Limelight
What Is a Video Codec?
A video codec is a software algorithm that compresses video data for storage or transmission and decompresses it for playback — the mechanism that makes video files small enough to store and fast enough to stream.
Uncompressed screen recordings of a 1440p display at 60 fps would consume gigabytes per minute. Codecs reduce this by applying compression algorithms that remove redundant data. For screen recordings specifically, codecs exploit the fact that large portions of the screen often do not change between frames (a static sidebar, a background window), allowing the codec to encode only what changed rather than every pixel in every frame. The two dominant codecs for macOS screen recording are H.264 (AVC) and H.265 (HEVC). H.264 produces files compatible with virtually every device and browser. HEVC offers better compression at the same visual quality — smaller files — but requires more processing power to encode and may not play natively on all Windows machines or older browsers.
Codec choice affects three variables: file size, visual quality, and compatibility. H.264 at a moderate bitrate is the standard for web-compatible screen recording export because it plays in every browser without a plugin, uploads quickly to YouTube and Vimeo, and can be embedded in documentation sites and Notion pages. HEVC is preferable when storage is a constraint and the playback environment is controlled (Apple devices). ProRes and lossless codecs are used in professional video production workflows where a screen recording is an input to a broader edit rather than a final deliverable.
Most screen recording applications on macOS handle codec choice transparently, selecting H.264 or HEVC based on export settings and hardware availability. On Apple Silicon Macs, the hardware media engine can encode both H.264 and HEVC efficiently without significant CPU or battery impact. Limelight exports to mp4 using hardware-accelerated encoding, producing files optimized for web sharing and embedding. Users do not need to configure codec settings — the export produces a broadly compatible mp4 ready for upload.
Why Limelight
- ▸Codecs compress video by encoding only changed pixels between frames — critical for screen recordings.
- ▸H.264 offers maximum compatibility; HEVC offers smaller files on Apple devices.
- ▸Apple Silicon's hardware media engine encodes both codecs without heavy CPU load.
- ▸Limelight exports to H.264 mp4 optimized for web sharing, with no codec configuration needed.
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FAQ
- Which codec should I use for screen recording?
- H.264 mp4 for maximum compatibility — it plays in every browser, on every platform, and can be uploaded to any video hosting service. Use HEVC only if storage is constrained and you know your audience uses Apple devices.
- Why do screen recordings sometimes look blurry after upload?
- Video hosting platforms re-encode uploaded videos with their own compression settings. Upload the highest-quality mp4 your recorder produces to give the platform the best source material to work with. Limelight exports at settings optimized for this.
- Does codec choice affect playback performance?
- HEVC requires more processing to decode than H.264 on non-Apple hardware. For web playback on a wide audience including Windows users without HEVC support, H.264 is safer. H.264 also has broader hardware decode acceleration, so playback is smooth on all devices.