UNDERSTANDING HOW VIDEO COMPRESSION WORKS
If you are here because you want to know how you can compress a video then you are reading the right post. However, compressing a video depends on what you intend to do with the video.
A video you want to share with someone as the file can be compressed in a different method, unlike the one you intend to upload to any video streaming platform.
Compression for streaming is different from compression for sharing. Though the difference exists, every compression has the sole purpose of reducing the video size and that implies reducing some features in the video and the overall quality.
Video size reduction is not just beneficial sometimes it has rather become a necessity considering the various devices currently available to people use for watching videos. The screen resolution of your device can define the viewing quality. Devices with small screen resolution offer quality viewing for compressed videos but may appear poor in high screen resolution devices.
There are many options when it comes to video size reduction and it all depends on what you intend to achieve. For instance, removing audio and the beginning and the end footage of the video, or removing an area of the video with the repeated or empty event. But such removal can only be available if the audio in the video will not be necessary as well as the video footages.
Here are two conditions that will require us to compress a video and how to go about it:
How to compress a video for easy sharing and transfer
Assuming you want to compress a video so that you can upload it to WhatsApp, Facebook, or Send to someone via email or any platform. The below methods will enable you to do that without costing any money.
Using Zip File
Zipping a folder or file is a sure way of reducing the size and making it easy to transport. You can readily share a zipped file without accessing the content inside rather It is left for the end-user to unzip the file and access the content inside. The same approach can be used for videos. All you need is to use your computer to zip the actual video you want to send by doing the following:
- Moving and pointing your mouse on the video
- Click the right side key of your mouse to reveal options list
- In the list of options, click on the “Send to” button. This will reveal a sub-list of options under “Send to”
- Move your mouse to the “Compress file” option and click on it
- The computer will automatically create a zipped file of the video.
Using iMovie on Mac
If you are using Mac then iMovie is another cool option to reduce your video size. It is a free video editor from Apple. It offers you two video size reduction options, you can either shorten the video using the software or use the software to prepare the video for email sending which is a good option for direct compression for email file upload.
To use iMovie on your Mac following the steps below:
Launch the iMovie.
Tap the “Input Media” button. This will take you to a folder you can use to import video.
Select the video you want to upload and click the import button. Your video will display on the iMovie interface.
You can now work on the video by selecting appropriate portion you want to save. This will significantly reduce the file size.
You can export the video you saved in iMove to someone via email. To do that, move to the “File” key and click on it. A list of options will dropdown. Move to the “Share” button to see a sub-list option, click on the “Email” and your email sending platform will open automatically with the video attached to it. Just add the email address and subject and send the email.
Download in a lower quality
There are many online platforms that offer you the option to download video from any online platform by simply pasting the video link on their own website page. This service equally provides an option for you to select the video quality. Selecting high quality means a large video file while low quality means a small video file. Therefore, use the option to select the small file video file size.
Use a Cloud Service
Another way you can reduce video size is by using any of the following; One Drive, Google Drive, Dropbox, and other cloud services because they make it easy to share large videos. Using cloud-based service platforms is very easy for sharing videos all you need is to register an account on any off the platform, download the desktop app or mobile app, upload any video to the platform account and a link for the video will be generated, use the link to share the video to anyone online either via email or social media accounts.
Share a Video Link with Uploading
A popular online service platform known as Parallels Access offers a way of sharing large video files without any need to upload it to cloud account. On the Parallels Access App, a sharing link of your video will be generated and use to share the video with anyone. The link may have password and date of expiration if you desire to add such features.
You can visit the Parallels Access website on this link to download the software and activate.
Launch the Parallels Access.
On the video, you want to share, click the right side of your mouse to reveal the list of options.
Click on the “Share” button to reveal a sub-list of options.
On the sub-list of options, click on the “Parallels Access”
A ‘Set Download Options” form will show up, describe the video, the number of downloads allowed for the video, date the video link will expire, and the password of the video link.
Afterwards, click the ”Share” button and a download link will be displayed on the “Downlink Link” title space.
Now you can copy the link and share it with anyone that you need to download the video.
Make a GIF
Turning your video into a GIF can be another way to dropdown the file size. There are much software both online and offline that enables you to make GIF within few minutes. You can as well use the Parallels Access Toolbox by simply copying the video to the Tool then make a selection of a portion of the video you want to convert to GIF you can add text on the GIF if you want then select the auto-looping direction. Tap on the “Settings” and choose the size of video GIF you want to make, the frame rate, and location to save the GIF video then hit the “Done” button. Then click on the “Make GIF” button to get your GIF. You can easily send GIF ass an attachment in email or share as a video on social media platforms.
