Loom video encoding settings (by platform)
This article provides details about video formats, adaptive streaming (HLS), Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over HTTP (DASH), and the expected encoding for videos recorded with the different areas of the Loom platform.
Encoding settings: Desktop apps
Whenever you record a video with the Windows desktop app, the Loom recorder produces raw media and uploads it to our backend storage. It then starts a process of encoding the video in different resolutions.
The raw version of your video (media produced by the recorder) will have the following settings once the recording process is complete.
Media specifications: Windows desktop app
Container | HLS with TS |
Video | Codec: H.264, Frame Rate: Target 30fps, Bitrate: Variable bitrate. |
Audio | Codec: AAC, 48kHz, Channels: 1 Channel (Mono), Variable bitrate. |
Resolution | Up to 4K video (360p, 480p, 720p, 1080p, 1440p, 2160p) Loom encodes the video and makes it available in all resolutions starting with the originally recorded resolution, down to 480p. |
Media specifications: Mac desktop app
Container | HLS with TS |
Video | Codec: H.264, Frame Rate: Target 30fps, Bitrate: Variable bitrate. |
Audio | Codec: AAC, Sample Rate: 48kHz, Channels: up to 2 Channel (Stereo), Bitrate: Variable bitrate |
Resolution | Up to 4K video (360p, 480p, 720p, 1080p, 1440p, 2160p) Loom encodes the video and makes it available in all resolutions starting with the originally recorded resolution down to 480p. |
Adaptive streaming (HLS)
Loom uses HTTP Live Streaming (HLS) to deliver the best quality version of your video recorded with the Mac and Windows desktop apps.
The Loom web player will automatically choose the highest-quality version of the video that your internet connection can support. As your available bandwidth fluctuates, the quality of the stream will adapt to ensure continuous playback without buffering. This is why you sometimes see the playback quality change.
Encoding settings: Loom Chrome extension
You can record your videos with Loom through the Loom Chrome extension and a number of integrated applications such as Gmail that require the Loom Chrome extension to be installed.
Videos created through the Chrome extension have the following specifications:
Media specifications: Loom Chrome extension
Container | DASH with WebM |
Video | Codec: VP8/VP9, Frame Rate: Target 30fps |
Audio | Codec: OPUS, Sample Rate and Number of channels: Determined by your computer's available system and browser resources |
Resolution | Up to 1080p video |
Loom's Chrome extension and desktop app target 30fps on average. However, operating system settings, hardware specifications, and system load might affect the actual frame rate Loom can capture.
Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over HTTP (DASH)
Loom uses Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over HTTP (DASH) to deliver the best quality version of your video recorded with the Chrome extension. DASH is an adaptive bitrate streaming technique that enables high-quality streaming of media content over the Internet. Similar to HTTP Live Streaming (HLS) solution, DASH works by breaking the content into a sequence of small segments, which are served over HTTP. Each segment contains a short interval of playback time of content.
Media specifications: Uploaded to Loom
Container | MP4, MOV, WebM, M4V, WMV, AVI (up to 4 GB). 3GPP and Matroska may also be accepted. |
Video | Loom rejects files over 60 fps, over 4096 × 2160, over 4 GB, or over 12 hours. H.264 is a recommended export setting. Bitrate: Variable bitrate. |
Audio | AAC audio is recommended. Stereo or mono both work. Variable bitrate. |
Resolution | Up to 4K video (360p, 480p, 720p, 1080p, 1440p, 2160p) That's the encoded playback ladder after upload. An uploaded file can't be larger than 4096 × 2160. |
The Loom uploader is designed to handle a broad range of video formats, containers, and codecs. If the file you want to upload to Loom is not supported, or even if the quality of the uploaded video doesn't turn out quite right, try running your video through Handbrake.
HandBrake is a free tool that allows you to convert video from nearly any format to a selection of widely supported codecs. Export H.264 video and AAC audio as an MP4.
Note: All videos downloaded from Loom will be in a .MP4 format.
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