Buzz
This guide provides step-by-step instructions on reducing the file size of a video without significantly compromising its quality. Compression is a crucial step when sharing videos online, as it minimizes the data required for transmission and ensures smoother delivery to viewers. You can use software like Handbrake for video compression or QuickTime on Mac if you only need to reduce the file size.
Steps
Using QuickTime
Open the video in QuickTime as follows:
- Select the video
- Click on File
- Choose Open With
- Click on QuickTime Player
Click on File. This menu is located at the top-left corner of your Mac screen. A dropdown menu will appear once clicked.
Select Export (Export). This option is near the bottom of the File menu. Clicking it will open another dropdown menu.
Choose the quality. Select a video quality that matches or is lower than the current video quality. This action will open the Save window.
Gavin Anstey
Video Producer, CEO of Cinebody
Video Producer, CEO of Cinebody
Select the lowest resolution that doesn’t compromise visibility. This number depends on the original video’s resolution. If the original video is 4K or 1080p, avoid choosing a resolution lower than 720p, as the video quality will significantly degrade during playback.
Rename the video. Enter a new name in the text field located near the top of the window.
Select a save location. Click the "Where" dropdown menu and choose the folder (e.g., Desktop) where you want to save the video.
Click Save (Save) in the bottom-right corner of the window. Your video compression process will begin immediately.
Wait for the compression process to complete. Once the video is compressed, the "Export" window will close. You can now access the save location and view your video.
Using Handbrake
Download and install Handbrake. Visit https://handbrake.fr/downloads.php using your web browser and click the Download link under your operating system's name. Follow these steps to install Handbrake:
- Windows - Double-click the Handbrake installer file and follow the on-screen instructions.
- Mac - Double-click the Handbrake DMG file, verify the download if prompted, drag the Handbrake icon to the Applications folder, and follow the on-screen instructions.
Launch Handbrake. Look for the pineapple icon next to a glass of water. The Handbrake window will appear on your screen.
Click Open Source (Open Source) in the top-left corner of the Handbrake window.
- When opening Handbrake for the first time, you’ll need to click Open Source to access the source window.
Click File (File) with the folder icon in the Sources window.
Select your video. Navigate to the folder where your video is stored, click on the video, and choose Open (Open) to load it into Handbrake.
Select a quality preset. On the far right side of the Handbrake window, click on a quality and frame rate preset (e.g., Very Fast 720p30) that matches your video.
- Ensure the selected preset is equal to or lower than the current video quality. For example, if the video is 1080p, choose 1080p or lower; if it’s 720p, select 720p or lower.
- The Fast and Very Fast presets are ideal for compression.
Name the file. Replace the file name in the middle of the Handbrake page with a new name (e.g., [video name] compressed).
- You can also choose a new save location by clicking Browse, selecting a folder, renaming the file if needed, and clicking Save.
Check the "Web Optimized" box in the middle of the Handbrake page. This ensures the video is compressed to web standards.
Click the Video tab near the bottom of the Handbrake window.
Verify the settings are correct. Under the Video tab, you’ll see the following settings. If they don’t match, click the value and select the correct option from the dropdown menu:
- Video Codec - This should be set to "H.264 (x264)".
- Framerate (FPS) - This should be set to "30" FPS.
- Peak Framerate or Peak - This box should be checked.
- Encoder Level or Level - This should be set to "4.0".
Click Start Encoding (Start Encoding). This is the green "Play" button in the center of the Handbrake window. Your video compression process will begin immediately.
- On Mac, click Start at this step.
Wait for the compression process to complete. Compression can take a long time, especially for videos larger than 200MB. Once the video is compressed, you can play it from the save location.
Tips
- Not all videos maintain good quality when compressed at high standards. Some videos may not even need compression.
- Certain videos, like those recorded on mobile phones, are already compressed during playback.
- Use a two-pass encoding technique if possible. While it takes longer than single-pass encoding, it results in better video quality.
Warnings
- Avoid over-compressing videos. Excessive compression can lead to significant data loss, resulting in reduced clarity and quality.
