Video Codecs Explained

Deep dive into video compression technology, codec comparison, and choosing the right format for your video conversion needs.

What is a Video Codec?

A codec (Compressor-Decompressor) is an algorithm that compresses raw video data for storage and transmission, then decompresses it for playback. Without codecs, a 1-minute 1080p video would require over 200GB of storage!

Key Concepts
  • Bitrate: Data per second (Mbps)
  • Resolution: Pixel dimensions (1920x1080)
  • Frame Rate: Frames per second (fps)
  • Container: File format (MP4, MOV, AVI)
  • Profile: Codec complexity level
Compression Techniques
  • Spatial: Compress within each frame
  • Temporal: Store only changes between frames
  • I-frames: Complete frame images
  • P-frames: Changes from previous frame
  • B-frames: Changes from both directions

Popular Video Codecs

Release: 2003 | Usage: YouTube, Blu-ray, broadcasting, mobile

Strengths:
  • Universal compatibility
  • Excellent quality/size ratio
  • Hardware acceleration everywhere
  • Mature, stable technology
  • Low CPU usage for playback
Use Cases:
  • Web video streaming
  • Social media uploads
  • Video conferencing
  • Mobile video recording
  • General purpose conversion

Best For: Maximum compatibility - use H.264 when you need your video to play everywhere.

Release: 2013 | Usage: 4K streaming, iPhone videos, modern platforms

Advantages:
  • 50% better compression than H.264
  • Ideal for 4K and 8K video
  • Better HDR support
  • Wider color gamut support
  • Higher quality at lower bitrates
Limitations:
  • Patent licensing fees
  • Slower encoding (CPU intensive)
  • Limited browser support
  • Older devices can't decode
  • Larger file sizes than AV1

Great for archival and 4K content, but verify playback compatibility first.

Release: 2018 | Developed by: AOMedia (Google, Netflix, Amazon)

Key Features:
  • 30% better compression than HEVC
  • Royalty-free (no licensing fees)
  • Optimized for streaming
  • Growing browser support (Chrome, Firefox, Edge)
  • YouTube using for 4K/8K content

Trade-off: Very slow encoding (10x slower than H.264), but fast decoding.

Release: 2013 | Usage: YouTube, Google services

Characteristics:
  • Royalty-free like AV1
  • Similar compression to HEVC
  • Good browser support (Chrome, Firefox)
  • Used by YouTube for HD content
  • Being replaced by AV1

Developed by: Apple | Usage: Professional video editing

Professional Features:
  • Intra-frame only (every frame complete)
  • Fast editing and scrubbing
  • Minimal quality loss
  • Multiple quality levels (Proxy to 4444 XQ)
  • Industry standard for editing

Not for distribution - large file sizes, but perfect for editing workflows.

Codec Comparison Table

Codec Compression Quality Encode Speed Compatibility Best Use
H.264 Good Excellent Fast ★★★★★ General purpose
H.265 Excellent Excellent Slow ★★★☆☆ 4K streaming
AV1 Best Excellent Very Slow ★★★☆☆ Web streaming
VP9 Excellent Very Good Slow ★★★★☆ YouTube upload
ProRes Low Perfect Very Fast ★★☆☆☆ Video editing

Choosing the Right Codec

For Social Media & Sharing

Recommended: H.264 (MP4)

Works everywhere, fast uploads, good quality. Use Medium or High quality preset.

For 4K/HDR Streaming

Recommended: H.265 (HEVC)

Best quality for 4K, smaller file sizes. Verify playback device compatibility.

For Video Editing

Recommended: ProRes or DNxHR

Fast scrubbing, minimal quality loss. Convert to H.264 for final export.

For Archival Storage

Recommended: H.265 or AV1

Maximum compression, preserve quality. Long-term compatibility guaranteed.

Video Conversion Settings

Key parameters to consider when converting video formats:

Resolution
  • 4K (3840x2160) - Premium
  • 1080p (1920x1080) - Standard HD
  • 720p (1280x720) - Web/Mobile
  • 480p (854x480) - Low bandwidth
Bitrate
  • 4K: 20-50 Mbps
  • 1080p: 5-10 Mbps
  • 720p: 2.5-5 Mbps
  • 480p: 1-2 Mbps
Frame Rate
  • 60 fps - Smooth motion
  • 30 fps - Standard video
  • 24 fps - Cinematic look
  • Don't increase fps in conversion

Common Conversion Scenarios

Issue: iPhone records in HEVC/MOV which doesn't play on older devices.
Solution: Convert to H.264/MP4 for universal compatibility.
Settings: H.264, 1080p, 8 Mbps, 30fps, MP4 container.

Best Quality: H.264, 1080p or 4K, 16:9 aspect ratio, 30 or 60fps.
Bitrate: 8-12 Mbps for 1080p, 35-45 Mbps for 4K.
Audio: AAC, 320 kbps for best quality.

Professional Video Conversion

BatchMorph uses industry-standard codecs with optimized settings for the best quality-to-size ratio.

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