How to Prepare Your Video

We want your music to reach every set of eyes and ears without a hitch. The trouble is that not all videos are created equal — some use newer formats that play perfectly on the device they were recorded on, but stutter, flicker, or refuse to play at all on someone else’s computer or browser. The good news: a few simple choices will make your video play smoothly for everyone. Here’s how.

The easiest path: upload to YouTube

If you can post your video to YouTube, do that — it’s always the most reliable option. YouTube automatically converts your video into a format that works on every device, so you don’t have to think about any of the technical details below. Just upload there and share the link. Everything that follows is only for when you can’t use YouTube, or would simply rather not.

The simple recipe

If you’re uploading an MP4 directly, two things matter most:

Use the H.264 video format with AAC audio. This is the one combination that’s guaranteed to play in every web browser and on every computer. When you export or compress, look for “H.264,” “AVC,” or a setting labeled “Most Compatible.” Avoid the newer “H.265” or “HEVC” option — it makes smaller files, but many browsers can’t play it.
Record and export in standard (SDR) video, not HDR. This is the big one. HDR video looks gorgeous on the phone that shot it, but on computers and browsers that don’t support it, it can flicker, flash, or look washed-out and gray. Turning HDR off before you record solves this completely.

Tip: turn off HDR before you record

Many newer phones record in HDR by default, so it’s worth checking your settings before you film — it’s much easier than fixing it afterward.

iPhone: Go to Settings → Camera → Record Video and turn off “HDR Video.”
Samsung & most Android phones: Open the Camera app, go into the video settings, and look for an “HDR,” “HDR10+,” or “Advanced recording” option to switch off.
Don’t see the setting? Search your phone settings for “HDR,” “10-bit,” or “Dolby Vision” and turn off whatever you find.

Already filmed in HDR? Don’t worry — many of the free compression tools below will convert it to standard video as part of shrinking the file. You don’t necessarily have to re-record.

Keep the size sensible

Length: Most videos run about 5 minutes. Longer is fine, but a longer video will need stronger compression to stay under the size limit.
Resolution: 1080p (sometimes shown as “Full HD”) is plenty. Anything larger just makes the file bigger without looking noticeably better on a webpage.
File size: Your final file must be under 500MB. If yours is bigger, the free tools below will help you shrink it.

Free tools to shrink your file

If your video is too large to upload, these free services can make it smaller before you try again. We are not associated with any of these services — they’re just options that work well.

iPhone: “Video Compress” (from the App Store)
Android: “Video Compress” (from the Play Store)
Mac or Windows: VideoSmaller.com

For the video pros

If you’re comfortable in editing or encoding software and want to dial it in yourself, here’s the ideal recipe: H.264 (High profile), 8-bit, yuv420p pixel format, Rec.709 color, AAC audio, in an MP4 container. That combination is the safest possible bet for clean playback everywhere.

Quick checklist before you upload

✓ It’s an MP4 file
✓ Encoded with H.264 video and AAC audio
✓ Recorded/exported in standard (SDR) video, not HDR
✓ 1080p or lower resolution
✓ Under 500MB

One last upload tip

When you start your upload, it begins immediately. Please wait until it reaches 100% complete before navigating away or continuing — leaving the page early can interrupt the upload. Thanks for taking the time to get this right. It makes a real difference in letting everyone enjoy your music the way you intended!