Nowadays videos are the most used way of communication on the Web, but they are large, heavy files, so it often happens that it is necessary to compress movies to reduce the space occupied. To do this you can install special programs on your PC, free or paid, or use online applications to convert files and download them to your computer once the optimization is done. Let’s see how to compress a video, finding out what are the best programs for compressing movies and how to do it online.
How video compression works
Videos are movies made up of a series of images in sequence, with a more or less high speed depending on the playback quality and the type of format. So when you start the video you get the feeling of movement, with a fluidity determined by the number of sequences per second (frames per second or fps). The standard is bound to the quality of the camera and the format, with an average value from 30 to 60 fps.
The high quantity of images that make up the videos, however, involves the creation of large files, very heavy resources especially if you have to download them and move them to other devices. For this reason it is often useful to compress videos, reducing the file size and making data transmission faster. To do this, the number of images in the video is reduced, usually saving one frame every 12 shots, merging similar ones to maintain a good overall quality.
Of course every compression represents a compromise, so the quality is slightly decreased, however with some programs it is possible to obtain appreciable results. The system used by the software can be different, depending on the technology used and the type of format processed, often using 8×8 JPEG image blocks. Alternatively, you can compress videos with online programs, avoiding the need to install software on your PC if you don’t have to do it frequently.
Best programs to compress videos on Windows
There are several options to compress videos on the Windows operating system to make your movies lighter.
Simple Video Compressor V3.5
An excellent program to reduce the size of videos on Windows PC is Simple Video Compressor V3.5, a paid software with a cost of $9 and a 15 day trial period. This is a suitable solution if you need to compress a lot of videos, this way you only have to install the program in your pc and use it without limitations. The application allows you to work with videos in MP4, MOV, AVI and MTS formats, just to name the main ones, however, other formats are also available.
Once you have it installed you just have to carry out the configuration wizard, open the program and click on the Add Video option to upload your movie. Then you’ll have to choose the type of compression to carry out, through the Compression Mode function, to determine how much to reduce the file size through the Video Size indicator. Finally, all you have to do is start the operation with the Compress Video command, save the file and indicate in which folder the new compressed video should be placed.
FreeMediaConverter
If you have a Windows PC, you can use the FreeMediaConverter program to compress your videos, a free software that does not require any payment to download. To download it, just go to the official website at freemediaconverter.org, select the version of your operating system and run the download. This software is compatible with different versions of Windows, including XP, Vista, 7, 8 and of course Windows 10.
The video formats supported are many, including MP4, AVI, MKV, VOB, MOV, FLAC and OGG, you can also convert DVDs, download videos from YouTube, record movies with your PC’s webcam and convert many other types of media files. After installation, just open the program, select Add Files to choose the video to be compressed, indicate for what type of device you want to optimize the movie through the Profile option, for example for the smartphone, then select the folder where you want to save the file and start compression with the Convert button.
Free Video Editor
To compress video files with Windows PC you can download the program Free Video Editor, a free software less functional than the previous ones. In fact, it is an editing application, however, you can use it to cut some frames from the movie, thus reducing its total size. The program supports various video formats, AVI, MP4, FLV, WMV and MPG to name a few, it is in English but quite easy to use. On the website dvdvideosoft.com you can find several tutorials that explain in detail how to use the software and its editing features.
Best programs to compress video on Mac
Not only on Windows operating system, even with Apple’s Mac you can compress and reduce the size of video files. Here are the best programs and how to do it.
HandBrake
A program to compress video on Mac is HandBrake, which is also available in a version with support for Windows and Linux, so you can use it on both PCs without any problems. Strange but true it is a free software for macOS, so you don’t have to pay anything to download and install the application inside your Mac. Its operation is slightly more complex than previous programs, but it offers a good compression quality and an optimized result for mobile devices.
Once you have downloaded the software from the official website, at handbrake.fr, you just have to carry out the configuration wizard, open the application, move the video to be compressed with the mouse by dragging it to the workspace, indicate the target device with the Presets option in the upper right corner, or leave this parameter blank by opting for the General item. Finally, before compressing the video, you can make settings such as audio, resolution and formats.
Adpater
If you were wondering how to compress a video without using HandBrake, for example because you find it particularly difficult to use, a good alternative is Adpater. This program is also free, specifically for Mac applications, however, it is also compatible with Windows. The software allows you to reduce the size of video, audio and image files, so it is perfect for carrying out a variety of tasks and working with different types of files and resources.
A strong point of this program is the possibility to preview before starting the compression, to see if the result is adequate to your needs and maintains an appreciable quality. Besides, it is possible to do video editing, cutting movies and modifying some aspects such as the audio. Adapter also needs to be downloaded and installed in your pc, then you just need to open it, select a video, configure resolution and audio and finish by clicking on Convert.
Total Video Convert Lite
If you are looking for a free software to compress videos with your Mac, a good choice is the Total Video Convert Lite program. The application is specifically for PCs running macOS, supports many formats such as AVI, MP4, MKV and AAC, and allows you to convert video for many different devices, including PS3, Xbox 360 and Nintendo DS game consoles, iPhone, iPad and BlackBerry, Nokia and Sony Ericsson smartphones. Lately, there has also been a Windows version, available in 32-bit or 64-bit variants.
This software is a great solution for those who are not very familiar with video editing, in fact, it features a very simple and intuitive interface, to get videos compressed in a few moments and save them on the pc with reduced size. The application can also convert audio files, movies from DVDs and CDs or animated GIFs, optimizing the files for mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets, or as we have seen even for game consoles.
How to compress a video online
If you don’t want to install programs on your PC, for example because you need to reduce the size of a single video, so you don’t want to download software to your computer, you can compress videos online using free platforms. One of them is ClipChamp, a video converter system available in the Italian language, so it is quite easy to use. To use it you need to register with your email address, activating a free Basic account that offers unlimited exports and 480p video quality.
Alternatively there is a paid Creator service, priced at $9 per month to enjoy 720p quality and unrestricted audio material, absent in the free option. Otherwise for professional use there is the Business plan at $19 per month, for Full HD video quality up to 1080p and the ability to use custom brands. ClipChamp supports any type of video format, with an initial size of up to 20GB and the conversion of multiple movies at the same time.
Another portal that allows you to compress videos online for free is ApowerSoft, always in Italian language so quite simple to use. To upload a movie, just drag the file into the workspace, go to apowersoft.com and click on Compress Video Online, then choose the resolution and finally download the compressed video to your PC or leave it in the cloud. The supported formats are many, including MOV, MP4, WMV, AVI and WEBM, with smart technology to optimize quality and compatibility with Windows and Mac.
Another online program for compressing videos for free is Convertire-documents.co.uk, active since 2013 with over 35 million files processed so far. Again, all you need to do is drag and drop the movie into the conversion window, or upload the video by clicking Select File, then just indicate the destination device to optimize compression and start the process. In a few moments the size of the movie will be reduced, then you’ll be able to download it and save it to your pc.