Published: March 01, 2008 in notes » personal by Thomas Baekdal
YouTube has long been the place to watch low-quality videos. While most other video sites allow you to see videos in high-quality, YouTube has stubbornly stuck with its abysmal 320x240. But there is actually a way to boost the quality.
All you need to do is to add "&fmt=6" to the end of the URL.
Here is an example:
While this is a neat trick - only a few of the videos also come in a high-res version. In my test only about 10% of the videos could be viewed in higher quality (I think they are testing it).
But, if the higher quality version setting doesn't work, you can always get the iPod version by adding "&fmt=18" to the URL. This will force YouTube to get the MP4 instead of the low-quality FLV version.
The difference is rather dramatic:
Update: Khaos points out (see comment below) that YouTube has added a option to the interface to boost the quality. Check this video and see the link below the video that says "Watch this video in higher quality".
While that is a very interesting tip, it's a shame to see so many other sites offering high res over a site dedicated to video.
In short, they're still behind the curve.
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Anon, "higher quality" then :)
I agree that they are far from DVD or HD quality.
I ran into this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GjUNIl8skxw&NR=1
Video is from August 2007.
Looks like they'll be rolling it soon since there's a GUI item to choose HD now, and the difference is dramatic. They also recommend that we upload 640x480 now (ran into it in help). I uploaded a video in 640x480 and after conversion I didn't see anything in the UI nor any improvement. Perhaps it takes time.
By the way, your "sample videos" are dead now :)
Writer, Project Manager and Interaction Designer
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Hi Khaos,
Thanks for the heads up!
On a different note. The only reason why the Indiana Jones trailers was removed would be because the movie studio told YouTube to take them down. But i must admit I don't get it.
The point of a movie trailer is to "spread the word", so any good business person would welcome people to upload it on all the video networks they can find. Trying to prevent people from seeing a trailer is just stupid.
Paramount & LucasFilm - Fire your lawyers. They are preventing you from making money.
Wow. I think that is quite a difference. Thanks for sharing this! I could not actually view them though. But in the photos you can really see a difference.
Why bother with YouTube if you're looking for quality? YouTube was not made for it and nor will it truely cater to it.
If you want to see or upload high quality HD Video you should be using
Besides, there is no limit to the size or the number of videos you can upload and like YouTube membership is free.
My personal website on YouTube is:
While it may only be a modest improvement in picture quality, the improvement in sound quality is dramatic ... since fmt=18 is intended for a video iPod, neither of those should be all that surprising.
you can change quality of video by "TV icon" right lower corner under video frame next to "views".
This really makes a lot of difference. Especially with the videos that contains some text stuff..............
I'm glad Youtube has updated it's video quality. Much better than the rest......well. DIVX is there too!
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Mar 1
2008
Ali Servet Dönmez
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Great tip! Thanks...