Do you want to improve the quality of your YouTube, Instagram, or TikTok videos to boost engagement? This post is for you!
Are you struggling to create high-quality videos for TikTok, YouTube, or Instagram? I understand your struggle 😞.
The truth is, no matter how entertaining or engaging your videos are, you won’t go far if their quality is subpar. Don’t believe us? You will at least believe the numbers because they don’t lie. According to Wyzowl, 87% of consumers say video quality impacts their trust in a brand.
By quality, I mean having crisp, clear videos with proper lighting and noise-free audio. Thankfully, you don’t need expensive filming gear to create top-notch videos that your audience and YouTube/TikTok algorithm will love.
If you’ve been struggling with enhancing your video quality, be sure to read this post through to the end because you will find lots of helpful nuggets to help you achieve your goal.
Let’s get right into it 💪!
Understanding Video Resolution And Its Impact on Quality
A good understanding of video resolution is crucial to creating clear and sharp videos, whether for YouTube, TikTok, or Instagram. But what exactly is video resolution and what impact does it have on the quality of your videos?
Put simply, video resolution is the term used to describe the number of pixels contained in a video frame. You can think of pixels as the small dots that form the visuals you see in a video. The number of pixels contained in a video can be anywhere between 720 and 8K pixels. The more pixels a video has, the clearer and sharper it will be - only that it will be heavier.
The dimensions of a video are measured in pixels. For example, a video with a dimension of 1080p by 1920p means it has 1080 pixels on the horizontal side and 1920 vertically, making it a portrait video. This is the ideal dimension for YouTube Shorts and Instagram Reels.
What Are The Common Resolutions Used Today?
There are different types of video resolutions you can use. Knowing how each works can help you create better videos. Let’s have a look at some of them:
- High Definition (HD) - This video resolution has a dimension of 1280p x 720p, and has a moderate video quality. It’s best used for side projects.
- Full HD - As you might have guessed, Full HD videos are the upgrade of regular HD. They have a dimension of 1920p x 1200p and are the standard resolution for YouTube videos and mobile streaming.
- Quad HD - Quad HD is the upgraded version of Full HD, having a dimension of 2,560p x 1440p. This resolution is best for YouTube creators looking to offer viewers crisp, clear video quality.
- Ultra HD (4K) - This resolution is mostly used for shooting cinema-standard movies, having a dimension of 3840p x 2160p. The drawback is that they are heavier and take more time and resources to process.
- 8K Ultra HD - Though pretty much in the development stages, 8K videos (7680p by 4320p) have the potential to alter our cinema experiences, by delivering the highest possible video quality.
Choosing the Right Camera Settings for Optimal Video Quality
The quality of the videos you create isn’t always dependent on the type of camera you use. More often than not, it largely rests on your camera settings. This explains why a pro videographer can capture enthralling clips using a mobile phone, while a rookie will struggle with a high-end camera.
That being said, here are some of the camera settings to keep in mind when shooting a video:
Resolution and Frame Rate
While resolution refers to the number of pixels in each video frame, frame rate is used to describe the number of frames the camera can capture per second (FPS).
Ideally, you should aim for 4K Ultra HD and 30 FPS to deliver high-quality videos.
Shutter Speed
Somewhat related to frame rate, shutter speed describes how long or short your camera sensors get exposed to light. A fast shutter speed (1/1000th second) is best for capturing fast-moving objects, and vice versa for a slower shutter speed (1/30).
ISO
The term ISO is used to describe how sensitive a camera is to light. A camera with a low ISO number is less sensitive to light, and so best used in a well-lit shooting setting. But if the ISO number is high, it can work fine in dark areas with poor lighting.
To this end, always adjust your camera ISO settings to fit the environment where you are shooting.
White Balance
The white balance settings of your camera determine how realistic the footage you capture with it will look. When shooting motion pictures, be sure to set your camera’s white balance in such a way that it matches the lighting condition of the environment.
Tips for Improving Audio Quality in Videos
While trying to improve the quality of your visuals during production, it’s also important to pay attention to your audio quality. With that said, here are some tips I recommend that can help improve the audio quality of your videos 🙌.
