This article provides best practices for video, color, and audio settings to use when compressing videos before uploading them to Vimeo. See the compression quickstart guide below for the most common settings.
⚠️Note: The best way to re-encode your file is to re-export it from the program you used to create it.
If your editing or encoding software does not offer export customizations (or you don’t have access to the software), you can use a free program like Handbrake (handbrake.fr) to re-encode your file. Read about How to use Handbrake to help avoid variation in upload quality.
In this article:
Compression quickstart guide
This section provides a brief breakdown of recommended settings, but may not cover all use cases. See Video, Color, and Audio guidelines after this list for more exhaustive information.
- Video Codecs: H.264, Apple ProRes 422 (HQ), or H.265 (HEVC)
- Frame rate: Keep the native frame rate and choose a constant frame rate
- Bit rate: Choose variable if possible and follow ranges based on your video’s definition
- Resolution: Pixel aspect ratio of 1:1
- Color Primaries and Matrix Coefficients: All accepted, but we recommend BT.2020 (Rec. 2020) or BT.709 (Rec. 709)
- Color Transfer Characteristics: For HDR videos, we only support the PQ (SMPTE 2084) or HLG transfer function
- Bit depth: 10 or greater
- Scan type: Progressive, and recommend deinterlacing videos
- Audio Codec: AAC-LC (Low Complexity AAC)
- Data rate: 320 kb/s
- Sample rate: 48 kHz
Video guidelines
Codecs
What is a Codec?
A codec is the technology that compresses (and can decompress) a file – in this case, a video file – so that its smaller size means faster uploads, downloads, and streaming playback over the internet. Most video production software will allow you to export your file using your choice of codec. Different codecs will compress a video file in different ways in order to most efficiently send the data over a network.
We accept files compressed using most major codecs, but for the best results, we recommend using one of the following:
H.264
H.264 is a standard codec that balances high visual quality with efficient file size. It's a great starting point for encoding your videos as it ensures you'll get the most out of your upload quota while minimizing upload and conversion times. Be sure to choose the "High Profile" H.264 setting instead of "Main Profile." Please note that the H.264 video codec only supports resolutions up to 4K.
Apple ProRes 422 (HQ)
This professional-quality codec ensures high quality for your encoded video but typically results in a much larger file size than H.264. If you notice quality issues with your H.264 videos and have ample storage space on your Vimeo account, using ProRes may produce a better result.
H.265 (HEVC)
Frame rate
What is frame rate?
Frame rate is the measurement of how quickly several images (or frames) appear within a second, commonly referred to as FPS (frames per second). When preparing your video for upload, it’s best to maintain the video’s native frame rate when compressing your video. If your footage exceeds 60 FPS, we will automatically reduce the frame rate. If your video’s frame rate is automatically reduced, you may notice lower quality or choppy playback. Important: We recommend a constant frame rate throughout your entire video.
Always choose a constant frame rate rather than a variable frame rate. While we accept many frame rates (FPS), the most common ones are below:
- 23.98
- 24
- 25
- 29.97
- 30
- 50
- 59.94
- 60
Bit rate
What is the bit rate?
Bit rate (also known as data rate) determines the visual quality of the video and its file size by measuring the amount of data used to encode a single second of video.
If your video editing software gives you the option, choose a “variable” bit rate and select a value from the ranges below. You can experiment with different rates if your file is too large or if you’re not happy with the quality of your source file. Video quality and corresponding bit rates can be found in this table:
|
Quality |
Bit rate (Mbps)* |
|
SD |
2 – 5 |
|
720p |
5 – 10 |
|
1080p |
10 – 20 |
|
2K |
20 – 30 |
|
4K |
30 – 60 |
|
8K |
50 – 80 |
We recommend setting the constant rate factor (CRF) to 18 or below. For ProRes, follow the standard presets in your video editor to export your file. For example, ProRes HQ for 1080p at 29.97 fps has a target bit rate of 220 Mbps in Final Cut. CRF is an encoding mode that adjusts the file data to achieve a selected quality level rather than a specific data rate.
Resolution
Given the numerous kinds and sizes of screens on which your audience may be viewing your video, it's important to consider the resolution. We recommend compressing your video with a pixel aspect ratio of 1:1, or square pixels.
