Forum Discussion
Why does Clipchamp export videos with HUGE file sizes, even at 480p?
Hi everyone,
I'm having an issue with Clipchamp exporting videos at ridiculously large file sizes, and I'm wondering if anyone else has experienced this or knows how to fix it.
Here's my situation:
- I have a video that's about 1 hour long, with an original file size of 1.69 GB.
- I imported it into Clipchamp just to trim a small portion, so the final video is actually shorter than the original.
- I exported it at 480p, specifically to keep the file size as small as possible.
- Somehow, the exported video ended up being 2.6 GB!
How does a shorter video exported at a much lower resolution end up being almost 1 GB larger than the original? I understand that file size depends on things like bitrate and compression, but this seems excessive, especially for a 480p export. Is there a way to control the export bitrate or reduce the file size in Clipchamp? Or is this just how Clipchamp handles video exports?
I'd really appreciate any advice. Thank you!
2 Replies
Clipchamp re-encodes the video when exporting, rather than just removing the trimmed section and preserving the original compression. Its output bitrate can therefore be higher than the source, even at 480p. A 2.6 GB file lasting roughly an hour averages about 5.8 Mbps, including audio.
Clipchamp’s standard export options don’t give you a manual bitrate or target-file-size control. Choosing 480p lowers the resolution, but doesn’t guarantee a smaller file.
Since you only need a trim, LosslessCut is a better fit: open the original, mark the section you want to keep, and export using its lossless mode. It avoids re-encoding, so the size should roughly follow the retained duration. The trade-off is that cuts may be limited to nearby keyframes.
If you need exact cuts and a smaller output, compress the edited export with HandBrake. Use an average bitrate of around 1,000–1,500 kbps for a starting 480p test, plus audio, and preview the quality. At 1,500 kbps video plus 128 kbps audio, an hour is roughly 730 MB.
Thanks for your response Emily2002! I should have clarified that I’m looking for a solution that doesn’t require installing an additional app. Since this is for work and I’m using my work computer, I’m hoping to find a simple solution within the Microsoft 365 suite that my colleagues can easily use as well, without having to install any third-party applications.
