How to Compress an MP4
Various mobile phones, cameras and multimedia devices record videos in the MP4 format. If your device records video in high definition, the resulting file size for the video can be very large. To send an MP4 to others via email or file transfer, you may need to compress the video to reduce its file size. Various programs let you compress the MP4 using a preset quality levels, resolution or custom file size. Compressing the video, however, will reduce its quality level.
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Instructions
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IPodMe 2.4
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Download and install IPodMe 2.4 from the Videohelp.com website. This free program lets you compress MP4 videos using various quality levels.
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Open iPodMe and click "Add Files" near the bottom of the window. Select the MP4 you want to compress and click "Open."
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Click the "Profile" drop-down list and select a video quality level. Select "Slow, Size," "Fast, Size" or "Turbo, Size." Although each will reduce the video's file size, the "Slow, Size" setting will produce the best video quality, and the "Turbo, Size" setting will result in a lower quality video.
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Click the "Max Size:" drop-down list and select a resolution for the video. Smaller resolutions typically result in a smaller file size. Click "Convert" to encode and compress the video using the chosen settings.
Leawo Free MP4 Converter
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Download and install Leawo Free MP4 Converter from the MoyeaMedia website. The program can convert various video formats to MP4 and can compress existing MP4 files. While the free version can convert videos using the medium setting, the professional version supports other quality settings.
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Open Leawo MP4 Converter and click the "Add" button near the top of the window. Locate your MP4 and press "Enter."
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Click the "Video Quality" drop-down list and select "Medium" to compress the video. Select the same option from the "Audio Quality" drop-down list as well, if desired. If you have the professional version, select "Low" on both options to use a higher level of compression.
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Click the blue circle icon on the bottom right corner of the program to compress the video.
4Media MP4 Converter
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Download and install 4Media MP4 Converter from the MP4Convert.net website. The free trial supports videos up to three minutes long, and the full version supports longer videos.
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Open the program and select "Add File(s)" from the "File" menu. Choose the MP4 you want to compress and click "Open."
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Click the "Video Size" drop-down list in the right pane and select an alternative resolution for the video, if desired. Click the "Video Quality" drop-down list and select "Low" to use a preset high compression level or "Bitrate Calculator" to specify a video size. If you selected to specify a video size, click the "File Size" field on the dialog that opens and type a video size in megabytes. Click "OK" to return to main interface.
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Click the "Actions" menu and select "Convert Checked Item(s)" to compress the video using the selected quality settings.
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Tips & Warnings
Each program stores compressed videos in a different location on your hard drive. You can change the save location on the main window of 4Media MP4 Converter and Leawo MP4 Converter. To change this setting for iPodME, click the "More Options" button to view the save path.
Specifying a small file size for a long video can result in a very low quality level.
If your video already has a high level of compression, using some of these tools might not result in a smaller file size. If you want to use a specific file size in megabytes, 4Media MP4 Converter has this option.
