You’ve filmed an awesome video on your phone, but when you attempt to upload it somewhere, maybe share it with friends or on your social media, just a quick “file size too large” notification puts all your excitement on hold. Seriously? Don’t they know this masterpiece needs exposure? No problem! We are here to sort everything out online using a video compressor.
What Exactly is a Video Compressor?
A video compressor does just what it sounds like. It squishes your video down, making it smaller in size without compromising quality. So your awesome video can still be an internet sensation, just a bit skinnier.
It works by reducing the bit rate and resolution of your video, which can substantially reduce its size. Sounds simple enough.
Why Not Just Zip It?
I know what you’re thinking: Why not just stuff the video in a ZIP file? Well, you could, but that’s clunky. The person on the other end has to download the ZIP and extract the video, which is extra work.
Plus, not every platform accepts ZIP files for upload. A video compressor online saves time and headaches because it turns your chunky file into a leaner version that’s ready to go anywhere.
How to Compress a Video with Flixier?
Flixier is this online video editor that’s got a handy video compressor tool built right in. It will reduce video size online free of charge, no extra software required. It works right in your web browser on any computer; be it Windows, Mac, or even Chromebooks.
Step 1: Upload Your Video
Go to Flixier’s online video compressor and drag and drop or click to upload the video file you want to compress from your computer.
Step 2: Adjust the Compression Settings
Once your video is uploaded, you’ll see a preview of it along with the compression settings on the left side. Flixier offers two compression modes:
- Bitrate: This controls the amount of data stored per second of video. A higher bitrate means better quality but also a larger file size.
- CRF (Constant Rate Factor): This aims for a specific quality level rather than a set bitrate. A lower CRF value results in higher quality.
Use the sliders to adjust the amount of compression and select your desired frame rate. As you make changes, the estimated output file size will update. For more control, you can also change the resolution of the compressed video using the dropdown menu.
Step 3: Compress the Video
Once you’re happy with the compression settings, click the Compress Video button to start the compression process. Flixier will handle the video compression on its cloud servers. This usually takes just a couple of minutes, even for longer videos.
Step 4: Download the Compressed Video
After the compression is finished, you’ll see a Download button appear. Click it to save the compressed MP4 video file to your computer.
You can also click Edit to make any further tweaks to the video in Flixier’s online video editor before downloading the final compressed version.
Tips for Compressing Your Videos
If you’re new to video compressing, or you want to master the video compressor online free from Flixier, here are some tips and tricks:
- Lower the Bitrate Carefully: If you decrease the bitrate too much during compression, your video might lose its original quality. So keep an eye on that preview window as you adjust settings.
- Streamline Your Videos: Be sure to cut out any unneeded sequences before compressing your video to ensure a smoother upload or sharing experience after.
- Be Mindful of Resolution: While it’s tempting just to default everything down towards pixelation town when faced with a size issue, consider this first— Do most people view these types of sites/videos/images on a 4K monitor or smaller?
- Avoid Compression Overkill: Remember, less is sometimes more in our case. Don’t reduce gloss and glamour by over-compressing.
- Use Trial and Error: Depending on your specific needs, one set of compression settings might not be ideal for all use cases.
- Weigh Quality vs. Size: If there’s a balance between quality and size, find it. And whilst compressing just tickle till you hit the sweet spot.
- Optimize for Platform: Different platforms (like YouTube, Instagram, or Facebook) have different standards for video size and format. Adjust your compression settings to optimize for the platform you’re posting on.
- Test and Retest Again: Seriously, do a test watch of your compressed video before sharing it with the world. We’d hate for you to launch a squished or choppy masterpiece.
Compress Away
Don’t let bulky video sizes keep you from sharing your masterpieces online. Show the world what you’re made of and compress those ticklish oversized files using an online video compressor free of charge, like Flixier.
It allows you to adjust all sorts of settings for ideal compression whilst keeping things smooth and glossy, and it takes just minutes to do so!
