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Compressing or converting a video

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    This guide will walk you through compressing your file to a smaller size and/or converting your file to a supported format. (Please note that we are referencing these third-party programs as tools that should work for you, but we cannot provide any support for these products directly.)

    Recording in SD

    You can save yourself the hassle of compressing your files by lowering the resolution on your recording device prior to recording. The resolution should optimally be set to standard definition (360p or 480p).

    Please Note

    If you are unable to upload your file after compressing it, you will need to connect to a faster internet connection, or you can transfer your file to a computer with a wired connection and upload from there.  For additional help with uploading, please see our troubleshooting uploads guide.

    What computer/device are you using?

    Compressing a video in Windows Video Editor

    Windows 10 and 11 both include the free and very easy to use Microsoft Video Editor.

      1. To open this program, press the Windows button, type Video Editor, and hit Enter.
      2. Click the "New video project" button and enter a title (optional) or click "Skip."
      3. You can drag your video file into the Project library or click the +Add button at the top left and navigate to your file.
      4. Now drag the thumbnail from the Project library to the bottom panel. (The thumbnail will  then show in all three panels.)

        drag_from_library.png

      5. Click "Finish video" at the top right and select either 720p or 540p under Video quality.

        finish_video.png

      6. Click Export and Export again to save your file. Then upload it to GoReact.
    If you exported your file to 720p but GoReact tells you it's still too big, follow the steps above on your original file again but select 540p instead.

    Compressing a video in Windows Movie Maker

    Microsoft has discontinued support for MovieMaker, but you may still have it installed on your computer if you're running Windows 7 or 8.  If so, follow the steps below. 

        1. Open Movie Maker.
        2. Click the "Add Videos and Photos" button and select your video file.
        3. Click the "Save Movie" drop-down at the top right. 
        4. At the bottom of that list, choose "Create custom setting . . ."
        5. For "Bit rate," enter "600" (leave the other settings as they are).

          Movie_Maker_2.png

        6. Click "Save" and then "Save" again to preserve your settings for future GoReact files, then "Close" after you’ve saved the settings.
        7. Click the "Save Movie" drop-down again and select the GoReact settings that you just created.
        8. Name your file (you should save as a new file and not overwrite the old one), choose .mp4 as the file type, and click "Save."  It's important to note where this file is saving to so that you can find it later.  We recommend changing the save location to your desktop so you can find it easily.
        9. Wait for the video to save and then upload your newly compressed file to GoReact.

    Please Note

    After compressing or editing a video, you should always save/export your file as an MP4 or other acceptable file format. GoReact doesn't allow project files to be uploaded (.wlmp, .mlt, .imovieproj, etc.)

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