Below are some of the most common formats:
|
Format |
Resolution (px) |
|
Standard Definition (SD)4:3 aspect ratio |
640 × 480 |
|
Standard Definition (SD)16:9 aspect ratio |
640 × 360 |
|
720p HD16:9 aspect ratio |
1280 × 720 |
|
1080p HD16:9 aspect ratio |
1920 × 1080 |
|
2K16:9 aspect ratio |
2560 × 1440 |
|
4K UHD16:9 aspect ratio |
3840 × 2160 |
|
DCI 4K UHD17:9 aspect ratio |
4096 × 2160 |
|
4K Monoscopic 3602:1 aspect ratio |
4096 × 2048 |
|
4K Stereoscopic 3602:1 aspect ratio |
4096 × 2048* |
|
8K UHD17:9 aspect ratio |
8192 × 4320 |
Stereoscopic video should be uploaded with the left and right views stacked on top of each other as 4096 x 1024 (4:1 aspect ratio) for each eye.
Color guidelines
What is color space?
Color space refers to the specific range of possible colors and luminance values within a video. During the transcoding process, color space informs how exact color values are reproduced.
For the most accurate color display on Vimeo, we recommend uploading a file that contains color space information using the settings described below.
⚠️Note: Some software may not offer control over your color settings.
Color primaries and matrix coefficients
What are color primaries and matrix coefficients?
Color primaries indicate the white point and the red, green, and blue primary color points for a video system. Matrix coefficients translate between RGB color space values and Y´CbCr values.
We support all color primaries and matrices, but we recommend BT.2020 (Rec. 2020) or BT.709 (Rec. 709). You can use the same value for both color primary and matrix coefficients. For Dolby Vision, set the color space to Rec. 2020 HLG.
Color transfer characteristics
About color transfer metadata and Dolby Vision
Color transfer metadata is usually added automatically in post-production. We further support the upload of encoded Dolby Vision files. Dolby Vision for Vimeo uses an HLG base layer with Rec. 2020 primaries and Dolby Vision dynamic metadata. Using Dolby Vision for Vimeo, the metadata is automatically included inside the file. There’s no additional metadata required for upload. The HLG transfer function enables backward compatibility with a range of non-Dolby Vision devices that support HLG playback.
We support a wide range of transfer characteristics for standard (SDR) videos, but for HDR videos, we only support the PQ (SMPTE 2084) or HLG transfer function. If using the PQ (SMPTE 2084) transfer function, please include the following metadata to ensure the most accurate display of your video’s colors on all devices:
- Mastering Display Color Volume metadata (SMPTE 2086)
- Content Light Level Information metadata (CEA 861.3).
Bit depth
What is bit depth?
Bit depth refers to the number of bits of data, expressed in 1s and 0s, used to record the color channels for each pixel of your video. A higher bit depth means that more shades of each color are available, while a lower bit depth means you are more likely to see sharp delineations between color changes in the images.
While we support various bit depths, we recommend a bit depth of 10 or greater for the highest quality results. For high dynamic range (HDR) and Dolby Vision videos, your file needs to have a bit depth of 10 or greater in order to be considered HDR on Vimeo.
Scan type
What is a progressive scan?
A progressive scan indicates the specific pattern in which lines of visual information are displayed across the viewer’s screen. With progressive scanning, all of the lines that make up a single frame are transmitted. With Interlaced scanning, lines of visual information are alternated, and only half of a frame’s visual information is transmitted at a time
Vimeo converts all videos to progressive for playback. For best results, we recommend deinterlacing videos prior to upload.
Audio guidelines
Similar to video codecs and compression, the codec you use to compress the audio of your video can affect how it sounds and the file size. Below, we've included our key recommended settings for encoding your audio.
Audio codec
For consistent results, we recommend using AAC-LC (Low Complexity AAC) for the audio codec.
Data rate
For consistent results, you may choose to encode your audio at 320 kb/s CBR, although this is higher than necessary to achieve transparent audio quality. Note that the appropriate data rate will depend on the number of channels, sample rate, and bit depth of your video file.
Sample rate
For best results, set your audio sample rate to 48 kHz. The sample rate will be converted to 48 kHz if it is different in the uploaded file.