Video Compression Calculator
In the digital age, size matters. High-resolution videos can consume a large amount of data, making them difficult to upload, download, and store. Our tool helps you optimize your videos so you can share them more efficiently and sustainably.
Calculate Compression
Compression Result
Please enter the original video size and click 'Calculate'.
The Theory of Video Compression
A video is nothing more than a sequence of images (frames) that are displayed so quickly the human eye perceives them as motion. Compression is a process to reduce the size of a video by eliminating redundant information. There are two main types of redundancy that can be eliminated:
- Spatial Redundancy: The information within a single frame is repeated. For example, a uniform blue sky does not need each pixel to be described individually; the compressor can simply store a description of "a large block of blue color."
- Temporal Redundancy: Information is repeated between frames. If an object does not move in the video, the compressor does not need to store that object in every frame. Instead, it can say "this object is still in the same position as in the previous frame."
Size vs. Quality
The relationship between video size and quality is critical. More compression (smaller size) means lower quality. Less compression (larger size) means higher quality. The key is to find an optimal balance for your purpose.
How the Calculator Works
This calculator uses a simplified formula to illustrate compression. On average, videos can be compressed to 10-20% of their original size without a noticeable loss in quality for the human eye. Our calculator uses a 85% reduction, a middle ground for most uses.
Example:
A 100 MB video, after compression, would be reduced to 15 MB (an 85% reduction).
Benefits of Video Compression
- Storage Savings: Less space on your hard drive, SD card, or in the cloud.
- Faster Uploads and Downloads: Ideal for platforms like YouTube, Vimeo, or for sending via email.
- Cost Reduction: If you use mobile data, a compressed video consumes less of your plan. For businesses, it reduces data storage and transfer costs.
- Digital Sustainability: Internet data consumption has an environmental impact. Less data transmitted means less energy consumed by data centers. By compressing videos, you contribute to a "lighter" and more ecological web.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Compression
A codec (coder-decoder) is an algorithm that compresses and decompresses a video. Common examples are H.264 (AVC) and H.265 (HEVC), which are the basis of most current compressions.
Yes. Most video compression methods are "lossy," which means they permanently remove some data to reduce the size. Aggressive compression can result in a noticeable loss of quality.
No. A converter changes the file format (e.g., from .MOV to .MP4), while a compressor reduces the size of the video within the same format, using the same codec. Often, both processes are performed simultaneously.
Theoretically, "lossless" compression exists, but it is much less efficient for videos and does not significantly reduce file size. For practical use, compression with minimal loss that is imperceptible to the human eye is used.