This article explains how to make an MP4 file smaller using video compressors like MiniTool Video Converter and FreeConvert. Follow the step-by-step guides to adjust compression settings or video parameters to reduce file size. It also covers the main factors affecting video size, including codecs, resolution, frame rate, and bitrate.
How to Make an MP4 File Smaller
Fast steps:
- Choose a video compressor (MiniTool Video Converter or FreeConvert).
- Upload the MP4 file.
- Set the compression level.
- Start compressing the MP4 video.
To make an MP4 file smaller, you can use MiniTool Video Converter or FreeConvert to compress your video files.
Option 1: MiniTool Video Converter
MiniTool Video Converter is a video compressor with no watermark. It supports compressing a video directly. Also, its conversion feature allows you to reduce video file sizes by adjusting settings such as resolution, encoder, and sample rate.
MiniTool Video Converter-
Batch convert video/audio files among 1000+ formats. - Quickly compress videos for easy storage and transfer.
- Accurately extract subtitles from video/audio files.
- Effectively enhance video quality.
Here is how to compress an MP4 video with MiniTool Video Converter’s video compression feature:
1. Download and install MiniTool Video Converter.
Download MiniTool Video Converter and install it on your PC.
2. Add the MP4 file.
Launch the application and go to the Compress Video tab. Click the Add Files button to add your MP4 file.
3. Choose the compression level.
Click the Settings icon to enable Compression Settings. Then adjust the compression level.
4. Select the output format.
Select the output format. Open the Format drop-down list and choose from MP4, MKV, and WebM.
5. Preview the video.
Before finalizing, click Preview to check a 10-second sample of the compressed video. Once satisfied, click OK to apply your settings.
6. Set the save location.
Choose the output folder to save your compressed video and click the Compress option to start the compression task.
7. Find the compressed video.
Once done, you’ll be directed to the Completed tab. Click the play icon to watch the video or click the folder icon to locate it on your computer.
It’s easy to compress MP4 files with the built-in compressor of MiniTool Video Converter. You can also make an MP4 file smaller by changing conversion settings. Follow the steps below:
1. Go to the conversion page.
Go to the Convert Video tab and upload your MP4 file.
2. Adjust the output video settings.
Click the Settings icon, go to the Video tab, and still choose MP4. Simply choose a profile with a lower resolution to reduce its size. Or, you can click the + Create Custom button for more settings.
- Set Encoder to HEVC for a higher compression ratio.
- Lower the Resolution.
- Set the Bitrate to the lowest value available.
- Keep the default frame rate or choose a smaller one.
Then, click Create to create the custom format and set it as the output format.
3. Start conversion.
Click the Convert option to compress the MP4 video.
Option 2: FreeConvert
FreeConvert is an online file converter that supports converting between video, audio, image, document, and more. Also, it lets you compress, crop, and trim videos. So, if you need an online MP4 compressor, you can try FreeConvert. Here’s how to use it to reduce MP4 file size.
1. Open the online video compressor.
Navigate to the FreeConvert website, hover over the Tools option, and click Video Compressor.
2. Upload the MP4 video.
Click on Choose Files to upload an MP4 video file.
3. Set the output format.
Make sure MP4 is set as the output format.
4. Adjust the compression settings.
Click the Settings button, choose a video codec, H.265 or H.264, choose a compression method, and click Apply Settings.
5. Compress and download the video.
Click the Compress Now button to start the video conversion task. Once done, download the video.
What Decides the Video File Size
- Video Format & Codecs
- Video Resolution
- Frame Rate
- Bitrate
Before learning how to make an MP4 file smaller, first of all, let’s understand the factors that determine the video file size and quality.
When you want to send a video via email or text message or upload it to social media, you’ll find it hard to deal with a video of a large file size. You may need to reduce the file size to make it easier to share and upload.
However, the concept of reducing video file size can be tricky. When trying to reduce the file size, it's difficult to know where to start. In this part, we’ll walk you through all the main factors that decide the video file size to help you understand the process of decreasing video file size.
#Video Format & Codecs
A video format is the file format used to store digital video data on a computer system, and you can check the file name extension to know the format of your video. Videos are almost always stored using lossy compression to reduce file size. There’re many different video file types, and currently MP4 is the most popular and widely supported video format. Other common video formats include MOV, AVI, MKV, WebM, FLV, etc.
A video format is like a container to store video information on digital devices. In addition, it has a main component - codec.
Codec is an acronym for encoder and decoder (standing for compressor and decompressor), and a video codec is software or hardware that compresses and decompresses digital videos. A video file contains much information like images, video, audio, subtitles, and other data, so it takes up a lot of space.
The purpose of a codec is to reduce the amount of storage required to accommodate each file. In storage, a video codec reduces the file size by combining similar data, minimizing the number of colors in the video and lowering the resolution.
Different video codecs have different compression ratios. You may have heard of video compression standards like H.264, H.265 (HEVC), AV1, and VP9.
For instance, H.265 (HEVC) provides better compression efficiency than H.264, but the latter has better compatibility. Generally speaking, MP4 using H.264 codec is the most recommended video format for storage. But if you need a small video file for online sharing, MP4 H.265 is the best option.
#Video Resolution
What is the video resolution? The 1080p we often refer to is a common resolution. The resolution of a video determines the amount of detail in the video, or the authenticity and clarity of the video and it’s measured by the frame’s width by width in pixels.
Video resolution not only affects the quality of the video image but also the size of the file. A higher resolution video means a larger file size. Because of this, a 1080p video has a smaller file size compared to a 4K video with the same duration.
#Frame Rate
Frame rate is another significant parameter that influences the file size of a video. It’s the frequency or rate at which consecutive images (frames) are displayed or captured within a second. For example, most movies are in 24 FPS, which means each second of the video has 24 still images.
Think of it this way - if you shoot a one-minute video at 30 FPS, in fact, you have pieced together 1800 individual images to create a video. Now, if you shoot the same video at 60 FPS, there will be 3600 images. Finally, you'll end up with a file that's twice the size of your 30 FPS video. In summary, a higher frame rate when exporting results in a larger file size.
#Bitrate
In addition to the above factors, bitrate is also one of the most important factors that have a direct impact on the size and quality of the video file. Video bitrate is the amount of video data transmitted per unit.
Generally, a high-quality video consists of a high bitrate along with a high video resolution and frame rate, but also results in a large video file size. Therefore, a higher bitrate is not always better. Choose the right bitrate depending on the video resolution. For instance, the ideal bitrate for 1080p videos ranges from 3,500 to 6,000 Kbps.
Final Thoughts
This article explains how to make an MP4 file smaller with MiniTool Video Converter and FreeConvert. Choose a compression method and adjust the settings to reduce file size while maintaining acceptable video quality.
If you have any questions while using MiniTool Video Converter, you can contact us via support@minitool.com for help.
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