There are a few reasons why your cut video might be significantly larger than the original 90-minute video:
1. Different codecs:
Original video: Your original video might be encoded using a highly compressed codec like H.264, which prioritizes smaller file size over quality.
Exported video: When you cut the video, your editing software likely re-encoded it using a different codec, such as H.265 or ProRes. These codecs offer better quality at the expense of file size.
2. Re-encoding overhead:
The process of cutting and re-encoding the video itself adds additional data and overhead, leading to a larger file size compared to the original.
3. Export settings:
Bitrate: If your export settings for the cut video have a higher bitrate than the original video, it will result in a larger file size. Bitrate determines the amount of data used per second to store video information, and a higher bitrate leads to better quality and larger files.
Frame rate: The frame rate of the exported video being higher than the original can also contribute to a larger file size.
Keyframes: The keyframe interval can also affect file size. Keyframes are full frames that store all the visual information, while other frames only store the changes since the last keyframe. A shorter keyframe interval leads to better quality but larger file size.
4. Additional editing:
If you made any edits to the video besides cutting, such as adding transitions, effects, or text overlays, these would also contribute to the increased file size.
Here are some tips for reducing the size of your cut video:
Use a more efficient codec: If possible, try exporting your video using the same codec as the original video. This will minimize the re-encoding overhead and potentially reduce the file size.
Lower the bitrate: Experiment with lowering the bitrate of the exported video. This can significantly reduce the file size with a minor impact on quality.
Adjust the frame rate: If your original video is 30fps, there's no need to export it at 60fps. Stick to the original frame rate to save space.
Increase the keyframe interval: A longer keyframe interval will lead to a slightly larger file size but can still offer good quality.
Avoid unnecessary edits: If possible, minimize the number of edits you make to the video, as each edit adds to the overall file size.
Here's a helpful comparison:
Codec Quality File size
H.264 Good Small
H.265 Better Medium
ProRes Excellent Large
It's important to find a balance between file size and quality that meets your needs. For selling on your webpage, a good balance might be using the H.265 codec with a moderate bitrate to achieve good quality without sacrificing too much space.
Remember, the specific settings that work best for you will depend on your individual needs and preferences. Experiment with different settings and see what works best for your specific situation.
