Whether you’re a professional film maker, digital agency or an ambitious business creating top-notch content, it’s important to understand the different video file formats – and which is best for you.
In truth, there are a few different factors, such as file usage and storage space, which impact the video type you should choose. Keep reading as we review the three most popular video file types…
Developed by Microsoft and released in 1992, the AVI file is one of the oldest video formats out there.
Pros: As one of the most popular video formats, it is universally accepted and is often viewed as the general standard for storing video files on a computer. It is simple to run, can be encoded in a number of different codecs and is supported by most popular web browsers.
Cons: If uncompressed, AVI files can be very large, taking up a substantial amount of space on your storage system. The video quality may also be lost when compressed beyond certain limits.
Best for: Those wanting to easily create video content, for social media channels, YouTube accounts or family videos for future use.
Widely popularised by Apple and iTunes, MP4 files are supported by most of the popular digital devices on the market.
Pros: High quality video footage at a low data cost. MP4 files allow for computer streaming. The MP4 format can store both video and audio files and can be run on all the main media players and sound card drivers.
Cons: The only drawback to MP4 files is that they are not easy to update or edit. So, if you’re planning on using this file format for editing or film-making, you may want to reconsider your options.
Best for: Short videos, including those taken on mobile phones and handheld devices. As the standard video format, MP4 is widely used for a number of functions.
Developed by Apple, this video format is popular for saving movie and video files.
Pros: This file type can easily be edited, making it a great choice for moviemakers and YouTube content creators. It can also be used on both PC and Mac, meaning it is highly adaptable for everyone.
Cons: Users may be limited to a QuickTime-only environment, not being able to open, edit or view certain files in other systems.
Best for: Those looking for high-quality, easy-to-edit video files. Great for short film creators and social media influencers.
Once you’ve settled on the ideal video format for you, you need to find a suitable environment to store and organise your files. At iBase, our digital asset management (DAM) platform can eliminate storage constraints that limit you to certain file types, with a number of impressive retrieval tools and security features to boot.
Any questions? Don’t hesitate to contact our team.