Use External Microphone
This one is a no-brainer. To capture clear, noise-free audio for your videos, you need to use high-quality external microphones. You can either use the lapel microphone, the shotgun microphone, or the XLR microphone. These mics are quite affordable and deliver good value for money.
Place Your Mic Appropriately
It’s one thing to use a good mic, it’s yet another to place it appropriately to accurately capture your audio. You will want to place the mic close enough to your mouth but not too close to avoid distorted audio.
Avoid Noisy Environments
I don’t think you need to be told this one. Even though most video editing programs allow you to remove unwanted background noise from your videos, it’s best to avoid shooting in a noisy environment.
Enhance Your Audio While Editing
Using video enhancement apps can also go a long way in improving the quality of your audio. These apps are inexpensive and are loaded with lots of features.
Basic Video Editing Techniques to Enhance Video Quality
Video editing is an art that takes time to master. So if you are just starting, there will be huge differences between your edits and a pro editor’s. Nonetheless, some editing techniques can help improve the quality of your videos regardless of your skill level. Let’s go over them.
Trimming and Cutting
When editing your YouTube video, you will want to trim and cut out parts that aren’t necessary or have too much fluff. The goal is to create a smooth viewing experience for your audience without boring them with irrelevant stuff.
You should also keep this in mind when editing TikTok and Instagram videos.
Color Correction
The quality of your videos largely depends on your ability to balance colors properly. This is where color correction comes in. The goal is to adjust colors to make your video have a natural and consistent feel. During video production, try adjusting white balance, exposure, and contrast to make your videos look consistent.
An AI video enhancer can come in handy here, as it can automatically correct colors in your videos.
Color Grading
People tend to assume color grading is the same as color correction. But it’s not! Color grading involves adding styling and coloring to your videos to make them look sharper and edgier. Often, color grading is done to give a video a specific mood or tone.
Transitions
Without transitions, your videos will look drab and boring. However, adding them excessively will lead to bad-quality videos, making your videos look amateurish. As a rule of thumb, use it sparingly, but creatively. You should aim to create a consistent feel for your edit.
Audio Editing
Unless you are creating an audio-free video, which is very unlikely, it’s important to put effort into editing your audio. While at it, use audio editing software like Audacity or Adobe Audition to remove background noise, adjust the volume level appropriately, and add music or sound effects to enhance your videos.
Advanced Video Production Techniques
Are you looking to upscale video production by leveraging advanced techniques meant for pros? Here are some techniques to try:
Cinematic Lighting Techniques
As the name implies, this technique involves using carefully placed lighting to create a cinematic effect during video production. This can be achieved by using the three-point lighting system, which involves highlighting a target using three distinct light sources.
Other popular lighting systems include practical and motivated lighting.
Advanced Color Grading
Color grading doesn’t have to be basic; you can take it a bit further to make your videos look more dramatic and scenic. To achieve this, apply color grading consistently across your videos. Use LUTS and color wheels to give your videos a professional touch.
Add Visual Effects
To make your videos look cooler and more advanced, consider adding visual effects - and some motion graphics - to them. If you can, use green screens instead of natural backgrounds when shooting your videos.
Video Compression and Its Role in Quality Maintenance
After shooting and editing your video, chances are it will be larger than anticipated. How large it turns depends on the video resolution. Be it as it may, you will want to compress your videos to make them compact.
Even if you choose not to do so, they will get compressed when uploading to platforms like YouTube. However, when compressing your videos, it’s important to ensure there is no loss in quality.
To maintain quality while compressing your videos, choose the right Codec, adjust bitrate strategically, and always preview your compressed videos before uploading to any platform.
Finally, be sure to use the best editing software, as it can efficiently compress your videos without significant loss in quality.
Conclusion
Creating high-quality, clear, crisp videos isn’t rocket science - you just need to understand the nitty-gritty of video production to achieve it.
Understanding how video resolution works, choosing the right camera settings, adjusting your audio properly, and knowing how to edit your videos can all help. Thankfully, we’ve discussed all that in this post, so be sure to apply what you’ve learned.
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