Video Downloads

What are Video Downloads?

Video downloads are files that a viewer saves from a server to their own device, as opposed to streaming them in a player. In client delivery, the critical detail is which file is downloaded: the untouched master you exported, or a compressed copy created by the service for playback. The two can look identical in a thumbnail and be very different in quality and size.

Why it matters

The download is what the client keeps. It is the file they will archive, put on a TV, upload to social media or hand to a broadcaster years from now. If the service quietly substitutes a re-encoded version, the client may end up with a fraction of the bitrate you delivered, softer detail, banding in gradients and stripped metadata, without anyone noticing until it matters.

How it works

When a service receives your upload, it may store it in different ways:

• Original preserved. The exact file is stored and served on download: same codec, resolution, bitrate, color and metadata.

• Rendition only. The service keeps only transcoded copies and the download is one of those, typically 1080p or lower in H.264 at a modest bitrate.

• Converted original. The file is re-wrapped or re-encoded on upload, changing it even if resolution stays the same.

Typical download file sizes help set expectations. A 5-minute 4K H.264 file at 100 Mbps is about 3.75 GB. The same duration in ProRes 422 HQ at 4K is roughly 50 GB or more. A 1080p social cut at 15 Mbps might be under 600 MB. Clients on phones may struggle with very large files, so many filmmakers provide both a high-quality master and a smaller "share" version.

Good practice when delivering downloads:

• Name files clearly, including project, version and resolution.

• Offer an H.264 or HEVC file for everyday use, and a ProRes or high-bitrate master if the client needs it for further editing or broadcast.

• Tell the client which file is the one to keep.

• Check a download yourself before sending the link.

Original vs compressed downloads across tools

Cloud drives like Google Drive and Dropbox download the file you uploaded, though large folders may be zipped. Transfer services like WeTransfer also send the original but with time-limited links. Video hosts like Vimeo may allow downloads of the source file or only of transcoded versions, depending on settings and plan. Review tools usually focus on playback proxies. Checking this before choosing a delivery method avoids surprises.

Does DLVRD give clients the original file to download?

Yes. DLVRD never alters the file you upload. It creates separate copies for streaming, but the download button gives the client your exact original, whether that is a small social cut or a large master. Downloads can also be switched off per gallery when needed.