Video compression is a process where a video file is encoded in a way that it takes up less space as opposed to the original file, thereby making it faster and easier to share over the internet. The technique basically reduces the size of video file formats by removing non-functional and redundant data from the original video. There are different reasons why people use video compression, and in this article, we will be highlighting everything that you need to know about it.
How does Video Compression?
Video compressions are executed via a video codec that works on one or multiple compression algorithms generally; video compression is performed by removing images, sounds, or scenes that are repetitive in the video.
For example, a video may have the same image or sound played, or the data included in the video may not be important. And a video compression technique will take out irrelevant information and reduce the overall size of the video. Post the compression of the video; the original format is converted into a different format based on the codec used in the process.
Importance of Video Compression
Before we understand how to compress a video media.io, let’s look into why video compression is needed in the first place.
Bandwidth is the main reason why we need to video compressor. Video is transferred from one place to another as electrical signals. And these signals generally travel through radio waves, microwaves, etc. or via HDMI, HD-SDI, etc.
You can consider cable as pipes for this explanation. Pipes have a diameter that allows only limited water to flow through it, irrespective of how much pressure is asserted. There is a particular limit of a broadcast system, which is reckoned as its bandwidth. Signals are similar to water in this circumstance, and there is only limited signal that can move through it.
In wireless transmission, the pipe is known as spectrum, where only a certain number of frequencies that are move through a single line. Every country has its limited spectrum within the territory. Basically, there is only limited space through, and there are additional charges for extra space.
Video compression is imperative for recording as well as saving security camera footage as it compresses files into a smaller format for better storage. By reducing the size, compression increased the hard drive space so that you can store more videos for a longer time period before the hard drive reaches its maximum capacity.
What are the Types of Video Compression?
Below are three prominent forms of video compression:
264 Compression
It is among the best and the most efficient way to compress video files. It reduces the file size by assessing small image groups together and removing the duplicate cones.
MJPEG Compression
In this format, each of the videos is evaluated and compressed. It is also known as motion JPEG because it treats individual frames as different JPEG images.
MPEG4 Compression
It is the most traditional format of video compression and is not commonly used nowadays. The MPEG compressor has been replaced by H.264 compression.
What is Video Codec?
A codec is leveraged to compress and then further decompress a video file. The compression can be either lossless or lossy.
Lossy Compression Format
Lossy file compression implies that the compressed files contain less data as opposed to the original file format. Images, as well as sounds that were repeated throughout the file, have been effectively removed. It also means that the quality of the video file has been reduced because the data has been taken out; therefore, the title lossy.
Lossless Compression Formats
Lossless compression implies that the original video, as well as the compressed files, is almost identical. The data within the file is not lost amidst the compression process. Considering that the file ends up being the same size as the original format, the lossless compression files do not serve the actual purpose of the compressed file.
What are the Benefits of Video Compression?
Considering that it reduces the quality of the video, people do not understand the benefits of video compression. Following are some of the prominent benefits of video compression:
Save Storage Space
Generally, videos are very long, which is the reason why people don’t generally see them. For instance, a 1080 HP video at 30 frames each second requires high bandwidth. And the large size of the file makes it difficult to store it. However, when you compress the same video, it reduced the size to a significant level, making it more efficient to store more videos.
Easier to Transfer from One Device to Another
Compressed videos are significantly smaller in size, making it easier to store as well as transfer them. Additionally, it takes less time and bandwidth to transfer the file to the device through the internet. This also allows you to have more ways to share files across multiple devices.
Makes it Easier to Read and Write Files
Large files need more time to load and are generally limited to the low speed of data transfer. Similar is the case with writing the files, particularly in media where writing speed is significantly slower as opposed to the speed of reading. The smaller size of compressed video files does reading and writing considerably faster.
Lower Cost
Uncompressed video files can come with a significantly high cost, particularly when different areas are involved. In addition to needing more space, you will also require more system resources and bandwidth in order to handle such files. The lower storage and bandwidth requirement ensures the cost is also less. While the quality of the video is impacted, the effect is hard to notice unless you are using a low bitrate.
Final Thoughts
Video compression is imperative for efficiently storing and sharing of video files. There are different types of video compressed formats, and they each serve distinctive purposes. Effectively compressing the video allows you to save and share more video files in an efficient manner. Choosing the right video compressor tool also enables you to ensure that you can easily compress the video. For better help you can always click here.
