Video is a highly effective marketing tool that can assist you achieve various goals, such as selling your product or service or impressing your boss or even preparing a winning presentation for your school.
But, selecting the wrong format for your video can hinder or even stop how you edit or render a top-quality video. Therefore, today we’ll go over all you should learn about choosing the best format for your video to avoid time and stress.
The basics of Codec
Codec, also known as the decoder/coder procedure, is the process of recording and compressing the video, before decompressing it. The term codec, also known as container, is usually used to refer to the video format. It will be displayed in the form of MP4 and AVI.
However, the difference in technology between them is that a codec can be described as software that compresses and processes your video file, and your video’s container will be the end product. Remember that any program you use in editing the video must to work with the codec for your video and the container your camera is recording in.
10 of the Best Video Formats
What are the top video formats? Continue reading to find out the top 10 most popular video formats with the pros and cons and the best ones for.
AVI
AVI files were first created in 1995, and are among of the oldest formats for video. Because of their longevity, AVI files are accepted by a variety of websites and software that is a huge benefit to many creators of video content. But, AVI are larger video files that could consume a significant amount in space on your computer. In addition, AVI files are not suitable to stream or share online since you might be experiencing lags when streaming.
AVI is the best choice for those who wish to upload videos to multiple platforms or run the same video across multiple browsers or Windows because they’re accepted all over the world. Additionally, AVI has excellent video quality, however, once again be aware that the videos that are rendered might need an additional hard disk in order to be saved on.
Ideal for: Everyday users and creators of content who make use of a range of platforms and software
Pros:
Work for recording DVDs
Compatible with every browser that support all browsers, including MAC, Windows, Linux and more.
Stellar video quality
Accepted by a majority of websites and software
Cons:
Huge video file sizes
Older and less up-to-date than other formats for video files
Not the best choice for sharing or streaming
Compression may cause problems with quality
AVCHD
AVCHD files employ MPEG- 4 AVC/H.264 standards to compress video. AVCHD is flexible and compatible with numerous high definition videos, stereoscopic videos, and formatting options, which makes it perfect for professional editors of video and content creators seeking top-quality video quality.
Be aware that AVCHD is superior in video quality and can pick tiny details from the camera, which is why it’s referred to as a tough file format. But, it’s also the most high-quality video format available today for editing video with high-end quality.
Best for: Professional video editors
Pros:
Compatible with Blu-rays
High-quality audio and video
Can be recorded in 1920 x 1080 resolution videos.
The most current AVCHD formats are compatible with 3D videos.
High-end video editing requires extremely sharp and clear quality. video editing
Cons:
Insane, will grab anything
Huge file sizes
Only limited compatibility
FLV, F4V and SWF
FLV, F4V, as well as SWF are official formats for video files used by Adobe Flash Video. These files all have synced audio streaming, video data streams metadata packets, as well as short headers.
The first Adobe Flash Player came out it was used by people to create FLV, F4V and SWF files to play games and video content, such as movies and TV shows. Today, if you wish to make Flash movies, you’ll have to export these files using The Flash video exporter plugin. QuickTime, Windows Media, or Adobe Media Encoders could also be employed to create these videos.
Visit https://www.elmedia-video-player.com/ for the best media player.
Remember that many websites and video players don’t support Flash video formats as of December 31, 2020.
The best choice for users of Flash
Pros:
Often used on YouTube to stream
Excellent for gaming and video content
Official format for video used by Adobe Flash Video
Cons:
Very old
Only limited compatibility
It is not supported on iOS devices.
MKV
MKV files were developed in Russia and refer to Matroska Multimedia Container that refers to the well-known Russian nesting dolls. This format is great for projects where you have to store various codes and other information such as chapters, subtitles menus, and so on. This is why MKV is perfect for projects that are viewed on a computer or TV using an open source media player. MKV is also an excellent option for streaming and downloading.
MKV is an open format that makes it accessible and allowing it to be used by a huge user base that is continuously working to bring it up with the most current IT specifications. It’s regarded as universal and similar to MP4 files. Some users have noted the fact that MKV has a higher risk of audio issues.
Ideal for: Storing multiple kinds of codecs and other data in the same file
Pros:
Video with high-quality
More video and web browsers as well as players are accepting this format.
It is flexible enough to save chapters menus, subtitles, chapters and much more.
Perfect for videos which will be watched on a television or computer using the help of a media player
Cons:
Not compatible with all Apple devices.
Reduces the quality of compressed air.
Could have more audio issues than other formats.
