Preparing and exporting video files for upload
Our recommended video export settings will ensure correct formatting and high-quality playback in the ReelFlow Player.
Preparing to upload & recommended video export settings
Use landscape dimensions
Videos must be prepared in landscape format before upload; we strongly recommend 16:9 aspect ratio.
We cannot accept upload of portrait videos; these will have to be edited into a landscape format to nbe uploaded. If you need help with this, please contact us.
Play-length & size of video file
Please clip and trim your videos before upload.
As a rule-of-thumb, the video files you create or export for ReelFlow will be roughly no more than 60 megabytes per minute of video each. That ensures the fastest upload and perfect playback on ReelFlow.
We recommend you prepare your videos as MP4 (H-264), 1080p, 8 Mb/s (or ‘RF 20’ quality), AAC audio 48 kHz.
Accepted video file formats
We accept a range of common video formats such as MP4 and MOV.
For additional information on file formats and the upload process, read about uploading and managing video in the library.
Detailed video export settings
If you wish to precisely configure export settings in your video editing software, we suggest the following:
| Setting | Value to select |
|---|---|
| Resolution | 1920 × 1080 (1080p)Keep native if it’s already ≤ 1080p. (16:9 aspect ratio) |
| Frame-rate | Same as the original (don’t change 24 / 25 / 30 / 50 / 60 fps). |
| Codec / Profile | H-264, High Profile (or H-265/HEVC Main if available) |
| Bit-rate mode | VBR 2-pass or Constant Quality (CRF/RF) |
| Target bit-rate | 8 Mb/s (6–10 Mb/s OK) – gives ~60 MB per minute. |
| CRF / RF quality | 20–22 (H-264) • 26 (H-265) – “visually lossless”. |
| Pixel format | yuv420p (the default in most editors) |
| Audio | AAC, 48 kHz, 320 kb/s (128–256 kb/s is fine if size matters). |
Presets for popular video editors
Popular editors have some preset options which can speed up getting the results outlined above.
| Editor | Preset name |
|---|---|
| HandBrake | “General → Fast 1080p30” → switch “Constant Quality” to RF 20. |
| Adobe Premiere Pro / Media Encoder | H-264 → “Match Source – High Bitrate” then lower the “Target” to 8 Mb/s. |
| Final Cut Pro / Compressor | “H.264 Faster Encode 1080p” → set “Data rate” to 8,000 kbps. |
| DaVinci Resolve | “YouTube 1080p” preset → change “Quality” to Restrict to 8,000 Kbit/s. |
For more tips on setting up to capture video content that will present well in ReelFlow, read our guide to recording video for ReelFlow.