How to compress a video for easy streaming/viewing
You can compress video for the purpose of making it easy to be viewed. Though it can impact the quality of the video, your aim to have smaller file has been achieved.
Here are some of the means you can use to make any video size smaller for viewing and sharing purposes;
Use VLC (Software)
VLC video player is not a new name in the list of software used in watching videos on any PC. It has even its mobile versions for mobile devices. You might have seen VLC or heard of it if you are a regular computer user.
You can use your VLC software to convert any video to a smaller size. This feature is not just for watching purpose but to make the video smaller for a smaller device such as mobile phones. To do this, download the VLC software and launch the software on your device.
Click on the “Media” to see list of options and select “Convert/Save”
A pop up will display for you to upload the video you want to convert. Click the “Add” to upload the video from your device to VLC.
Tap the “Convert/Save” button beneath the popup. This will display an option to select the conversion profile for the video. You can select small device profile to make the video smaller then click the “Save” button.
Use Shotcut (Software)
Shotcut software is another way compress any video. To use Shotcut for video size reduction follow the steps below:
Download the Shotcut software by clicking the link provided
Launch the software on your device
Click on the “Open File” button to open the video you want to compress.
Then click on the “Export” button to export the video in a new format. This stage will offer numerous options from which you can select. H.264 Baseline Profile has been mentioned as a good format that will possibly reduce the size of the video without removing much from the quality. However, you still have other options when it comes to video compression formats. The software also offers you option to change the video resolution or the aspect ratio. Note that changing the resolution in shortcut means using your hand to specify your calculated horizontal and vertical.
QuickTime Player (Software)
QuickTime Player is a default media player for all Apple products and it has multiple options for video compression. But you will not be able to use it in any other product except Apple products.
Using QuickTime to reduce video size is simple all you need to do is open/launch the app from the Applications folder of the Apple device. Use the “File” button to open the video you want to compress by clicking on the “Open File” button in the list of options that shows when you clicked “file” button.
After opening the video, you will need to compress it. The only you can do that is to use “Export As” button located in the list of options for “File”. So click on the “File” button and move your mouse to the “Export As” button in the list of options. Then select the format you want to save the video. Choosing a format for small devices or lesser quality will reduce the size of the video file.
VideoSmaller (Website)
Besides the popular media players and other software meant for the reduction of video size and conversion of video formats, you can actually do the same thing even when none of that software in your device.
There are online platforms that offer free and paid service for video file compression and among them is the VideoSmaller.com which allows you to upload a video and use the list of options in the platform to make multiple selections.
Using VideoSmall website is very simple. Just upload your video on the website page and use the options provided to select the level of compression and proceed to compress the video. Choosing an option for low compression level provides better output in the video but will only make the little reduction of the video file size. While making a choice for the high compression level will make a significant reduction of the video file size but may reduce the video quality.
Clipchamp (Website)
Clipchamp can provide consistent service for video file compression but that will go with a price because the service is not free. Clipchamp is very good if you will need to be compression video file size on a regular base like those working in media houses or movie industries. It is a paid service that will give exactly what you are looking for but you have to create an account on Clipchamp Website.
If you intend to use the free service offered by Climchamp your videos will be watermarked, if you don’t want that you can subscribe to their Business plan, it costs $7.50/Month (Annual Billing) and $9/Month (Monthly Billing). The monthly billing will be a better option if you will only use the service within a few weeks. It is a better option if you want to avoid the long process of downloading software on our device for video file size compression.
Clideo (Website)
Clideo is another website-based service that is similar to ChimChamp and VideoSmall platforms. All you need is to upload the video to the website and select the option of video version you want to create with the video. Your options include Android Video Compressor, Social Media Video Maker, and YouTube Video Creator.
Clideo offers lesser price for annual premium service billing. Their premium service is $9/Month (Monthly Payment) while their Annual billing for the same premium service is $72/Year (billed $6/Month). The annual billing offers $36 discount from the supposed $108 per year.
Conclusion
I believe by now you would have understood how simple it is to compress your video file size and various methods involved. Consider the list of choices presented above and make choose the one that will be convenient for you.
