You’ve probably noticed that there’s a lot of terminology to learn if you’re a newbie to videography. There is a lot to learn, from bitrates and frame rates to other new terms. You’ve probably wondered, “What is a codec?” When you hear people talking about video production. There are many codecs to choose from, and they all compress files while maintaining quality.
We’ll answer the question ‘What is codec?’ and list the most common codecs, along with the pros and cons.
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What is a Codec?
Codecs are algorithms that digitally encode or decode audio and video data. Codecs are used to compress audio and video data so that they can be sent and stored more efficiently on the Internet. Codecs can be hardware or software. It converts the digital data into a more easily transmitted format.
Codecs are a way to compress your video and play it back without noticing any quality loss.
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What is the best codec to use?
How can you choose the right codec to compress your video? It depends on the type of project and where you plan to host the file. You’ll want to use a codec with a smaller file size for small projects, or videos that you share on YouTube or social media.
If you are a budding documentarian and you want to have the best possible image quality and plenty of space for your files, along with backups or more than one, then you will want a codec which prioritizes image quality above space-saving credentials. Here are the top choices.
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Why Use Quicktime Codecs?
Quicktime is one of the most widely used codecs. It is a proprietary Apple codec. It’s widely used for both professional and consumer video and can compress video into a variety formats such as H.264 or H.265. Quicktime is known for its ability compress video files while maintaining high quality.
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Why MPEG4 codecs are used?
MPEG4 is another popular codec, which is widely used for compressing videos. MPEG4 can be found in many digital cameras, camcorders and streaming services like YouTube. This codec compresses video to a smaller file size. It’s great for sharing files, but it doesn’t offer the same quality as other codecs.