Which codecs to use

Even though these codecs all work similarly, you have a wide range of options for how they compress video. The different options give you different advantages, so you'll choose the one you want to use according to your specific needs. The video bit rate determines how much information is processed per second. The higher the bit rate, the more information per second, and the higher the quality of the video. The bit rate largely determines the file size.

A high bit rate can be very high-quality, but the file size will be much larger. A lower bit rate will produce a smaller file size, but the video quality will not be as high. When recording your video, as long as you have adequate storage space, choose your bit rate based on the level of quality you need versus file size.

If highest quality is most important to you, then you should choose a high bit rate. But if you need a longer recording time or smaller file sizes, you can choose a lower bit rate. It's a constant trade off, and you have to decide which level of quality is acceptable compared to the resultant file size. Some cameras and NLEs give you the option to choose your color sampling , or the amount of color information retained in the video.

Video you watch on TV or the Web usually uses color sampling, which gives you very good color. But there are other options with more color information, like The higher color sampling will mean a higher bit rate and larger file sizes, so you have a choice between better color or smaller file sizes.

The topic of what those numbers mean precisely gets into the realm of advanced color science, and is beyond the scope of this article, so for now you can simply use these guidelines. You want to make sure your NLE software supports the codec your camera records in.

Native support of codecs is best. However, some software transcodes your footage into a different file type for editing. Transcoding is simply another term for encoding one file type into another using—you guessed it—a codec. And since that codec is likely a lossy codec, the transcoding step can diminish the quality of your footage even more.

That's why native support is highly preferable. Make sure your NLE can handle the files from your camera natively for the highest quality results. Streaming sites like YouTube and Vimeo have guides for optimal compression. Most often these services will want MP4 or H. That makes creating and storing things like long-form and HD videos more widely accessible. The way codecs work is that they apply an algorithm that compresses video files into a container format to make transporting and storing them easier.

After the files reach their destination, codecs decompress them , making them viewer-ready. The reason you need a codec is simple — uncompressed audio and video files are massive! That makes it challenging to transport them, particularly over the internet. Without codecs, all digital media files would take dozens of times longer to download!

Also, codecs optimize video files for playback. That means they will be much smoother and with higher frame rates. One vital thing we have to mention before moving to our picks for the best video codecs is the difference between a codec and a container format.

Container format is a package or a wrapper that contains all the necessary metadata of a digital file , including an audio codec , video codec, and closed captioning. Here are some of the most common container formats:. These containers can hold several types of codecs , so they are essentially just a storage unit and should not be confused with codecs. They will only open and allow the codecs to work their magic if the target device or program supports the stored codec.

The codec you should go for will primarily depend on your needs. However, some of the ones widely used in the online video industry are worth singling out.

Here are some of the best video codecs out there currently:. However, H. Almost any device can play this codec, making it the most versatile and widely used one in the current global market.

Supported Container Formats. The H. That allows for lower bandwidth usage while streaming. Also, H. Related: H. A file with an. To play these items in the Player, you need to have a compatible DVD decoder installed on your computer. However, if you receive an error message that indicates that you're missing a compatible DVD decoder, select the Web Help button in the error message dialog box to determine how to obtain one.

This might happen if your computer at work doesn't have the same codecs installed on it that your computer at home does. Be aware that your system administrator at work might use Group Policy to prevent you from installing new codecs.

Codecs can be written for bit or bit operating systems. If you're running a bit version of Windows, you need to install bit codecs. For example, if you install a bit codec on a bit operating system, the Player might not be able to play any files that require that codec.

Note that many older codecs are only available in bit versions. If the codec provider does not specify whether its codec is bit or bit, the codec is likely bit. For more information, contact the codec provider. Windows Media Player Windows 10 Windows 8. Why do I get a message that says my computer is missing a codec? Warning: Use caution when installing codecs that you find on the internet, particularly some of the free codec packs that claim to include codecs from a wide variety of companies or organizations.

How do I tell which codec was used to compress a file and what format a file is in? There isn't a way to determine with absolute certainty the codec used to compress a file, but the following are your best options: To determine what codec was used with a specific file, play the file in the Player, if possible. I installed a missing codec, but I still can't play the file.

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