Video Compressor FAQ

SioVue Video Compressor offers multiple compression methods: 1) Standard Compression uses modern codecs like H.265/HEVC or H.264 with optimized settings, 2) Resolution Reduction reduces both dimensions and bitrate, 3) Frame Rate Optimization reduces the frames per second where appropriate, and 4) Smart Compression analyzes content to apply variable bitrate encoding. You can choose a single method or combine multiple methods for maximum compression.

For the best quality-to-size ratio, select "Light" or "Quality-Optimized" compression, and choose H.265/HEVC as your output codec (it offers better quality at lower bitrates). If your video contains a lot of motion, increase the "Quality Preservation" slider in advanced settings. Enable "Smart Encoding" to let the AI analyze your video and apply ideal settings. Keep the resolution at original size and focus compression on bitrate and codec optimization.

By default, SioVue Video Compressor preserves HDR metadata when compressing HDR videos, maintaining the enhanced color and brightness range. Make sure to select "Preserve HDR" in the advanced settings panel when compressing HDR10, HDR10+, or Dolby Vision content. If you need to convert HDR to SDR for compatibility with non-HDR displays, you can select the "Convert to SDR" option, which uses tone-mapping to preserve as much of the dynamic range as possible.

This depends on your intended use. For social media, 1080p at 30fps is usually sufficient. For mobile viewing, 720p can save significant space with minimal quality impact on smaller screens. For footage with minimal motion, reducing from 60fps to 30fps can save space without much noticeable difference. Use our "Target Usage" presets (Web, Social Media, Email, etc.) for optimized settings based on how you'll use the video.

Yes, in the audio settings section, you can select "Original Quality" to preserve the exact audio quality. Alternatively, you can choose "High Quality AAC" which provides excellent audio quality with some file size reduction. For videos where audio is critical (music videos, interviews), we recommend maintaining higher audio quality. For videos where audio is less important, you can achieve greater compression by selecting lower audio bitrates or mono instead of stereo.

To compress multiple videos, click "Add Files" and select multiple videos, or drag and drop a group of videos into the application. You can apply the same compression settings to all videos by configuring your preferences once and clicking "Apply to All". Once your batch is set up, click "Start Batch Compression" and the app will process each video sequentially. You can also specify different settings for individual videos within the batch.

Yes, click on "Add Folder" or drag a folder into the application. The app will scan the folder and add all supported video files to the compression queue. You can choose to include subfolders in the scan by checking "Include subfolders" in the dialog that appears. The app can maintain your original folder structure when saving compressed videos by enabling the "Preserve folder structure" option in the output settings.

During batch compression, the app displays a progress bar for the current video along with an overall batch progress indicator. You can see estimated time remaining for both the current video and the entire batch. The app also shows compression statistics in real-time, including current file size reduction and average compression ratio across all processed videos. You can minimize the app and receive notifications when the batch is complete.

Yes, you can pause the batch process by clicking the "Pause" button during compression. The app will complete the current video and then pause. To resume, click the "Resume" button. If you need to close the application, the current session's progress will be saved, and when you relaunch the app, you'll be given the option to continue the previous batch from where you left off. This is particularly useful for large batches that may take significant time to process.

There's no hard limit to the number of videos you can add to a batch, but we recommend keeping batches under 100 files for optimal management. For very large collections, consider processing in multiple batches. The application processes files sequentially by default to ensure stability, though you can enable parallel processing in preferences to compress multiple videos simultaneously on machines with sufficient CPU/GPU resources.

By default, compressed videos are saved in a "Compressed" folder next to the original video. You can change the output location by clicking the folder icon in the output settings panel and selecting a different destination. The app also offers several naming options: you can add a suffix to the original filename (e.g., "video_compressed.mp4"), replace the original files (not recommended), or use a custom naming pattern that can include the date, compression ratio, and other variables.

To create a custom preset, configure all your desired compression settings in the "Custom" compression mode. Once you're satisfied with the settings, click "Save as Preset" in the bottom right corner of the settings panel. Give your preset a descriptive name and click "Save". Your custom preset will now appear in the presets dropdown menu for future use. You can create multiple presets for different use cases like "YouTube Optimal", "Email Attachment", or "Archive Quality".

Hardware acceleration is enabled by default when available. On Apple Silicon Macs, the app automatically uses the built-in media engine for maximum performance. On Intel Macs, you can choose between different acceleration methods in Preferences > Performance > Hardware Acceleration. Options typically include "Auto" (recommended), "VideoToolbox", "Intel Quick Sync", or "Software Only". Using hardware acceleration can significantly speed up compression, especially for high-resolution videos.

Yes, the Folder Watch feature allows you to designate folders that the app will monitor for new video files. To set this up, go to Tools > Folder Watch > Add Watched Folder. Select the folder to monitor, choose your compression settings, and specify an output location. When new videos are added to the watched folder, they'll be automatically compressed according to your settings. This is useful for automatically processing videos from cameras, screen recordings, or downloads.

To schedule compression, add videos to the queue but don't start processing immediately. Click on "Schedule" in the main toolbar, then select when you want the compression to begin (specific time, date, or recurring schedule). This is useful for running intensive compression jobs during off-hours when you're not using your computer. You can also set the app to automatically shut down your computer or put it to sleep when compression is complete.