Why does my video look worse after I upload it?
Compare the local original and the uploaded version at the same viewing size and playback quality. Wait for processing to finish. This separates source problems from a lower-quality playback rendition before you decide to re-export.
Check these first
- Source resolution and original file size
- Lighting and motion in the shot - dark or fast footage compresses worse
Likely causes
- Platform processing may change quality
The delivered rendition can differ from the upload. Compare the original, the completed processed version and the selected playback quality before attributing visible damage to a particular cause.
- The source was already heavily compressed
Re-compressing a file that has already been through lossy compression once (or several times, if it was re-shared) compounds the quality loss. The blur or blockiness may be baked in before this platform touches it.
- Source resolution is lower than the platform displays it at
Upscaling a low-resolution source to fill a larger frame makes softness and blockiness more visible - this can contribute to softness even before any platform processing.
Fix it
- Re-export from the original source
Rather than repairing a suspect file, export a fresh copy from the camera roll or editor and try that instead.
Check your file
Extension and MIME type are labels, not proof of the container. Dimensions and duration come from this browser's media reader. This does not detect codecs, bitrate, corruption or platform upload compatibility. Files and measurements are not sent anywhere.
Prepare a copy in Koldflux, review its output and check the current destination requirements before publishing.
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