Pro Video

Here’s Everything You Need to Know About Video Codecs (and How to Improve Your Content)

A helpful crash course in understanding more about codecs and why they matter.

Jourdan Aldredge • Feb 18, 2026

In today’s new age of video content, it’s easier for beginners to start creating than it ever has been before. All you need is a mirrorless camera and a smartphone to start shooting high-quality content.

However, just because it’s easy to start shooting video doesn’t necessarily mean it’s easy to make said footage look professional or cinematic. To really separate yourself from the rest of the pack, you actually need to learn a thing or two about what is actually happening when you press record on your smartphones or cameras.

To help answer some of the biggest questions many beginner (or even seasoned) videographers have, let’s take a look at this great video tutorial that covers everything you need to know about video codecs and how you can use them to improve your footage.


What are Codecs?

If you’re completely familiar with videography, we should take a quick moment to explain what we’re talking about here. Video codecs are any technologies that compress (and decompress) digital video footage to help reduce its file sizes.

Video footage is compressed because video files can be large and consume significant storage. They can also be difficult to work with in the edit if they aren’t tailored for it.

There are many algorithms used to encode and decode video files, collectively called codecs. Some top options include formats such as H.264, H.265 (HEVC), and AV1, which work with containers (such as MP4) to store video, audio, and other data.

Learn the Basics of Codecs

If you’re at all confused, don’t fret. We have a great video that covers everything you need to know about video codecs and how they work. Brought to us by the team at B&H Photo Video Pro Audio, this is the first video in a series that covers what codecs are, how to choose them, and how to use them.

Here’s a breakdown of what’s covered in the video:

  • 0:00 What You'll Learn

  • 1:04 What is a Codec?

  • 2:25 Why Are Codecs Necessary?

  • 3:27 How to Codecs Work?

  • 6:53 Choosing the Right Codec

  • 14:24 Inter vs. Intraframe

  • 17:32 What's Next?

If you’d like to find more info on video codecs and further resources to teach you the basics of videography and filmmaking, feel free to look around the rest of the OWC blog.

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