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Types of Quicktime Compression

QuickTime can export many different types of audio and video files. The compression of your source file varies depending on which file type you export. You choose the type of file to export based on the application you are going to use. For instance, you would use a different compression if you are burning a file to a DVD than you would to upload the file to the Internet. The three basic compression types you will use for QuickTime are H.264, MPEG-2 and MPEG-4.

  1. H.264

    • Use H.264 when uploading a file to the Internet.

      H.264 is the most popular compressor because it retains most of the original source file's quality while compressing the file up to 80 percent. The quality of video is less than MPEG-2 and higher than MPEG-4. This makes it ideal for Internet use and computer viewing.

    MPEG-2

    • Use MPEG-2 when burning the file to a DVD.

      MPEG-2 is a multi-pass compressor. A multi-pass compressor scans the entire source file in one pass and then compresses the file into the best-possible quality in the second pass. MPEG-2 files are much bigger and have a better quality than H.246 and MPEG-4 files, which makes them the best compression option for DVDs. Most DVD-burning programs only burn video files that are MPEG-2.

    MPEG-4

    • Use MPEG-4 when transferring the file to a portable device such as a phone or video player.

      MPEG-4 is a faster compressor than H.264 and MPEG-2 because it is a single-pass compressor. It was designed for multimedia applications. Most audio or video files you buy from the Internet are MPEG-4 files because they are ideal for streaming on the Internet or putting on your phone. The picture is a lower-quality than a file created using H.264 or MPEG-2 compression.

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