Video Codecs
PixelRecorder supports professional video codecs to match your workflow requirements.
Available Codecs
H.264 (AVC)
The most widely compatible video codec.
Specifications:
- Resolution: Up to 4K
- Hardware acceleration: Yes (Apple Silicon)
- File size: Medium
- Compatibility: Universal
Best for:
- General recording
- Sharing files with others
- Upload to any platform
- Older editing software
H.265 (HEVC)
Next-generation compression with better efficiency.
Specifications:
- Resolution: Up to 8K
- Hardware acceleration: Yes (Apple Silicon)
- File size: ~50% smaller than H.264
- Compatibility: Modern software
Best for:
- High-resolution recording (4K+)
- Storage-constrained workflows
- Apple ecosystem
- Long-duration recordings
Codec Comparison
| Codec | Quality | File Size | Editing Performance | Compatibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| H.264 | Excellent | Medium | Good | Universal |
| HEVC | Excellent | Small | Good | Modern |
Choosing a Codec
For Tutorials and Demos
Recommended: H.264
- Universal playback
- Good quality
- Reasonable file sizes
For Professional Video Production
Recommended: HEVC
- High quality source
- Room for color grading
- Multi-generation editing
For Maximum Compatibility
Recommended: H.264
- Works everywhere
- No transcoding needed
- Standard format
For Smallest Files
Recommended: HEVC
- 50% smaller than H.264
- Same visual quality
- Good for archives
Quality Settings
Each codec offers quality levels:
High Quality
- Maximum bitrate
- Best visual quality
- Larger files
Standard Quality
- Balanced bitrate
- Good visual quality
- Reasonable files
Low Quality
- Reduced bitrate
- Acceptable quality
- Smallest files
Hardware Acceleration
Apple Silicon Macs provide hardware encoding/decoding:
Benefits:
- Lower CPU usage
- Faster encoding
- Extended battery life
- Multiple simultaneous streams
Supported:
- H.264 encode/decode
- HEVC encode/decode
File Size Estimates
Approximate file sizes for 1 hour of 1080p/30fps:
| Codec | Quality | Size |
|---|---|---|
| H.264 | High | ~6 GB |
| H.264 | Standard | ~3 GB |
| HEVC | High | ~3 GB |
| HEVC | Standard | ~1.5 GB |