While your video recording camera or phone may record at full HD resolution (even 4K!) and 60 frames per second, streaming a video in high definition can have a negative impact on your event. Attendees watching your webinar are reliant on the streaming quality of their own internet connection, which can be anything from high-speed access to limited hotel internet, mobile cell service, etc.
Because it’s impossible to predict the connection speed of every attendee, it is best practice to optimize any external video that will be streamed during the video to minimize buffering for your viewers.
Optimize with HandBrake
Use a tool like HandBrake to re-encode and optimize your videos. This reduces the total file size of the video without significant (or any) quality loss.
Recommended optimization settings:
MP4 format
720p resolution at 30 frames per second
Web optimized option ticked ON
Audio bitrate set at 128
The following video demonstrates the Handbrake process:
Important: Optimizing a video to reduce its size can affect its quality, resolution, and compatibility with some devices.
Always test the optimized video before the webinar with multiple playback devices to ensure that it works as intended. Recommended devices for testing include: desktop/laptop computer, mobile device, tablet.
If the playback of the optimized video is not acceptable, the best option may be to use the original video instead.
Host your video on a compatible streaming service:
YouTube
Vimeo direct MP4 links (available on Pro, Business, Premium, Standard, Advanced, or Enterprise plans)
Amazon S3 or a similar file-hosting solution
Similar solutions must offer a direct MP4 playback URL for the hosted video.
YouTube
YouTube is a free video hosting option that is compatible with WebinarJam.
Important: YouTube’s legal terms and conditions do not allow the removal of the YouTube logo or video player controls. This means that it is not possible to restrict the playback controls in an EverWebinar event and videos hosted on YouTube will always show their logo in the lower right corner of the playback window.
To use a YouTube-hosted file for your webinar:
Visit the dedicated page for your video on the YouTube website
Copy the YouTube page URL and paste it into the WebinarJam or EverWebinar configuration
Note: The “share” link for the YouTube video will not work. You must use the full page URL.
Vimeo
Vimeo direct link sharing is available on Pro, Business, Premium, Standard, Advanced, or Enterprise plans.
Direct links to a Vimeo-hosted video allow MP4 playback with logo removal and the ability for EverWebinar to override the native playback controls.