When to Change Your Video File Format

You’re shooting videos on your smartphone and posting them to Facebook, so why do you need a different video file format?

The reason you need another file type for videos comes down to the quality and changes you make on your computer. Your computer likely uses QuickTime to decode your video file, and when you remove the encoding from that file, you’ll likely notice the quality of your file drop.

Every time you edit and recompress the video, it degrades the quality. Here’s what you need to know about when to change the file type of your videos.

Sharing and Uploading

It is best to convert video to an appropriate format that is compatible with the online platform of choice. For example, if you are uploading to YouTube, you will want to convert your video to an MP4 file format to ensure that it plays smoothly without any issues. There is a free video to mp4 converter that you can take advantage of for this very reason.

Device Compatibility

You should consider the limitations and features available on each device before converting video format. Generally, all devices support the same basic formats like MP4, MP3, and MOV.

But, some formats are better suited for specific applications or devices. For example, if you have an Apple device, you might want to use a different format than devices operating on an Android platform. Additionally, when sharing a video with another person or device, you’ll need to make sure you send the file in a format that’s compatible with their device.

File Size Reduction

Many file formats exist. Some provide higher quality than others, while others offer large file sizes and relatively low quality. File sizes can be significantly reduced by video conversion.

Opt for a format that requires fewer resources and settings to accomplish the same quality. However, the process for selecting the right format can be intimidating. To make an informed decision, one should identify their main goal, whether it is a smaller file size or a higher video resolution.

Generally, a popular format like MP4 is better for retaining quality. However, the smaller the video, the easier it is to reduce the file size, as long as the quality is still acceptable.

Streaming

Newer streaming and video-sharing services may require specialized file formats for playback due to their own viewing optimization methods. Converting to a popular format such as MP4 or AVI is a good starting point. Whatever the case, it is important to ensure that you have selected the right format to ensure optimal compatibility when uploading and sharing your video online.

Be Sure to Choose the Right Video File Format

When deciding when to change your video file format it is important to consider the time it takes to do so, the intended purpose for the video, and any particular software compatibilities. Make sure to try out a few different options to see which works best for you.

Make the most of your video by exploring the right video file format for your needs! Take advantage of a free yet great converter out there to convert various file formats for your videos.

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