Files are too large. What setting should I change?

We have started adding digital downloads to our website this year for our marching band videos. However, the files sizes are way too large. A typical 9 minute video is turning out about 500mb. I am using the Apple Device 720p preset. I tried to alter this preset to lower the bit rate, but then the video size changed to 960x540. I would like the files to be closer to 200mb if possible. The original footage is 1080 60p or 1080 30p. This is all new to me and I will take any suggestions anyone might have. Thank you.

Jon

Compressor 4.1.3
2014 Imac 4.0

I'd start with a standard H.264 preset, no more than 24fps.

It's a matter of frame size vs. bit rate vs. acceptable quality.

If you're using Compressor, create an H.264 preset with a 1280X720 frame size. Set the bit rate to around 3500. Run a piece of test video and see if the quality is acceptable. If it is then try again setting the bit rate lower until you reach a point where the quality is no longer acceptable.

A 9 minute video using H.264, 1280X720 and 3500 bit rate will be around 325MB. If the file is still too big when you hit an acceptable bit rate then the only option is to reduce the frame size to a smaller multiple of 16X9.

cavideopro wrote: … like the files to be closer to 200mb if possible. The original footage is 1080 60p or 1080 30p. …

So, you'd like fullHD/30p as delivery size? Then, 200MB/10min is a very committed goal.... the 'quality vs size'-slider is the bit-rate. A high bit-rate creates large files but good quality.

for examples, read the recommendations of YouTube ... for 1080/30p they say 8mbps.

You like 0.3mbps .. , if I didn't miscalculate ... see?

Reduce resolution, reduce frame-rate, reduce audio-quality (mono! 96kbps?) and do a few test-.exports with various bitrate settings.

The brave-hearted installs x264, a 'free' h264-derivate, which offers, common recommendation, under low nitrates a 'better' pic-quality than h264. It offers -zillions of other settings claiming to reduce file-size without quality loss... compression is more an art, than technique :lol: