To compress 4K videos without quality loss, use an efficient codec like H.265 (HEVC) or H.264 (AVC) with a balanced bitrate. Always export in MP4 with AAC audio, and match the target platform’s preferred resolution to prevent unnecessary scaling.

The ideal bitrate depends on your platform:

• YouTube: 35–45 Mbps (H.264) or 15–25 Mbps (H.265)
• Instagram Reels/Stories: 5–8 Mbps
• WhatsApp: 2–5 Mbps (downscale to 720p or 1080p)

Keeping bitrate too low causes pixelation, while too high wastes storage and upload time.

No, WhatsApp’s 16 MB limit means it will automatically compress videos, often reducing resolution and quality. To preserve clarity, compress the video manually before sending, reduce resolution to 1080p or 720p, keep bitrate around 2–5 Mbps, and save in MP4 format before sharing.

Instagram applies heavy server-side compression to reduce bandwidth usage. This often causes blurriness, pixelation, or washed-out colours. To minimize quality loss, upload videos in Instagram’s preferred resolutions (1080×1920 for Stories/Reels, 1080×1080 for feed) and pre-compress using high bitrate and proper aspect ratio.

YouTube recommends:

• Format: MP4
• Video codec: H.264 or H.265
• Audio codec: AAC, 48 kHz
• Bitrate: 35–45 Mbps (H.264), 15–25 Mbps (H.265)
  Using these settings ensures optimal playback across devices and faster uploads.

Yes. Every compression pass removes some data. Even with lossless settings, re-compressing repeatedly can introduce artifacts. Always keep an original master copy of your 4K file and compress only when exporting for a specific platform.

Compression time depends on:

• Length of the video
• Bitrate settings
• Your computer’s processing power
• Chosen codec (H.265 is slower to encode than H.264)
  A 1-minute 4K clip can take under a minute to compress on a modern computer, while longer videos with two-pass encoding may take several minutes to hours.

When exporting, choose AAC audio at 128–320 kbps and 48 kHz sample rate. Avoid overly low audio bitrates, as they cause muffled or tinny sound. If your platform allows, use 192 kbps or higher for music-heavy videos.

• H.264 (AVC): More compatible across devices and platforms, faster to encode.
• H.265 (HEVC): Produces smaller files with the same quality but takes longer to encode and may not be supported by older devices.

If your target audience uses modern devices and you want smaller file sizes, choose H.265. For maximum compatibility, stick with H.264.

Yes. Keep your export resolution at 1080×1920 with the same aspect ratio as your original footage, and avoid adding black bars. Most compression tools allow you to adjust canvas size without cropping.

Signs of over-compression include:

• Pixelated edges or blocky shapes in motion
• Colour banding (harsh transitions between colours)
• Blurry textures
• Muffled audio
  If you notice these, increase the bitrate or use two-pass encoding for a cleaner result.