How Can I Make My Edited Video A Smaller File Size?

[Tony S]

Good Morning Everyone, I hope you are all enjoying your weekend. I am interested in how to make my edited mp4 video files smaller so that They upload and download much quicker. I did some editing to some MPEG-4 video files and when I was finished I found out that the file sizes of each video blew up to huge numbers. During the editing I did add some transitions and .MPEG photo images. I didn't think that the video size would grow to that amount. I really would like to keep the MPEG-4 format for the convenience to the viewer. I just need to have it in the smallest file size possible. Could someone give me some advice on how I can get my "MP4 H264 - MPEG-4 AVC Resolution 640x480" videos to an acceptable file size?

Thank You
Tony S

[Trevor Andrew]

Hi Tony

You don’t give any details of video duration or file size, what constitutes as Hugh Numbers?
What is an acceptable size for download?

My Video Studio is rendering at the moment so I cannot access to look at MP4 templates.
But if you are using MP4 H264 compression then there will be little you can do to change the output size, unless you have the option to reduce the bit rate, which would reduce the file size.

You may have to consider changing to another format to achieve a smaller file size.

Can you explain just how your audience/viewer is accessing your video files.
Are you using YouTube
Or uploading to a server for people to download?

[Tony S]

Will reducing the frame rate have an effect on the file size? if so how would I do it?

[Ron P.]

No the frame rate does not. The bitrate is what alters the file size.

Frame Rate is the number of frames (pictures) over a specified time period. It takes around 15fps to give the illusion of a moving image. The higher the frame rate the smoother the motion appears.

Bit Rate is the amount of data streaming during a given time, and measured in Bps (bits per second) or Mbps (Mega bits per second). Video CD quality bitrate is around 1Mbps, while DVDs can be a maximum of ~10Mbps. The Video CD (VCD) will be a lower quality than a Video DVD.

With the latest High-Def formats, the max bitrate can be upwards of 54Mbps, which allows much better quality than a video DVD.

General rule of thumb for video discs, is, The higher the bit rate the better the quality, and the larger the file size. Lower bit rates produce lower quality and smaller file sizes..

Now with that said, are you using one of the create video file templates to create your video file? If so you can't alter those. However you can choose Create video file, Custom. Then select the MPEG-4 as the file type, then hit the Options button. Go to the Compression tab, where you can change the Video Data Rate, which is the same as the bit rate. However the video data rate maximum for the H.264 codec is 4000kbps (that's kilo-bits), so I would not want to reduce it by much to maintain quality.

Have you tried using the m2ts file type? Also I noticed that you mentioned the Frame Size of 640 x 480? This is a Standard Def resolution, not Hi-def. Are you wanting to upload your video to a website?

Generally when the file size balloons from the size of the original it is due to rendering to a lesser compressed format. For example, if your source video file is AVCHD, and your render it to DV (avi), the file size of the DV file will be many times larger, because it is not nearly as compressed.

[Trevor Andrew]

Hi Tony

Can we assume that your original video is MP4 H264 - MPEG-4 AVC Resolution 640x480

What version of video studio are you using, some versions have more options than others?

I have completed a few tests using X4 for 60 second video.

Standard template MP4 h264….used 2449kbps bit rate for 18 Mb file
Made a MP4 template to 1024 kbps bit rate………….. file size 8 Mb

Tried Quicktime using MPEG4 compression ………file size 3 Mb …..seemed to take longer to render?
Flash standard template……………………….…….file size 5Mb …...equally slow to render?

As Ron says you need to check for yourself, your original files will determine what you use, but the final quality is up to you.

I would use Make Movie Templates Manager to create your templates, that way you will be sure you are using the same template for future renders.

You still don’t give any sizes or durations?

[Tony S]

Ron & Trevor thank you guys for your helping me understand a little about what I am dealing with. Because of your help I think that I can do some experimenting and come up with the best combination of file size and video picture quality. Trevor There are nine MPEG-4 H264 videos that I am working on the average duration of each one is 3-4 minutes. I want them to stay in this format but be small enough for me to put all of them in a zip file for Upload or download in a reasonable time.

Thank so much!
Tony s

[Trevor Andrew]

Hi Tony

Thanks for the explanation,

Strange that I am just about to start the same process.
I have 12 short videos/projects (approx one hour total ) that need rendering to allow download.
Unfortunately we have three volumes…………………..

At the moment we have produced the video to DVD but the internet is beckoning for a download version.

I am considering WMV and/or MPEG4 as the output format, I will let you know how I get on regarding file sizes.
At the moment the full DVD is in the order of 4 Gb.

[Tony S]

Trevor, It is very much a coincidence my file size was 4GB as well. To large to upload or download in a reasonable amount of time for the average users computer. I hope you can come up with a template that shortens up the download time. Could I ask what other files if any will be included with your videos for download? Do you intend to give any type of video player and controls included with each video file or just the finished video file itself?

Thanks again
Tony S.

[Trevor Andrew]

Hi Tony

Some progress in creating MPEG4 and WMV files.

I am working on the first batch, the smallest as it happens at 2.7 Gb, with a total run time of 55 minutes.

New total sizes are:-
Mpeg4 ……….458 Mb
Wmv………....266 Mb

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