MP4 is probably the most common file type we convert to. Whilst it is a very popular format there are limitations and disadvantages to the file type. The most common issue being compatibility between smart TV’s, BD players and other devices that support USB playback. In most cases it’s due to these devices only being able to support the FAT32 file system. So, what does that mean?

USB devices formatted as FAT32 only support files up to 4gb in size. Short duration videos are not a problem, however, longer video clips and their resulting files either need to be split into separate files or the compression ratio / data rate needs to be dropped to ensure the rendered file is less than 4GB. Typically, a 1h30 minute file with a data rate of 6mb/s will be around 4GB. Lowering the data rate will result in a loss of quality. As always with digital files it’s a tradeoff between file size and quality.

Files larger than 4gb can be copied to external flash storage however the external storage device needs to be formatted as NTFS or exFAT and these file structures are generally not compatible with smart devices.

If you are streaming your files from a computer, then typically the above is not an issue as most PC’s are formatted as NTFS and MAC’s generally support exfat or MAC OS Extended file data systems.

If you would like us to convert your videos to MP4 files, consider where the files will be viewed and on what devices. Let us know your preference and we will do what we can to ensure that your files are compatible with most devices.

Due to variations in manufacturer specifications we cannot guarantee that the files will play on all devices. If for any reason the files do not work on your computer we suggest downloading VLC Player, we have found VLC Player to be one of the best media players and it’s free.

If you have any concerns regarding the various file types and format options, please call or email us.