the click of a button "download file" option and selecting the size and format that you like. How can I compress a video for sharing via email?