Understanding Video Codecs (Why Some Footage is So Hard to Edit)

In this video I go over why some video codecs are so hard to edit. If you've ever tried to edit GoPro, iPhone, or DJI Drone footage, you've probably experienced horrible playback that was extremely frustrating. Many people believe their computer is just bad, but in most cases it is the codec that you need to change to get smooth playback.
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[@darrinlalla9008]

Thank you, thank you, thank you. This is actually the least confusing explanation I've heard while being quite concise and relevant. Probably the single most useful video I've seen for the year! Thank you for this.

[@misterumbrella]

This is exactly what I thought! Thanks @Chris Olsen for taking the time to explain this not-so-sexy but important part of video editing, no matter if your amateur or pro.

[@AffectionateLocomotive]

AVI?

[@jasoncoopersmith]

This is the best video on codecs I’ve seen so far. I’ve read up on it from Adobe, seen the video from B&H photovideo and the Zacuto guy, and watched other videos. And this is absolutely by far the most helpful. Thank you!!

[@MapScience]

I appreciated your triangle of trade-offs. That was a clear and effective way to see what gets optimized and what gets lost.

[@stubblemanluke9479]

Watched 3/4 different videos explaining codecs before I found this one. This video explains codecs by far in the most understandable way for beginners. Much appreciated Chris! Subscribed

[@kolsaue8986]

Thank you. I can now save myself from the headaches of editing laggy preview of my videos.

[@MrMuralikrishna1982]

This one is the best video on youtube explaining about Codecs! Thank you Chris!

[@andrewtse8416]

Thank you, wonderful 11 minutes that explains everything about codec that no one can explain for easy to understand.

[@strikingtwice]

What a phenomenal breakdown Chris

[@at9336]

Thanks Chris - nicely explained and demonstrated with w a topic that is often confusing. It also helps save a lot of frustrating hours of tricky editing with horrible formats like .VOB files, and not too mention the money spent thinking that expensive hardware will simply fix the problem.

[@AndrewTyberg]

This was a particularly helpful video. I never really understood what a codec was or what H.264 meant every time I saw it when exporting my older KZbin videos from a couple years back. The graphic at 5:15 was especially good.

[@suryacoapy5129]

This is the best explanation on this subject I've seen. Thanks heaps.

[@jonathanparle8429]

I actually learned far more in this 11 minute video than stuffing around for weeks trying to get answers to all the questions it addressed. Thank you! At least I now know my computer is not as bad as I thought it was!!

[@UFOBobTV]

This is the best video on this topic I have seen so far. Thank you.

[@eventnation7288]

I agree with Darrin. My computer was stuttering during editing. I purchased a new graphics card but it didn't help. This video was concise and clear, and prevented me from buying a new computer. Wow! You really helped. Best video I've seen this year.

[@Mauser1965]

Computer is defined by it's software requirements. Keep in mind that software has elements that can be done to optimize it's use of hardware, usually in software "settings/preferences". I will assume that you've read and/or watched tutorials on how to do what you want to accomplish by now after 8 months. 😁✌

[@jamesdecross1035]

Hey, that triangle diagram makes the problem really clear. Thank you.

[@user-ep9zd3xq8r]

Thanks a ton Chris..such an informative video, and a precise presentation! And i am waiting for the continuation, the transcoding!

[@gaburisonne]

Wow, thank you so much for this incredible explanation! I didn't even knew I wanted to know this, but now everything just makes so much more sense =)

[@samanzibar]

right it explains literally ALL of my editing woes

[@pixelpalettephoto]

This has been very helpful, to the point explanation of Video CODECs. I had been trying to figure our what works and what does not .... now I know why with explanation ! Very well done video. Much appreciated.

[@nilyons]

Wow, beautifully explained, concise, and easy to digest. Thank you so much for your time making this!

[@djnaydee]

Damn bro, you crushed it with the explanation. Much appreciated. Kudos!

[@alexsalchemy]

This is a brilliant explanation, I've struggled for years to figure out why my editing lags so much.

[@mario373a]

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! I am now a subscriber. You explained it well enough for me to understand what I have been struggling with. You hit all the main points. Thank you! :)

[@JArmandoCastaneda]

Dude you did a masterful job in explaining a hard subject. Great video!

[@JibaroGuajiro]

Bro best explanation out there man, thanks a lot 🙏🏼

[@Reyfox1]

Wonderful clear explanations! I've passed this on to others who think because the file is mp4 that it should be easy to edit.

