Every Video Format and Codec Explained in 22 Minutes
Every video format, container and codec you'll meet as a creator, explained one by one in plain language: MP4, MOV, MKV, WebM, H.264, HEVC, AV1, ProRes, DNxHR, RAW, audio codecs, and exactly what to export for YouTube. Tap a timestamp to jump to the term you need.
CHAPTERS
0:00 Intro: how to jump to any term
0:54 The Big Idea
3:11 Containers
6:22 Video Codecs
9:44 Editing Codecs
11:44 Camera RAW
13:21 Settings Inside
16:13 Audio
18:11 YouTube & Workflow
21:01 Cheat Sheet
Every single term has its own timestamp in the pinned comment.
NOTES
- Numbers on screen that aren't from a named source are examples. The AV1 comparison bars use figures from a 2018 Facebook test; the H.264 vs HEVC bars use a common 4K30 example.
- Facts were checked in October 2026. Standards and codecs keep changing, so confirm current specs before a big project.
- Narration is an AI-generated version of my own voice.
SOURCES
YouTube recommended upload encoding settings: https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/1722171
YouTube HDR upload: https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/7126552
YouTube live encoder settings: https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/2853702
YouTube video processing time: https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/71674
Apple ProRes: https://support.apple.com/en-us/102207
Apple ProRes RAW: https://support.apple.com/en-us/118584
iPhone camera formats (High Efficiency vs Most Compatible): https://support.apple.com/en-us/116944
Blackmagic RAW: https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/products/blackmagicraw
Matroska: https://www.matroska.org/index.html
WebM project: https://www.webmproject.org/about/
OBS recording guide: https://obsproject.com/kb/standard-recording-output-guide
Alliance for Open Media (AV1): https://aomedia.org/specifications/av1/
Background references: Wikipedia articles on H.264/AVC, HEVC, VVC, VP9, AV1, MP4, QuickTime, AVI, Flash Video, MXF, DNxHR, GOP, chroma subsampling, AAC, MP3, Opus, FLAC.
Which format confused you the most? Tell me in the comments.