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Video Bitrate

Published Date: 20 February 2023

What is Video Bitrate?

Every digital content, like a photo or video, is made of units of data called bits. Bitrate denotes how many bits are processed or transferred within a certain amount of time. Usually, video bitrate is measured in bits per unit of time.

Measurement of Video Bitrate

  • The measurement of bitrate is in bits per second. The abbreviation is "bps". On the other hand, audio files are measured in kilobits per second.
  • If the video file in consideration has a larger size, the unit of measurement is megabits per second or Mbps.

Bitrate and Video Quality

The quality of your video is directly related to the bitrate. A higher bitrate in your videos will result in better quality videos but also a bigger file size. As the file size becomes bigger, it will require higher bandwidth and might lead to increased buffering.

Hence, finding the perfect bitrate for your video requires careful consideration. The video should be clear and crisp, but the file shouldn't exceed a certain limit.

Bitrate Recommendations for Different Streaming Media

  • Facebook: A maximum bitrate of 4000 Kbps and a maximum audio bitrate of 128 Kbps for Facebook live.
  • Twitch: A video bitrate of 2500 to 4000 Kbps and an audio bitrate of 160 Kbps are recommended for twitch.
  • YouTube: A video bitrate between 1500 to 4000 Kbps and an audio bitrate of 128 Kbps are recommended for YouTube live.


Related Terms

Video Quality

In simple terms, video quality is the characteristic of a video that determines how clear, crisp, and detailed the video transmitted to the viewer is.

Video Watermark

A video watermark is a digital copyright tool used to identify the video's copyright owner or prevent illegal distribution.

Video Editing

The process of manipulating and rearranging video footage after shooting to create the final product is called video editing.

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