[@dashxlife]

HOLY CRAP DUDE THIS WAS SOME REAL GEMS YOU GAVE OUT! Thanks so much for the knowledge

[@soyestherx]

Loved your video Chris! I didn't kow about you but you just gained a new subscriber. Thank you for explaning this topic in an esay way. Since I am starting in the filmmaking and video editing it was hard for me to understand the codecs and why its so important. I think is something much more important at the time of buying a camera or a computer than other factors such as 8k 60p in the camera. For an entry level is superimportant to know what you can afford and what will fit with your budget. I am getting the new Lumix S5ii and now I'm looking a laptop that fits with it (probably a Mac Pro 14' M2) Thank you for sharing!

[@RFVisionary]

👍🏻 Great and easy understandable explanation. I never heard of these issues before and I‘m looking forward to my first PRORES experience in future. Thanks.

[@videobytrkx]

Best (and understandable) explanation ever so far as i have seen in a tutorial. Thanks a lot for that! I always thougt the big files would bring my computer down :)

[@carlosviegas5250]

Thank You...Best explanation seen by me until now .

[@amansahu6017]

This is exactly what happens when experience speaks 👏👏👏 to the point and informative video

[@oliviertilanus]

Fantastic video man, extremely helpful!

[@sumitbali9194]

What an information packed video. Loved it👍

[@HuiMingKhaw]

Great content! for someone like me that has no idea what coding was all about, I think you do a really really good job making me understand that! Thanks :D

[@user-ex9eg2vh4t]

THANK you, this is a wonderfully simple explanation

[@davidrehnstrom8930]

Gamechanger for me. Didnt know this info was missing in my life. Thank you.

[@sandfly27]

Wow excellent work. I like how you show what you say. The labels are great. Thank you!

[@RurouniKalainGaming]

Helps a lot for knowing what to use for my archives, thanks.

[@AhmedElnosany]

this is a great explanistion and full of technical information. Thank you.

[@danielblumensev6324]

Thanks so much! Amazing video!

[@JohnnyBenavente]

This was an amazing explanation. Thank you so much.

[@jrvisions]

Wow had to comment on how excellent this explanation was! Cleared up so much confusion for me! Big thanks for this!! Will sub and check out more of your video for sure! 💯👍

[@mariahezra]

This was soooo helpful! thank you!

[@dgibbsfl]

Very informative, thanks for doing this video. Next I will seek out what you know about transcoding.

[@stevemorbey]

Brilliantly explained, thanks for the video 👍

[@ElliottFERY]

great info, by far the least confusing video regarding understanding codecs

[@kingcutttt]

Great video. Helped a lot. Thanks bro 🙏🏿

[@TurtleSauceGaming]

Exactly what I needed! Thank you!

[@Paradigevlogs]

Thank you, good explanation 💚

[@RalstonRSmith]

thank you! this is info is a game changer...when you made the comment about buying an expensive computer and being angry when footage still stutters during playback, you were speaking directly to my experience...i'll look into transcoding footage going forward...any specific tips re sony mirrorless cams and the best 'file formats' and 'record settings' to film at to get the best balance between quality and editing speed?

[@alexfreedomroad]

This video should have more views. I've been watching a bunch of videos about codecs, but his one is the most comprehensive one.

[@arvillep]

Awesome! Thanks for making this.

[@dayalsumit]

Thanks for making these super informative videos. Have you already done a video on Transcoding? That would be amazing. Thanks

[@noahfletcher3019]

Great explanation. Appreciate it!

[@pgfrank2351]

Omg thank you!! You made this so understandable for me!. Earned a sub

[@MAP07070]

I agree with the previous comment. Perfectly explained. Thank You!

[@joe_h_1775]

Easiest explanation, thank you

[@Mykal_Editz]

YAAAAASSSSSSSS the tutorial we needed

[@IvenChaqueco]

Such a helpful video!

[@garyquintrell4878]

Great information and you explain it very well

[@TheNewArtSchool]

Excellent video!

[@ClaesFeldt]

This is a good one !!!! Only miss a a second video about transcoding that you mentioned.

[@hugoballesteros8719]

Hi Chris. I am a Adobe Premier editor (Not a Pro) English is my second language and I've learned a lot from your videos even though it's only been a couple of days since I found you on KZbin. It helps me a lot when you CC or title your videos. Thank you very much.

[@itllgetbetter2452]

Great explanations !

[@Volodiaschneider]

Wow finally a clear straight to the point tutorial, not going through unnecessary geek details, thanks for that! Question for you, when Final Cut creates proxies for the h264 footage, isn’t it bypassing the whole “uncompressing” to read it? This way files are still light and easy to read until edit is done and we relink footage before export? This way we get quality (at the export), light files and easy editing, no?

[@trackingdifbeatsaber8203]

I thought h264 was a light and inefficient codec while h265 and av1 where heavy efficient ones, I haven't tried prores before.

[@foursite]

Excellent!!!!

[@JRZflicks]

Great breakdown.

[@lonestagfilms]

Brilliant explanation!

[@patrickward1470]

VERY good video. Well done, sir

[@CrisVazquezCreations]

100% super helpful video!

