How to compress videos and reduce file size

Introduction

Welcome to another vital tutorial! My name's Haley, and today we're diving into an essential technical skill: compressing your videos to reduce file size. Plus, I'll leave you with some tips on striking a balance between file size and video quality.

Understanding Video Compression

When you're working with video, giant file sizes become a part of your day-to-day routine. Video takes up a lot of space—something like 10 and a half gigabytes for each minute of uncompressed 1080p HD footage. It's not just your hard drive that these videos clog; large videos take a lot of bandwidth for your audience to view, which can cause your hosting fees to skyrocket.

Video compressors reduce file size by removing or reducing some details. A compressor will look at each pixel in a frame and compress it by grouping similar pixels together. So instead of conveying data about every pixel and every frame, the video only conveys one dataset about a group of pixels.

There are two ways a compressor will reduce details:

1. Lossless Compression: Removes redundant details or data from the file. This is mostly used by photographers and videographers.
2. Lossy Compression: Removes visual detail. Surprisingly, you can remove quite a lot of detail before the human eye can perceive it.

Step-by-Step Guide to Lossy Compression

Let's jump into how lossy compression is done using a video compression program.

1. Visit Apowersoft.com: It’s a free video compressor.
2. Select Files to Start: If this is your first time using the website, you'll be prompted to download their program.
3. Upload Your File: Select the file you'd like to compress and begin uploading it.
4. Use the Video Editor: From here, you can change the format of your outputted video, adjust the settings, and view information, edit, or delete the video you've uploaded.
5. Convert and Save: Once everything looks good, click "Convert" and select where you’d like your converted file to save. Your video will then begin compressing.

Even if you know nothing about video compression, it's still pretty easy to do.

Pro Tips for Better Video Compression

Save an Uncompressed Master Copy

Always save an uncompressed master copy. Every time you compress or export into a different file type, the file changes, and it’s not always possible to undo. Keep your raw files stashed away in a repository somewhere.

Work with Higher Contrasts and Saturation

Low contrast and saturation make it difficult for compressors to group alike pixels, as they’re all too similar. Higher contrasts and saturation levels improve compression efficiency.

Create a Strong Focal Point

Videos with an obvious and visually strong focal point will be easier to compress. Pixels outside of the focal point will be lower priority and can be grouped or removed in higher concentrations.

Remove Unnecessary Audio

Remove all audio files on videos if you don’t intend to use their audio. A muted audio track still carries some data.

Keywords

• Video compression
• File size
• Lossless compression
• Lossy compression
• Apowersoft
• Video quality
• Contrast
• Saturation
• Focal point
• Audio removal

FAQ

What is video compression?

Video compression is the process of reducing the file size of a video by removing or reducing some details, allowing for more efficient storage and transmission.

What is the difference between lossless and lossy compression?

Lossless compression removes redundant details or data without losing quality, whereas lossy compression removes visual details which may reduce quality but significantly decreases file size.

Why should I save an uncompressed master copy?

Saving an uncompressed master copy ensures that you have a high-quality version of your video that you can fall back on if needed. Each compression or export can change the file and degrade quality.

How can higher contrast and saturation help in video compression?

Higher contrast and saturation help because they make it easier for compressors to group similar pixels together, improving the efficiency of the compression process.

Should I remove audio if I don't need it?

Yes, removing unnecessary audio tracks can help reduce the file size further, as even a muted audio track carries some data.