Video Compression Rate and Codec Requirements: Requirements and Fixes

Video Compression Rate and Codec Requirements

Filmhub checks every uploaded video for compression rate and codec compatibility before the file begins uploading. This catches quality issues early, before you've spent hours waiting on a file that can't be used.

Supported codecs and file formats

Your video must use one of these codecs: H.264 (AVC), H.265 (HEVC), ProRes, DNxHD, DNxHR, or MPEG-2. Codecs outside this list will be rejected on upload.

Supported file formats: .mov, .mp4, .mpg, .mpeg, .ts, .mkv, .ogg

Note on ProRes: ProRes 422 LT and Proxy are not accepted. ProRes 4444 XQ and RAW are technically high quality but create unnecessarily large files and are not recommended. ProRes 422, 422 HQ, 4444, and 4444 are all accepted.

What compression rate means

Compression rate is a measure of how much visual information is preserved relative to the file's resolution and frame rate. Filmhub calculates it as:

Compression Rate = (Width x Height x Frame Rate) / Bitrate

A video with a compression rate above the maximum for its codec will be blocked on upload. Higher compression rates mean less visual data per pixel -- the video may look blocky, smeared, or soft even at high resolutions.

Note: Resolution refers to the stored pixel width and height, not displayed, for anamorphic (non-square) pixel aspect ratios.

How to fix a compression or codec issue

If your video was flagged for compression rate or an unsupported codec, the fix is to re-export from your original editing project using a supported codec and a higher bitrate. Do not try to fix it by re-encoding an already-compressed file. You will need to go back to the source.

Quick reference:

• Using H.264 or H.265? For HD (1080p), use at least 15 Mbps. For 4K, target 50 Mbps or higher.
• Using ProRes? Stick to 422 or 422 HQ. LT and Proxy are not accepted.
• Using DNxHD? For 1080p you need at least DNxHD 145, 720p at least DNxHD 80, SD at least DNxHD 60.
• Using a codec not listed in the table above? Switch to a supported one before re-exporting.

For step-by-step export guidance:

• How to create a top-quality video master
• Correct video and audio bitrates in Adobe Premiere
• How to transcode videos in Adobe Media Encoder

Maximum compression rates by codec

Example calculations

1080p, 20 Mbps

720p, 10 Mbps

SD (NTSC), 5 Mbps

SD (PAL), 5 Mbps

ProRes

Apple ProRes has inherent, non-adjustable bitrates depending on the ProRes variant, resolution, and frame rate. See Apple's documentation on ProRes variants for reference.

Avid DNxHR

DNxHR bitrate depends on resolution, so SQ and above is accepted at all resolutions. See Avid's DNxHR Codec Bandwidth Specifications for reference.

Avid DNxHD

DNxHD bitrates are independent of resolution, so each resolution has different variant requirements.

Minimum requirements: 1080p requires DNxHD 145. 720p requires DNxHD 80. SD requires DNxHD 60.