The best video specs for your VJ performance

Before you take your videos to a performance, it’s crucial to make sure your video settings are correct. Using the wrong settings can cause lag, poor playback, or lost visual quality. Below, we break down the most important settings for VJs.

Resolution

Video resolution determines the clarity of your visuals. Generally, more pixels mean a sharper image. However, you must also consider your hardware’s capabilities. For example, playing a 4K video (3840x2160px) on a FullHD (1920x1080px) device won’t improve quality. Instead, it will use more processing power and storage than necessary.

Framerate:

Framerate refers to how many images appear per second in your video. A higher framerate results in smoother animation.

For instance:

• 5 FPS – choppy playback
• 15 FPS – moderate smoothness
• 30 FPS – very smooth

Below is a demonstration of animation with the same duration, but with different framerates.

5 Fps	15 Fps	30 Fps

Higher FPS also gives you more flexibility when speeding up or slowing down the video during a performance.

Codec

A codec compresses video files so they can be played back efficiently. Choosing the right codec is essential for live VJ performances.

The most common video codecs are

Name	File Size	Quality	Transparency	Playback	Softwares	GPU Accelerated
H.264	Small Files	Low Good	No	Resonable	All	No
APPLE PRO RES	Medium to large	Excellent	Yes	Good	All	No
DXV	Medium	Good	Yes	Excellent	Resolume	Yes
HAP	Medium to large	Good	Yes	Excellent	VDMX and Touchdesigner	Yes

It is highly recommended for VJs to use DXV and HAP codec videos for their live performance.

Tip: DXV is not compatible with TouchDesigner or VDMX. Always choose the codec that matches your software.

Container:

The container holds your video and audio files. Common formats include .AVI, .MP4, and .MOV.

• Some containers support multiple codecs, while others do not.
• Changing a file’s extension (like .MP4 to .MOV) may work if the codec is supported.

Compressed packages often come as .ZIP or .RAR:

RAR – Requires additional software like WinRar, 7Zip, or The Unarchiver.

ZIP – Easily opened on Windows and macOS.

Final Tips

Experiment with settings to find the best balance between quality and performance.

Test your files before going live.

Keep backups to prevent losing important footage.

Check your hardware limits; higher resolution or framerate uses more processing power.

For high-quality VJ loops and resources to enhance your performances, check out Protoloops.