Video Transcoding
Transcoding converts video from one format to another. You might need this to make a video play on a specific device, shrink file sizes for storage, or prepare content for editing or sharing.
When You Need Transcoding
Most of the time, downloaded videos play fine as-is. But sometimes you need to convert them:
- Your TV or phone doesn't support the video format
- Files are too large and you want to reduce storage space
- You're preparing video for editing software
- You need a specific format for uploading somewhere
Understanding Video Codecs
The codec is what compresses your video. Fetchii can transcode to three of them, each with different trade-offs:
H.264 (AVC) — The universal standard. Plays on virtually everything, from old phones to smart TVs. If compatibility matters most, use this.
H.265 (HEVC) — Apple's preferred codec, and Fetchii's default. Same quality as H.264 at half the file size, but requires newer devices. Great for Apple products.
VP9 — What YouTube uses internally. Good quality and compression. Works well on web and Android.
| Codec | File Size | Compatibility | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| H.264 | Larger | Universal | Sharing, maximum compatibility |
| H.265 | ~50% smaller | Apple, modern devices | Storage efficiency |
| VP9 | ~50% smaller | Web, Android | Web delivery |
In the app, the hardware-accelerated codecs are labeled H.264 (HW) and H.265 (HW).
Converting a Video
To convert a video from your download list:
- Right-click the video and choose Convert > Transcode Video (or select it and choose Convert > Convert…,
Shift + Cmd + T) - Choose your Codec (H.264 for universal, H.265 for Apple) and Container (MP4, MKV or WebM)
- Set Resolution if you want to change it
- Adjust Quality if needed
- Click Start
The new file is saved next to the original and appears under its source video in History. The audio track is copied as is.
For a one-click conversion, select the video and choose Convert > Quick Transcode: H.264 - High Quality, H.264 - Balanced, H.265 - Compact, or VP9 - WebM.
Quality vs File Size
Transcoding always involves a trade-off between quality and file size. Fetchii's Quality setting uses CRF (Constant Rate Factor) values to describe this:
| Quality | What it means |
|---|---|
| High (CRF 18) | Visually lossless — large files, maximum quality |
| Balanced (CRF 23) | High quality — good balance (default) |
| Compact (CRF 28) | Good quality — smaller files |
Lower CRF numbers = better quality = larger files. For most purposes, the default Balanced setting is a good balance. With the hardware codecs (H.264 and H.265), each level maps to a target bitrate that scales with the video's resolution.
Conversion Speed
Transcoding takes time because every frame of video needs to be re-encoded. You can speed this up using:
Hardware acceleration — Uses your Mac's video chip instead of the CPU. 5-10x faster, highly recommended. It's on automatically whenever you choose H.264 (HW) or H.265 (HW) — there's nothing to enable.
Speed presets (VP9 only) — With VP9, the Speed option appears. Faster presets encode quicker but produce larger files:
| Preset | Speed | File Size |
|---|---|---|
| Ultra Fast | Very fast | Largest |
| Fast | Fast | Larger |
| Medium | Balanced | Medium (default) |
| Slow (Best Quality) | Slow | Smaller |
For everyday use, H.264 or H.265 with hardware acceleration gives great results quickly.
Changing Resolution
If your source video is 4K but you only need 1080p, you can downscale during conversion. This significantly reduces file size while keeping good quality for most screens.
Common choices:
- 4K → 1080p: Cuts file size roughly in half
- 1080p → 720p: Good for mobile devices and limited storage
- 720p → 480p: For maximum space savings
The Resolution menu offers Original, 4K (2160p), 1440p, 1080p, 720p and 480p, and only lists sizes up to your source's resolution — upscaling would just make a bigger file without making it look better.
Converting for Specific Devices
For iPhones and iPads: H.265, MP4 container. These devices handle HEVC very efficiently.
For older devices and TVs: H.264, MP4 container. Maximum compatibility.
For editing in Final Cut or DaVinci: H.264 or H.265 at High quality work fine for most editing. Fetchii doesn't export ProRes.
For web upload: H.264, MP4. Or check the platform's recommended settings.
Converting Several Videos
Fetchii transcodes one downloaded video at a time — select a single video, then choose a Convert option. You can start the next conversion while the first is still running; each one shows its progress in the Active section.
Troubleshooting
Conversion fails: First, check your disk space — conversions need room for the output file. Also try VP9 instead of H.264 (HW) or H.265 (HW), as some videos have issues with specific hardware encoders.
Poor quality: Choose a higher quality (High instead of Balanced), use a slower Speed preset with VP9, or keep the original resolution instead of downscaling.
Takes forever: Use H.264 (HW) or H.265 (HW) for hardware acceleration. With VP9, use a faster Speed preset if you're not concerned about file size.
Try it with your next video
Free for 14 days · macOS 14.6 or later