Understanding Bitrate
Bitrate is arguably the most important setting affecting your video quality and file size. It determines how much data is used to represent each second of video. Understanding how to set bitrate correctly will give you the perfect balance between quality and file size.
Recommended Bitrates
- •For 1080p video: Use 8-12 Mbps for standard content, 12-20 Mbps for high-motion scenes like sports or gaming
- •For 4K video: Target 35-45 Mbps for standard content, up to 60-80 Mbps for high-motion
- •Variable Bitrate (VBR): More efficient than constant bitrate, allocating more data to complex scenes
Resolution and Frame Rate
Your resolution should match your source footage or target platform requirements. Common resolutions include Full HD (1920x1080), 4K UHD (3840x2160), and HD (1280x720). For frame rates, stick to your source material: 24fps for film-like content, 30fps for standard video, 60fps for sports and gaming.
Keyframe Intervals
Keyframes (I-frames) are complete frames that decoders use as reference points. Setting proper keyframe intervals ensures better seeking accuracy in video players, improved streaming compatibility, and optimal compression efficiency. A good rule of thumb is to set keyframes every 2-4 seconds.
Audio Encoding Settings
Don't neglect audio! Poor audio quality can ruin otherwise perfect video. Use AAC codec for best compatibility, 128 kbps for stereo speech and 256-320 kbps for music. The sample rate should be 48 kHz, which is the standard for video production.
Putting It All Together
With Conter, you can save custom presets combining all these settings for different use cases. Start with conservative settings and adjust based on your quality needs and file size constraints. Remember: you can always encode at lower quality, but you can't recover lost detail from over-compressed source material.
