What is the most compatible video type that will play everywhere?

  • I am trying to host a single video file on my website. I don’t want to use external services because my video is small and external services either add ads or are blocked here in China.

    I uploaded my file and I can see the player appear. The video does not play, no matter which browser I used. I gather this is because I used an mp4 file. What is the most compatible format I can convert my video to, to make sure it will play on any browser? I’m not technical so please don’t start talking about containers, etc. because I don’t know. Please just let me know which format will work everywhere. Thanks!

Viewing 9 replies - 1 through 9 (of 9 total)

  • Youtube. notsure weather its allowed in china

    Thread Starter garbunk

    (@garbunk)

    Youtube is blocked in China. I don’t want to use external services because they add ads.

    Thread Starter garbunk

    (@garbunk)

    Does anyone have more information on this topic? I absolutely can not get WordPress’ video features to work. I have uploaded several videos and none of them will play in any browser. https://www.ledubooks.com/?page_id=10

    The most “standard” format is mp4 or m4v BUT the encoding needs to be correct. Not every encoding works even though it’s the same format. The video codec that I’ve used is H.264/AVC (Intel) and audio is MPEG-2/4 Audio. Using the wrong codecs is the main reason that I’ve seen video files fail to play.

    Having said that, it will still never be completely cross-browser compatible because there’s still a lot of browsers that won’t play MP4 files. There’s commercial options like JW Player that work a lot better so it depends if you want to spend the money on something like that.

    Thread Starter garbunk

    (@garbunk)

    How would I do that with Handbrake video re-encoder? I see H.264 (x264) under the selections for video codec, but audio only offers these options (screenshot). https://i.imgur.com/6LdgoYP.jpg

    Which option would enable the MPEG-2/4 Audio? If Handbrake won’t do it, then how could I re-encode to do as you suggest?

    No idea, I haven’t used Handbrake before. You’d have to ask that to their support team, or on their forums. They’d be able to help you out a lot more then anyone here will.

    Thread Starter garbunk

    (@garbunk)

    If I don’t use Handbrake, what other video re-encoding options are available that will re-encode my video in the way that you suggest?

    There’s literally 1,000’s out there to choose from. I’m not going to suggest any because I don’t perosnally support one. I haven’t found one yet that will do all of the encoding that I’ve needed.

    Thread Starter garbunk

    (@garbunk)

    I haven’t found one yet that will do all of the encoding that I’ve needed.

    !!

    Astounding. Does anyone else have any ideas? I am lost. All I want to do is host a single 3 minute video on my website.

Viewing 9 replies - 1 through 9 (of 9 total)
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