Video libraries are constantly growing in size, for example, my collection of Formula 1 Grand Prix recordings no longer fits on a 1 TB disk. The situation is no better for TV series fans - with each new season there is a catastrophic lack of disk space. The search for the most effective way to compress them all to a smaller size never ends.
1 What are the options?
In theory, it's pretty straightforward to reduce the size of a video file – you just need to increase the compression ratio. Using the same codec will inevitably lead to a drop in image quality. This brings us to the conclusion that we need a more efficient codec.
New codecs do not appear on the market often, and more efficient ones are even rarer. The development of codecs not only requires serious investments, but also rests on the capabilities of modern hardware. What is the use of a video codec if it cannot play video in real time?
These days, most video files are compressed with MPEG-4 and H.264 codecs. They've had good hardware support and are here to stay. They were replaced by AV1 and H.265 codecs. By 2024, almost all the big players had already adapted their software and hardware for trouble-free operation. The VVC codec is already on the horizon, but it's too early to talk about its use.
What benefit can be obtained from switching to a more modern codec? Tests show an advantage of 30-40% with the same image quality. Is it a lot or a little? It all depends on the size of your video collection. However, do not forget that this process is quite slow, and each video file may have problems choosing the right settings. It is a good idea to use a powerful batch video compressor.
Next, we will provide an advanced batch video compressor that will help you to compress videos in bulk with minimal quality loss. Find out more details below.
2 A smart way to get video converted
Video Converter Plus is an ideal batch video compressor that can compress multiple video files at once. It is easy to use. All you need to do is import all your videos and click the compression button to start compressing. In addition to this, it also allows you to use efficient codecs such as AVC, HEVC or AV1 to batch encode videos into smaller files while maintaining high quality. You can also change video bitrate, resolution, frame rate and trim video length to further compress video file for email, Discord, WhatsApp, etc.
This video compression software supports all input video formats such as MP4, MOV, MKV, AVI and more. Just download the bulk video compressor and see how to compress video files at once below.
3 Step-by-step guide
Before you start, please download the batch video compressor for free and install it on your PC.
Step 1. Add multiple video filesLaunch the batch video compressor and enter the "Converter" program. Then click the center + button or the upper left "Add Files" button to import videos into the program. Alternatively, you can directly drag and drop the source files into the interface. At the bottom of the workspace, click the button to set the output folder in advance.
Step 2. Select the output formatClick on the "Output format" field to open the list of output formats and select the AV1 or HEVC category. On the right, you can select a preset that suits you, which you can customize later.
Step 3. Set the compression ratioNow you can proceed to reconfiguring the standard preset to suit your requirements. The degree of compression is determined by the bitrate, which you can view in the properties of the original video, and then select a lower new value.
Step 4. Batch Compress VideosFinally, click the "Convert" button to compress multiple videos at once. Compressing video files may take some time depending on your PC specifications. If your GPU supports hardware acceleration for the selected codec, the processing time is drastically reduced.
4 Rent computing power for conversion?
Following the old tradition, let's try to consider an alternative method of conversion using an online service. I am not a fan of such solutions, since I have enough hardware at home to perform all manipulations with audio and video. Moreover, in terms of cost, services are completely inferior to traditional software. Nevertheless, they have the right to exist and here's why...
The world is constantly changing and if ten years ago a modern computer was in every home, today most people have enough smart gadgets for everyday tasks. They are aimed exclusively at content consumption, so they are poorly suited for heavy tasks. If you want to convert a large collection of videos to AV1 format, you will need either a powerful processor or the latest generation of GPU with hardware acceleration of this compression format. In this case, using an online service can be economically justified. It is only important to choose a tariff plan that will allow you to convert videos of the size you need.
5 Finally
When compressing video, quality loss is inevitable. The batch video compressor presented in this article will help you batch compress videos with minimal quality loss. In addition, it will also help you batch compress audio files. As for online services, the compression quality will be approximately the same for all, so pay attention to the cost and additional features. That's all I want to share about batch video file compression. I hope this program will be useful to you. Thanks for reading!