MP4
MP4 is among the most popular video formats available because it’s a universally-compatible format that is universally compatible. Therefore, MP4 files can be used MP4 videos for use on iTunes, Apple, and Windows. Another benefit of making use of MP4 has to do with the fact that MP4s are smaller in size however they maintain excellent audio and video quality.
MP4s achieve that by drawing attention to similar videos in video data, clearing the file of the content and putting similar color pixels, allowing the video to run more quickly. This can result in some minor decreases in the quality of video, especially in the video’s sharpness and color. There may be an error message regarding corruption of the MP4 video file when this happens.
Ideal for the everyday user
Pros:
Video format that is universally accepted
Supported by Windows Media Players, iTunes, Apples, GOM player and many other players.
High-quality video, with smaller file size
Excellent for streaming online videos
Accepted by a majority of video-sharing platforms
Perfect for YouTube since MP4s are great for closed caption format and subtitles
Cons:
More vulnerable to crashes because of corruption concerns
May experience a slight decline in the sharpness of video and color depth
MPEG-2
MPEG-2 is the most widely used format for a digitally encoded movie which is broadcast-quality. Many prefer this format due to its high-quality image and high resolution, all at an extremely small size when compared to the commonly long length of video. It is however, MPEG-2 is not readily accessible by the majority of people who do not have particular equipment, which makes it a bad video file format for the common video viewer. The cost of licensing is also usually required when you release the MPEG-2 video format. MPEG-2 movies are large in terms of size due to the fact that they typically compress massive files and need large amounts of storage, which makes them unsuitable for the majority of mobile devices as well as Internet streaming services.
Simply put, MPEG-2 is the standard for DVD video and is the best choice for anyone wanting to burn DVDs but it’s not much more.
The best option for DVD burning
Pros:
High-image quality
The DVD standard
Reduces long video clips into smaller sizes quickly
Cons:
Unplayable for the majority of people with no special equipment
The licensing fees are typically required to distribute this kind of video
It doesn’t perform as well as other formats when you use high bitrates
Not as efficient as newer standard video file formats
MOV
MOV, often referred to by its nickname of QuickTime video formats, were created by Apple. MOV files are of high-quality and are similar to MP4s as they can include audio video, video, subtitles and much more together in one document. The main drawback is MOV isn’t compatible with most other video players, besides those that use the QuickTime player. Windows users can play MOV using an application called the QuickTime player, however it’s always better to be played by Apple users. The other drawback to MOV’s file format is Apple might end its use of the format in the near future which would make the format impossible to use or play.
But, MOV offers a high-definition video, while maintaining a small size. This is a great feature to edit video on an MAC. Many professionals from the film and media industries prefer MOV due to the fact that it is able to split movies into several editing tracks. MOV is a suitable format to use for YouTube, Facebook, and TV watching.
Ideal for: MAC and Apple users.
Pros:
Excellent for the internet due to its size and its high-quality
Can save subtitles along with audio and video
Compatible with all formats of video.
Ideal for video editors because of its compact dimensions and capabilities for division.
Cons:
Must be played with QuickTime player the majority of the time.
The compression of this file could cause data loss
It could be pulled out by Apple
MTS
MTS or MPEG Transport Stream, is an advanced format for video that can be stored inside the Advanced Video Coding High Definition setting. Major companies such as Sony, Canon, and Panasonic utilize this format to create high-definition movies. MTS is a format that can use to make 3D videos, and it is compatible with certain Canon cameras as well as Sony products.
But, MTS won’t be suitable for the majority of users and video editors. The software is not compatible with all social media platforms like YouTube and requires specialized education to edit effectively. Videos are large and may be difficult to edit.
Ideal for professional Canon as well as Sony camera owners
Pros:
Compatible with 3D videos. Compatible with 3D
Produces high-definition digital projects
Compatible with specific Canon as well as Sony camera equipment
Cons:
Limited to specific cameras and equipment
A slow editing process with an arduous learning curve
HTML5 or WEBM
WEBM also known as HTML5 is an open-source developed by Google that allows people to look over and alter the video format whenever needed. WEBM can be used in conjunction with HTML and HTML5, making it a great option for videos embedded in browsers.
One of the major advantages of this format can be that it does not require any processing power in order to decompress or compress video’s data. Because of this, WEBM is a great format for video streaming. WEBM format is ideal for massive online distribution and embedding videos on websites and that’s why a lot of small and medium-sized business owners utilize these formats. They’re fast to stream and load well as being supported by the majority of browsers like Opera, Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, Internet Explorer and Firefox.
The best for digital marketing and small-sized businesses.
