Whether you're using Zoom, another video conferencing service, or your smartphone / tablet / DSLR camera to record your videos, you will eventually run into the problem of video editing and compression. This help article walks you through a step-by-step process to ensure that your video files don't become huge, unwieldy files.
Compression in Zoom and other platforms
For this article, I'll use Zoom as my example because it's currently the most popular platform for health and wellness professionals wishing to record their events, however, the recommendations suggested in this article apply to any recording, including from your smartphone / tablet / camera / other video conferencing platform (e.g., Google Meets, WebEx, Teams).
When you record something in Zoom, it defaults to a resolution of 640x360. You can see this directly in your Zoom cloud recording storage or when you download the file to your computer (see #1 below). You will also see that the file format is set to MPEG-4 (aka .mp4 -- see #2 below)
Zoom will allow you to record in 720 (i.e., 1280x720) with a few extra steps, but if you don't change anything it will default to 640x360 -- to learn more about how to record in Zoom in 720 see this article
If you're not using Zoom, but your phone, tablet or camera, then the default resolution will vary depending on what device you are using. Below are a few common default resolution settings:
- iPhone 11 - 1920 x 1080 @ 30 frames per second (fps) --> 1 hr video = 3.6 GB
- iPad - 1920 x 1080 @ 30 frames per second (fps) --> 1hr video = 3.6 GB
Bitrates and Frame rates in recordings
Beyond just resolution (i.e., 640x360 vs. 1280x720 vs. 1920x1080), there are the issues of bitrates and frame rates. When you open the detailed properties for a Zoom recording, you will see some very important bitrate and frame rate info that most people overlook (see #1a and #1b below for video and audio bitrates, respectively, and #2 for frame rate).
The above information tells you that for video, the Zoom recording is using a bitrate of 360 Kbps and for audio the recording is using a bitrate of 126 Kbps (which gets you the total bitrate of 486 Kbps). Additionally, you'll see that the video is recorded in 25 frames per second.
Why should I care about bitrates and frame rates?
Simply put, the higher the bitrate and the higher the frame rate, the bigger the resulting file size of your video. Also, If you edit your Zoom video in popular video programs like iMovie or Movie Maker, then iMovie and Movie Maker typically start with default project settings that have higher bitrates and frame rates then your original file, which means your final edited video file size will be much larger even though the quality hasn't improved (because your original source file was recorded in 640x360, 25 frames per second, a total bitrate of 486 Kbps). In short, if your original file was a certain quality, you can't improve the quality simply by exporting it at higher settings ... you'll just get a bigger file :(
If you want a more detailed explanation of how bitrate and frame rate impact file size, then please check out this article on bitrates and this article on frame rates.
OK ... so what should I do to keep my video file size reasonable?
Understood. We'll strip out all the DaVinci Resolve steps and focus entirely on Handbrake as your primary tool. It’s a much simpler workflow for most users.
Optimizing Your Videos with Handbrake
At OfferingTree, we recommend using a free, open-source tool called Handbrake to prepare your videos. (Download here.) Handbrake is a dedicated "transcoder." Its entire job is to take large video files (like those bulky Zoom recordings) and shrink them down into a web-friendly size without losing visible quality.
Below is the step-by-step process for using Handbrake to keep your video file sizes reasonable.
1. Download and Open Handbrake
First, download the software from the official site: Handbrake.fr. Once installed, open the program. You’ll be prompted to select your video source immediately.
2. Import Your File
Find the Zoom recording or video file on your computer and simply drag and drop it into the Handbrake window.
3. Using Presets
The fastest way to get the right settings in Handbrake is to use a Preset. Handbrake comes with pre-configured settings that do the heavy lifting for you.
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Select a Preset: Click the Preset dropdown menu. We recommend going to Web and selecting Creator 720p60 for high-quality recordings, or Creator 360p30 if you need the smallest file size possible.
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Web Optimized: Once you've selected your preset, look at the Summary tab. Make sure the Web Optimized checkbox is checked. This rearranges the data in the video file so it starts playing immediately when someone clicks play on your site, rather than waiting for the whole file to download.
4. Export Your Video
Finally, look at the bottom of the window under "Save As."
Click "Browse" to select the folder where you want your new, smaller video to be saved. Give it a name you'll remember!
Make sure the Format is set to MP4.
Click the green "Start Encode" button at the top of the window.
Once the bar at the bottom reaches 100%, you’re done! You now have a perfectly compressed video ready to upload to your OfferingTree site.
Upload to OfferingTree
Now that you've completed the above steps and rendered your video in a smaller file format, you can add it to your digital store or to your media library (saving you time since a smaller file uploads much more quickly and it will also load more quickly for your students / clients who are watching it from your site).
P.S. Join our Facebook group and connect with other OfferingTree users to share questions, offer ideas and insights, and support each other towards a more thriving wellness business.
Register to our monthly Skill Sparks to stay ahead of the curve! This is where we dive into all the new features and updates like Media Library feature we just covered. It's the best way to ensure your wellness business is always taking full advantage of the latest tools.
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