If you want to capture and post videos to the Kiwi Experience website, you’ll need to remember there is a 4MB limit on file size.
Below we've put together some tips and guidance for those of you who are new to working with video on the internet.
How to set up your camera to film for the web
It goes without saying there are too many different camera makes and models to explain exactly how to set your camera for the web but they are all similar enough for us to provide you with a few pointers...
Whether you’re using the video option on your point-and-shoot camera, or you have a camcorder, you’ll want to use a low-resolution or "web-friendly" setting.
Most newer model camcorders offer a web mode in addition to a standard recording mode, but if your camera is a little older or the labelling is not so obvious in your camera’s settings, look for an option to adjust the following:
- frame size – select either 320x240 or 640x480 as these are all that you’ll need for playback over the web.
- frame rate - select 30 frames per second (fps) if possible.
The web-friendly setting records video in a format and size that's most suitable for web upload.
Higher compression = lower file size
Devices which have a "web- friendly" setting usually record using MPEG-4 compression, then you can choose the picture quality from a range of settings. The rule of thumb is that increasing the compression reduces the quality, and the file size comes down. Try and find the right balance.
Keep your Video Short & Concise
If the content is particularly compelling, you can go as long as a minute but for the most part, keep your clips to 15-20secs – short and to the point.
Avoid Too Many Movements
Know that high compression does not like fast movement or rapid colour changes and also it’s easier on the eye to keep your shots stable.
If you’ve already shot your clip, how can you reduce it?
If you have a great clip you’d like to share but you’ve recorded it in a high-resolution format, you’ll need to add some compression to reduce the file size. Video compression is a trade off between file size and video quality.
Compress the video
To add compression you’ll need some software which enables you to convert your hi-res footage into low-res footage. Most cameras come with software you can install from a CD provided, but if you don’t have any video software you’ll need to search the web for some… there are plenty out there, some are free, some offer a free trial, and some you’ll need to purchase.
Once installed, you’ll import your large video file and configure the compression options:
- Format or type of compression: MPEG-4
- Frame size: 320x240 or 640x480
- Frame rate: max. 30fps
...and run the compression. The software will convert your video file and produce a compressed version you’ll need to save out to your computer.
Try a few options, experiment, as long as your footage is only short, each compression attempt you make will only take a few seconds. Play back the result and see if you notice the difference in quality. Remember, no-one expects web video to be crystal clear and in high definition.
Edit the video
Another way to reduce the file size is to shorten the length of the footage. If your clip is 30secs long and 8MB, by editing out any boring bits you’ll reduce the file size e.g. cutting the clip down to 15secs will reduce the file size to 4MB.
As with video compression, to edit a video file you’ll need some video software which should have been provided on a CD when you bought your camera, but if not there are options available for download from the web.
Once installed, you’ll import your large video file and use the tools provided to "cut" out the parts you no londer need. Then export the file and check how much you reduced the file size by.
It’s quite likely that the software for video compression also has an option to edit your video.