Pros:
The format for video is open-source and continuously changing
Speedier loading on the internet than other video formats
Doesn’t require significant computing power to decompress or compress
It is a great way to share videos with a lot of people online.
Cons:
The HTML file must be opened and played. HTML open in order to be played
Not in the same way as mobile devices.
WMV
Microsoft created WMV also known as Windows Media Video, which made it more visible on the internet. But, WMV is most helpful for people looking to share their videos via an Windows PC, or edit with Windows Movie Maker. WMV files do not work with others video editors, which makes them less versatile as compared to other options for file formats listed on this list.
WMV files are great choices due to their size however, the file could be easily damaged, resulting in the loss of quality following compression. If you’re looking to upload your images to YouTube WMV is a good choice of file. Apple users have access to WMV files via Windows Media Player. Windows Media Player.
The best choice is for Windows and Windows Movie Maker Windows or Movie Maker
Pros:
The video files are relatively small
A fantastic option for storing videos on an Windows PC
Useful for short animations in a range of video applications
Perfect for sharing videos via email because of the small size of the file
Cons:
This device is compatible only to Windows PCs and selected video players.
Video quality is decreased throughout and even after compression
How do you choose the best video format?
There are a variety of fantastic video formats that are available. It isn’t easy to select the right one for your particular project. To assist you we’ve put together the following cheat sheet , so that you are able to easily choose the most suitable video format for your specific requirements.
YouTube
YouTube accepts a variety of formats, including MOV MPEG-1 and MPEG-2 as well as MPG, MP4, AVI, and WMV.
In reality, AVI and MP4 will be the most common options for the majority of users, particularly if you intend to utilize the file on different platforms or websites.
If you are Windows Users, WMV may be the best option for Windows Movie Maker if you’re using Windows Movie Maker.
TikTok
MOV as well as MP4 are the most popular TikTok video formats, however the platform also allows AVI, MPEG, and 3PG videos.
Instagram
Instagram prefers the format MP4 however, it will accept MOV or GIF in case you like the format to your liking.
Videos on the website
WEBM as well as HTML5 videos are fast to load and great to view on websites
MP4 videos and AVI videos are a great option since they are widely accepted.
Sharing
MP4 files are perfect to share because they are universally recognized, which means your recipient will be able to access the file no matter what device or web browser.
We recommend emailing using WMV files when you and your recipient have the Windows computer due to the small size of the file.
Recording
MTS files are a favorite option for Sony and Canon users due to their amazing resolution and 3D video capabilities.
If you’d like to burn your film to DVD, then film it using MPEG-2.
Editing
WMV is perfect for Windows users editing using Windows Movie Maker.
If you’re planning to burn DVDs, or even create films, you should consider MPEG-2 or MKV file formats.
MOV files are a popular choice for Apple users for editing videos.
Storing phone on phone
MP4 files are compact and compatible with almost every device, which makes them ideal to store on phones.
MKV files also work to work with Android smartphones 6.0+.
To use Apple products, you should consider making use of the HEVC format for your files.
High-quality
AVCHD is among the most high-quality video files on the market.
If you own either a Sony or Canon camera, think about the use of an MTS file for a higher resolution.
4K
MTS files provide 4K resolution as well as 3D video support.
AVCHD is a great option for high-definition 4K projects.
Valuable Resources
In our search during our research, we discovered the following sources that we’d like to be able to share with you should you have any additional concerns.
Are you still not sure the meaning of a codec for video or would you like to gain a better understanding of the options that are available to you while you’re shooting, editing or creating your videos? Take a look at the video for a guide to understanding codes for a thorough explanation of what a codec can be and how you can use it for your benefit.
Are you confused about which video format to select for exporting your video? We loved this video from Filmora MVP on video formats which explain what they are and which one should you decide for your videos to be exported.
Are you curious about which format of video file is best for you? Check out the YouTube video below about which format of video is the best for you and how it will enhance the video’s quality to your viewers.
Final Thoughts
The proper video file extension will make a significant difference in how well you can present your video and how long it takes to load or download or load, and whether you are able to share it on the site or other platform you’d like to share it with.
Before beginning any video-related project, make sure you consider which video format will work best for your particular project as well as how your PC can handle it. If you own an older computer that has less space it is necessary to choose an mp3 file that is smaller or risk your computer crashing during the process of working on or rendering the video. If you’re using the external drive and have a larger capacity, you can select larger video files that are high-quality resolution.
Begin by thinking about the final destination of your video whether it’s streaming, a film, or social media. Then make and edit the video in the same format. Make sure to think about what the ideal option for your project. But don’t worry that you are able to convert your video’s format using many online tools.