YouTube re-encodes every upload. Uploading massive raw exports wastes hours of upload time without improving the final stream quality. Pre-compress your videos and upload 3-5x faster.
Download Free TrialVideo editors like Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve, and Final Cut export at very high bitrates to preserve maximum quality. But YouTube re-encodes every upload to its own streaming formats (VP9, AV1) regardless of your input quality.
This means uploading a 50 GB raw export produces the exact same YouTube stream quality as uploading a well-compressed 8 GB file. The difference is:
These settings produce files that are dramatically smaller than raw exports while maintaining the quality YouTube's encoder needs:
No. YouTube's encoder is designed to work with pre-compressed input. At CRF 20 in H.265, the input quality is higher than what YouTube's own stream delivers to viewers. You lose nothing visible while saving hours of upload time.
Comparison of raw export vs. pre-compressed file sizes and upload times (at 50 Mbps upload speed):
| Video | Raw Export | Compressed | Upload Time Saved |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 min, 1080p | 3.5 GB | 1.2 GB | ~3x faster |
| 10 min, 4K | 12 GB | 4 GB | ~3x faster |
| 30 min, 4K | 35 GB | 11 GB | ~3x faster |
Upload times estimated at 50 Mbps. Actual speeds depend on your internet connection.
The YouTube Raw Footage preset is designed specifically for content creators:
No technical knowledge required — VideoRecompress does the heavy lifting:
YouTube re-encodes everything, but a clean, high-quality source gives the best final stream. These are YouTube's recommended video bitrates for standard frame rate (24-30 fps) SDR uploads. VideoRecompress at CRF 20 comfortably beats these targets while producing much smaller files — or use two-pass target bitrate to hit an exact number.
| Resolution | Recommended bitrate (SDR) | High frame rate (48-60 fps) | Codec / container |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2160p (4K) | 35-45 Mbps | 53-68 Mbps | H.264 / H.265, MP4 |
| 1440p (2K) | 16 Mbps | 24 Mbps | H.264 / H.265, MP4 |
| 1080p | 8 Mbps | 12 Mbps | H.264 / H.265, MP4 |
| 720p | 5 Mbps | 7.5 Mbps | H.264 / H.265, MP4 |
Audio: AAC-LC, 384 kbps stereo. YouTube's own recommended upload codec is H.264 in MP4, but it also accepts H.265/HEVC — which uploads faster because the file is smaller. Either way YouTube re-encodes to VP9 and AV1 for playback.
No. YouTube re-encodes every upload to its own VP9 and AV1 streams regardless of your input. A file compressed with H.265 at CRF 20 carries more detail than the stream YouTube delivers to viewers, so there is no visible loss - you only save upload time and disk space.
YouTube officially recommends H.264 in an MP4 container, but it also accepts H.265/HEVC. H.265 makes a smaller file at the same quality, so it uploads faster. VideoRecompress can output either - H.265 is the default for YouTube.
For H.265, CRF 20 is the sweet spot and visually lossless for upload purposes. If you prefer a fixed size, use two-pass target bitrate and match YouTube's numbers: roughly 8 Mbps for 1080p, 16 Mbps for 1440p and 35-45 Mbps for 4K at standard frame rate.
Yes. VideoRecompress batch-processes entire folders and can run unattended with watch folders, so a full backlog of channel exports compresses in a single job.
Yes. VideoRecompress automatically detects and uses NVIDIA NVENC, Intel Quick Sync (QSV) or AMD AMF hardware encoders, which greatly speeds up H.265 and AV1 encoding. You can force CPU-only encoding if you prefer.
VideoRecompress Studio is a one-time purchase of $79 with no subscription. A free 30-day trial lets you compress your first files before you buy.
Compress your exports before uploading. Free 30-day trial with 10 files included.
Download Free TrialPublished by ContentaSoft, Umea, Sweden — developer of VideoRecompress Studio.
VideoRecompress Studio is a desktop application for Windows that batch compresses and re-encodes videos using modern codecs (H.265, AV1, VP9) with hardware acceleration.
This software contains no adware, spyware, toolbars, or bundled third-party programs. The installer installs only VideoRecompress Studio and FFmpeg (open-source video engine).
All videos are processed locally on your computer. No files are uploaded to any server. The software does not collect personal data.
Free 30-day trial with 10 files included. After the trial, a license key is required. Lifetime license: $79 (one-time payment, no subscription).
How to Uninstall
Open Windows Settings > Apps > Installed apps, find "VideoRecompress Studio" in the list, and click Uninstall. You can also run the uninstaller from the installation folder or use Control Panel > Programs and Features.
Download size: ~2 MB (web installer). Additional components including FFmpeg are downloaded during installation.