H.264 and H.265 are the two codecs that matter for Medal, and which one you pick depends on file size versus playback speed

H.264 (also called AVC) is the older standard. It plays on nearly every device and editing software without extra work. Files are larger — a 10-minute clip at 1080p might be 2 to 3 GB. Rendering is faster because your computer has been doing this for years.

H.265 (also called HEVC) is newer and compresses the same video into about half the file size. A 10-minute clip at 1080p drops to 1 to 1.5 GB. The trade-off: some older phones, older editing software, and some streaming platforms do not read H.265 without conversion first. Rendering takes longer because your hardware is still catching up.

For Medal specifically, H.264 is the safer choice if you plan to edit the clip in software like DaVinci Resolve, Adobe Premiere, or OBS. H.265 makes sense if you are archiving clips and storage space is tight, or if you know your editing software handles it.

Key Takeaways

  • H.264 files play on almost everything and render faster, but take up roughly twice the disk space of H.265.
  • H.265 cuts file size in half but requires newer editing software and devices to open without conversion.
  • Medal's default export is H.264, which works with any editing tool you are likely to use.
  • If your storage is limited and you only plan to archive clips, H.265 saves space; if you plan to edit, H.264 saves time and frustration.

When H.264 is the right choice

Use H.264 if you edit in DaVinci Resolve, Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, or OBS. These all handle H.264 natively — you drop the file in and it plays when ready. No conversion step, no waiting for your software to decode an unfamiliar format.

H.264 also matters if you share clips with other people. A friend who wants to edit your Medal footage, or a streaming platform that re-encodes your upload, will have no friction with H.264. You avoid the situation where someone opens your file and sees an error message.

File size is less of a concern with H.264 if you have a few hundred gigabytes of free space on your drive. Most people do. The speed gain — rendering a 10-minute clip in 5 minutes instead of 12 — adds up if you edit regularly.

When H.265 makes sense

H.265 is worth the extra rendering time if you are archiving dozens of Medal clips and your drive is nearly full. The space savings are real: a month of daily clips could be 30 GB instead of 60 GB. That matters if you are working on a laptop with a 512 GB drive.

H.265 also works if your editing software is recent. Premiere Pro (2021 and later), DaVinci Resolve (17 and later), and Final Cut Pro all handle H.265. Check your software's version before you commit to H.265 exports.

Some newer phones and tablets play H.265 more smoothly than H.264 because the codec is less demanding on the battery. If you are reviewing clips on a phone while you decide what to edit, H.265 is slightly more efficient. The difference is small — you will not notice it in practice.

How to check what your editing software supports

Open your editing software and look for the export or render settings. In DaVinci Resolve, go to File > Export and look at the codec dropdown — if you see both H.264 and H.265 listed, your version supports both. In Premiere Pro, go to File > Export > Media and check the Video Codec dropdown the same way.

If you see only H.264, or if H.265 appears grayed out, your software version does not support it. Stick with H.264. Upgrading software just to use H.265 is not worth the cost unless you are upgrading anyway.

If you are unsure, export one test clip in H.265 and try to open it in your editor. If it opens and plays smoothly, you are fine. If you get an error or the software hangs, switch back to H.264.

Storage math: when the file size difference matters

H.264 at 1080p 60fps uses roughly 200 to 300 megabytes per minute. H.265 uses roughly 100 to 150 megabytes per minute. Over a month of daily 10-minute clips, that is 60 to 90 GB for H.264 versus 30 to 45 GB for H.265.

If you have a 1 TB external drive, H.264 lets you store about 100 hours of footage. H.265 lets you store about 200 hours. For most people, H.264 is enough. For someone who records every day and keeps a year of archives, H.265 saves the cost of a second drive.

The math changes if you record at 4K. H.264 at 4K uses roughly 800 megabytes to 1.2 gigabytes per minute. H.265 uses roughly 400 to 600 megabytes per minute. The space savings are doubled, and H.265 becomes more tempting. But 4K editing also demands more from your computer, and H.265 rendering will be noticeably slower.

Rendering speed and what it costs you

H.264 rendering is faster because GPUs and CPUs have been optimized for it for over a decade. A 10-minute 1080p clip typically renders in 5 to 8 minutes on a mid-range computer. H.265 on the same hardware takes 12 to 20 minutes because the encoder has to work harder to achieve the smaller file size.

If you edit one clip a week, the difference is 15 minutes per week — not worth changing your workflow. If you edit five clips a day, H.264 saves you an hour per day. That adds up.

Some newer graphics cards (RTX 30-series and newer from Nvidia, or RDNA 2 and newer from AMD) have dedicated H.265 encoding hardware that speeds things up. If you have one of these cards and your software uses it, H.265 rendering is much faster — sometimes as fast as H.264. Check your software's documentation to see if it uses GPU acceleration for H.265.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I convert H.265 to H.264 if my software does not open it?

Yes. Use free software like HandBrake or FFmpeg to convert the file. It takes time — roughly the length of the video — but it works. If you find yourself converting files regularly, H.264 is the better choice for your workflow.

Does Medal let me choose the codec when I export?

Medal exports in H.264 by default. You can change this in Medal's settings under Video Export Codec, where you will see H.264 and H.265 as options. Choose based on your editing software and storage situation.

Will H.265 files play on my phone or tablet?

Most phones made in the last three years play H.265. Older phones may not. If you are sharing clips with someone else, ask them first, or stick with H.264 to be safe.

Is there a quality difference between H.264 and H.265 at the same bitrate?

H.265 looks slightly better at the same file size because it compresses more efficiently. You will not see a dramatic difference in a Medal clip, but H.265 has a small edge if quality matters to you and storage is tight.

What if I want to upload my Medal clip to YouTube or Twitch?

Both platforms accept H.264 and H.265. H.264 uploads slightly faster because the file is larger and your internet has to push more data, but both work. Use whatever your editing software outputs most easily.