Which is the Better File Format - MP4 Vs MOV? This is a common dilemma for many amateur video editors. While they may know the differences between the two, and which one is actually superior, the real question is whether or not they even need to use one in the first place. It's really very easy to say that you can use both, or you simply won't work with editing software as well as you could if you were using one, but what about if you are working on your feet, or moving quickly and need to edit footage while you are on the go?
In the previous video editing comparison test between MPS and MP4, the MPS was clearly the faster and much more efficient format, simply because of the higher bitrate. However, that was before we checked out the actual results when the different video conversion quality settings were used. It turned out that not only was the MPS recording length slightly longer, but the video converted to 30 frames-per-second with an approximate estimated reading time of five mins, while the MOV recording time was only 2.5 mins, a huge difference! The only downfall was the considerably higher transfer time required. Now, some may feel that given the shorter conversion time, it really isn't that much of an improvement, but it is enough to justify spending the extra money to buy both formats.
Compression Quality When comparing the different video file formats, one thing we all look out for is the file size. Although it is quite easy to see that the larger file sizes of the MP4 formats are undoubtedly the better option, the question is which of these formats is actually the "best" for editing. The major differences between the two formats are the type of compression settings available - the higher the settings, the greater the size of the resulting videos. There are other factors to consider, such as the frame rate (or refresh rate) of the source device and the quality of audio synchronization. Although the file sizes are the same, the RIFF or WAV files may be much larger in size than the MOV files.
Video Compatibility The compatibility of the various video game systems with the different video capture devices is another important factor to consider when looking at the pros and cons of the two different formats. The compatibility of the different video card modules is pretty good on the whole. However, there are still some bugs in the system, such as the inability to play back some older video games due to the incompatibility of the hardware. The MPS seems to suffer more in this respect, with around 50% less compatibility than the MOV. Although it is relatively easy to update the firmware on the card, this still leaves a few exclusions on many popular games, such as the Farcry series and some of the Pokemon series.
Audio Compatibility There is a bit of a difference between the sound capabilities of the two different formats. Although the MP4 tends to have better sound quality, the mov files are able to handle more volume, and the quality loss when transferring from the PC to the video player is not as great as it could be with the other format. For this reason, the mov format is often used for lower quality audio recordings, such as videos. When comparing the audio quality of the two formats, it can be concluded that the MP4 is slightly superior to the MPS format.
Additional Features And Accessories Since the start of the millennium, the addition of additional features to digital video recordings has become a necessity. Some of these features include the ability to transfer between computers and the portable DVD players. While the mp4's sound quality is often thought to be better than the mkV, both formats are compatible with most computer programs. The additional features of the mp4's, such as backwards compatibility with older computers, and the ability to import/exchange music between computers and portable DVD players, help make the mp4's win an advantage in comparison to the MPS format. The final analysis to the mp4's performance in comparison to the MPS is the level of compatibility it enjoys with most computer programs. Even though the portable DVD players which use the MPS format require additional hardware to support them, the majority of programs are able to play the standard version of the MPS decoder.