[@AlexRodriguez-nn4ch]

Great video. The information was on point. The thing for me is I've edited H.264 and H.265 footage on my MacBook Pro 2020 for the past two years and never had an issue with slower editing in Final Cut Pro. Ive had 200+gb footage imported to Final Cut with Codec H.264 and like I said did not have any issues with editing. Im now just learning this because I recently bought a Sony FX3 and trying to learn about the different codec formats on the camera. I recently had editing issues with XAVC 4k S-I in Final Cut and that codec is supposed to provide smoother editing experience since it is an Intra codec but it did not for me. So I am wondering if this video missed the point about these newer Apple computers can handle H.264 & H.265 with ease and you dont need to worry about storage sizes and buying external storages or upgrading your computer storage. Let me know if this is accurate, I am trying to figure out if I should shoot in XAVC 4k HS or XAVC 4k S-I moving forward. Not sure if this is an anomaly situation

[@mediocreape]

increadbly infromative and useful information, well made video. subbed.

[@GraphicdesignforFree]

Well explained!

[@maggiezea]

this video was suuuuper helpful!! thank you so so so much :))

[@maltemarquardt2356]

Thank you so much I got it im very glad that your doing this :)

[@vladibarraza]

Superb explanation 👏

[@pcofranc]

non-pro, I know a good amount of this stuff and the video helped refresh my memory and learned new things, wasn't exactly sure about ProRes and mezzanine formats.

[@billpeck1189]

Fantastic!

[@anthonypc1]

SO HELPFUL.

[@RedVisionProductionFilm]

Great job explaining

[@TheVersionController]

The H.264 info is so good and so important, but one of those things that one might not even know to ask about.

[@blackburn1489]

Great video! great channel! thank you!

[@Tubeytime]

I wish this video was available 10 years ago, it would have saved me so much heartache and frustration, not to mention needless pc upgrades.

[@russellcollins5692]

Excellent

[@jasonheavner8659]

THANK YOU!! THANK YOU!! THANK YOU!!

[@robertoarosio5495]

Jesus, you are a monster. Finally some clarity in this obscene stuff.

[@emteepeeess]

Just to clarify (on a pedantic level) - Apple ProRes etc ARE compressed, it's just that the compression is "lossless". Without it, the 4.04GB file would be nearer 10GB.

[@upssidep9283]

Great channel thanks

[@ebqren]

amazing! 🙇🏻‍♂

[@BLKBRDSR71]

Thanks, I actually understand a whole lot more. 😎

[@derJackistweg]

Great explanation! All this editing issues, you mentioned, relate to SOFTWARE encoding on a computer. This / was usually the case. Yeeears ago Intel has a "meeting" with DaVinci (well documented) and the result was a HARDWARE encoding Intel graphic card; iPGU. This is pretty much what happend 15 years ago when CPUs were too slow to decode FHD video. I remember my AMD Athlon 64 that struggled. 2017 Intel launched the 7th Gen that was able to DEcode onboard so that 4k 60Hz was an easy task even for the entry model. Today this is standard!! De-and-Encode H264 and H265 is different, as is the Codecs: 4.2.0 or 4.2.2 and 8 or 10 or even 12 Bit and so on... So Hardware acceleration on H264 does not mean it supports 8 AND 10 Bit, as an example. So check first in your Software (DaVinci/Premiere/Sony ...) and your Hardware (Graphics Card/CPU etc) THAT is the reason why I bought Apple Silicon last year: My HATED MBA 16GB. I really hate Apple products and -Policy and I most of all hate the dumbest OS on planet! But: It decodes H265 in DaVinci in 5.8K 4.2.0 10 BIT with ease! This is really unbelievable. But Hardware Manufac. will come on. Like they did in the past. In 5 years from today nobody will ever think this has ever been an issue, quote me on that. Same as 4k playback on a cheapo phone today, where Desktops used to struggle.

[@migeruplays]

Thank you so much!

[@umavoz7]

Now I finally got it! Thanks.

[@FREEDOM-ex5db]

Thank you so much ❤

[@pavelvassilenko6216]

Great, thanks.

[@EdMatthewsPhoto]

Great video - thank you. I would add that in my experience the M2 macs (I have a Macbook pro M2 with 32GB ram) seem to handle H.264 and H.265 using IPB-B with no issues.

[@MFEeee]

Great explanation. ProRes it is. I have a Gopro and use a Mac. Thank you.

[@gaylordhenderson3568]

Hi Chris, great video! Are you going to continue with the follow-up videos? I am interested in understanding how to convert my GS22 Ultra cell videos into Pro Res or format so they can be edited. Thanks

[@user-cd8ze7eo6e]

Great video.

[@fedoborod8890]

This guy have a cool custom keyboards. And a funny stand for the monitor. WOW