Choosing a codec for video encoding digital content
Abstract
Choosing a codec for video encoding digital content
Incoming article date: 14.09.2025Choosing the best video compression method is becoming increasingly important as the volume of online video grows rapidly. By 2026, people are predicted to watch 82% more video online than in 2020. This means finding a balance between image quality, processing speed, and file size. To achieve the desired parameters, it's crucial to choose the right codec.
This paper compares five popular codecs—MPEG-2, MPEG-4, VP9, MJPEG, and ProRes. Each codec offers its own unique method for compressing video, yielding different file sizes and image quality. The goal was to determine which codec is best suited for various applications: video calls, professional filming, and online broadcasts.
The experiments were conducted on a server with four processor cores, 8 GB of RAM, and an 80 GB SSD. Measurements were taken to determine the speed of each codec, the resulting file size, and the video quality. Based on the results of these tests, recommendations were made on which codec to choose and how it can be improved in different scenarios.Keywords: video codec, MPEG-2, MPEG-4, VP9, MJPEG, ProRes, AVC, compression, coding