Downloading YouTube videos to MP4 format can be a great way to save copies of your favorite videos to watch offline. However, the conversion process can cause a reduction in video quality if not done properly. In this guide, we will go over the best practices for converting YouTube to MP4 while maintaining the highest video quality possible.
Use a Trusted Converter Tool
The first step is choosing a proper YouTube to MP4 converter tool. There are plenty of free online converters available, but many compress videos to low quality settings during conversion. For best results, choose a well-known, trusted converter tool that allows you to adjust output settings.
These tools give you full control over resolution, bitrates, codecs, and other output settings. This allows you to fine-tune the MP4 export for optimized quality and file size. Avoid any generic online converters that don’t let you customize settings.
Select the Proper Resolution
YouTube videos are available in different resolutions, from 144p to high-definition 1080p or 4K. For best results, you’ll want to download the highest resolution available for that video. This ensures you’re working with the maximum amount of visual data from the source file.
When downloading with a converter tool, make sure to select the highest resolution version of that video to convert to MP4. Sometimes 1080p or 4K options are only available for verified YouTube accounts, so log in if needed. Converting lower resolution sources to MP4 will bake in that lower visual quality.
Maintain High Bitrates
Beyond resolution, the bitrate settings are key for maximizing YouTube video quality when converting to MP4. Bitrate is the kilobits per second of data used per second of video. A higher bitrate means more data is used to preserve image and audio quality.
YouTube’s 1080p videos can have bitrates between 2,500-5,000 kbps. When converting, it’s best to maintain bitrates in this range or bump them up if your target resolution is higher. Very low bitrates will introduce visual compression artifacts and muddy details. Refer to your converter’s documentation to find bitrate settings. VBR (variable bitrate) is also preferable over CBR (constant bitrate).
Use Optimal Codecs
Codecs refer to the video and audio compression algorithms used in the encoding. For MP4 files, the best codec combos are H.264 for video and AAC for audio. These are highly optimized codecs that can preserve quality at smaller file sizes. Other codecs like H.265 are newer but less compatible.
When exporting MP4s from YouTube sources, make sure your converter has options to select H.264 and AAC codecs. This will provide the best quality and playback compatibility. The settings pane in your converter tool should show the ability to tweak codecs.
Downscale Resolution (Optional)
If you need smaller MP4 file sizes, you can optionally downscale the resolution from the source while maintaining other settings. For example, you could convert a 1440p YouTube video to 1080p MP4 to reduce file size, while keeping a high bitrate. This will optimize visual quality at a smaller resolution.
Just make sure to downsample judiciously and not too aggressively. Dropping from 4K to 720p will introduce much more compression and loss of detail. Aim to reduce the resolution in modest increments if needed. Also, avoid upscaling a lower resolution source as this will look artificial.
Adjust Encoder Settings
Most converter tools provide advanced video and audio encoder settings for fine tuning the MP4 export. For video, settings like CRF values and preset profiles impact quality. Slower presets like “Placebo” utilize extra encoding passes to maximize quality. The CRF scale (0–51) balances quality and file size, with lower values yielding better quality.
For audio, settings like mixdown methods and sample rates can retain audio integrity. Generally, it’s best to leave these advanced encoder settings at their default values for beginners. But advanced users can tweak them to dial in quality and file size. Just take it slow and test with different values.
Maintain Sound Integrity
When downloading from YouTube, don’t forget to also preserve sound quality. By default, YouTube audio is available in stereo 128 kbps AAC format. When converting, keep stereo channels and sample rate intact and avoid downmixing to mono. You can also bump audio bitrates slightly higher than 128 kbps if desired.
Use reasonable settings that don’t sacrifice audio fidelity while optimizing file size. Also make sure to choose MP4 over formats with lower audio quality like GIFs or WEBMs when converting YouTube sources.
Converting YouTube videos to MP4 can allow you to maintain their visual and audio fidelity for offline playback. By choosing the optimal resolution, bitrate, codecs, and encoder settings, you can fine-tune your MP4 exports to preserve YouTube’s source quality.