If you use a high-compression codec, you can get a small video file, but the encoding speed

might be slower.
If you use a high-quality codec, you can get the best quality video, but the video file size
might be larger.
If you use a high-speed codec, you can reduce CPU usage, but the video file size might be
larger.

So, you have to choose the best video codec by yourself to meet your recording needs.

Comparison of video codecs - Size, Quality and Speed

The table below shows the file sizes, video quality and codec speed
(Recording time: one minute, Video resolution: 1920x1080, FPS: 30, Quality: 80).

Codec Size Quality Speed Description

HEVC 33.5 MB Better Fast Better than H.264 at

(GPU) compression
(NVIDIA NVENC, Intel Quick
Sync video)

H264 34.2 MB Better Fast Best codec for most users

(GPU) (NVIDIA NVENC, AMD VCE,
Intel QSV)

H264 217 MB Best Fast Lossless video codec

(High 4:4:4 Much smaller than YV12 or
lossless) RGB24

Xvid 52.9 MB Good Normal Best codec for most users

MPEG-1 38.8 MB Good Normal Better compression ratio than

Xvid

Motion 420 MB Normal Fast Best codec for video editing

JPEG software
 Codec Size Quality Speed Description

YV12 5,210 MB Best Faster Lossless video codec

RGB24 10,400 Best Fastest Lossless video codec

MB

Comparison of codec speed: RGB24 (Fastest) > YV12 > Motion JPEG > Xvid > MPEG-1
(Normal)
H.264 may be faster than Motion JPEG with high performing computers.

1. Hardware accelerated H.264 codec (GPU): Best codec for

advanced users
The hardware accelerated H.264 codec allows the users to record the target in high speed, with
a high compression ratio, and in high quality. Usually, the H.264 codec is not suitable for real-
time video recording because it uses much more system resources and the codec speed is much
slower than others. However, the hardware accelerated H.264 codec solves the issue with the
codec speed. The speed of hardware accelerated H.264 codec (Nvidia® NVENC™, Intel®
Quick Sync video, AMD VCE) may be faster than Motion JPEG with high performing
computers.
* Summary: If you can choose H.264 encoder in Bandicam, choose "H.264".

2. Xvid: Best codec for most users

Xvid is used in many other applications/hardware and has gained great popularity. Most
CD/DVD players, Smartphones, SmartTVs and media players support the Xvid codec. So it
will be one of the best video codecs for most users. The Xvid codec is faster than MPEG-1
(Xvid uses lower CPU usage than MPEG-1).
* Summary: If you can't choose the H.264 encoder in Bandicam, choose "Xvid".

3. MPEG-1: Better compression ratio than Xvid

MPEG-1 is the most widely compatible lossy audio/video format in the world. Most media
players and YouTube support the MPEG-1 codec. The MPEG-1 codec offers a good quality of
video and uses much less CPU than other codecs. (The quality of MPEG-1 is similar to Xvid.)
* Summary: If you want to get smaller videos than Xvid, choose "MPEG-1".

4. Motion JPEG (MJPEG): Best codec for video editing

Motion JPEG (M-JPEG or MJPEG) is a video format in which each video frame is a JPEG
image, therefore each frame is a keyframe, so you can edit the recorded video easily. (Motion
JPEG will be an ideal codec for most users who want to edit the recorded streaming video in
Sony Vegas (or Adobe Premiere Editor).
* Summary: If you want to edit the recorded video with a video editing program, choose
"Motion JPEG".

5. YV12: Best quality video codec (lossless)

The video quality is better than MPEG-1/XVID because YV12 doesn’t compress the video.
However, the file size is much bigger than MPEG-1/XVID (The file size is smaller than
RGB24).
* Summary: If you want to get the best quality videos, try "YV12".

6. RGB24: Best quality video codec (lossless)

The video quality is better than MPEG-1/XVID because RGB24 doesn’t compress the video.
However, the file size is much bigger than MPEG-1/XVID (The file size is bigger than YV12).
* Summary: If you want to get the best quality videos, try "RGB24".

7. External Codec
If you want to get better quality videos or make smaller videos, you could try the [External
Codec] option of Bandicam.
You need a high-end computer to use an external codec because most external codecs use
much more system resources than Bandicam's internal codecs.
The table below shows the file sizes when Bandicam records a 1920x1080 resolution video for
one minute. (FPS: 30, Quality: 80)

Codec Size Quality Speed Description

 Codec Size Quality Speed Description

External: 135 MB Better Normal Best codec for a high-end

x264 computer
(High quality, Smaller files,
Recommended)

External: 315 MB Good Normal Best codec for DivX/Galaxy

Xvid Smartphone

External: 1,400 MB Best Normal Recommended codec for video-

Lagarith editing
(High quality, Lossless video
codec)

To use an External codec in Bandicam, visit https://www.bandicam.com/faqs/vfw-x264-xvid-

divx-h264-codec/
* Summary: If you have a high-end computer, try the "External codec" option in Bandicam.

What is the best audio codec for game recording, video

recording, and screen recording?
If you use the MPEG-1 L2 codec, you can reduce the file size, but you may have a
compatibility issue with video editing programs.
If you use the PCM audio codec, you can get the best quality audio, but the file size might
be larger.

So, you have to choose the best audio codec by yourself to meet your recording needs.

Comparison of audio codecs - Size, Quality and Speed

The table below shows the file sizes, audio quality and codec speed.
 Codec Size Quality Speed Description

AAC Small Better Better Best audio codec for most users

MP3 Small Good Good Good audio codec for most users
(MPEG-1
L3)

MP2 Small Good Good Good audio codec

(MPEG-1
L2)

PCM Large Best Fast Best codec for video editing

software

1. AAC audio codec: Best codec for most users

Advanced Audio Coding (AAC) is a lossy audio compression format and it generally offers
higher-quality sound than an MP3 while using the same amount of disk space, or less. Most
video editing programs such as Sony Vegas, Adobe Premiere and Pinnacle Studio support the
AAC audio codec.
* Summary: If you want to reduce the file size and get the best sound quality, choose "AAC".

2. MPEG-1 L2 audio codec

MP2 (MPEG-1 Audio Layer II) is a lossy audio compression format and it is a dominant
standard for audio broadcasting. Most media players and YouTube support the MP2 audio
format (MP3 is much more popular for PC). MP2 has a good compression rate, small file size
and uses much lower CPU usage than PCM.

3. PCM audio codec: Best codec for video editing

PCM (Pulse-code modulation) is a lossless audio compression format and it is the standard
form for digital audio in computers and various Blu-ray, Compact Disc and DVD formats, as
well as other uses (such as digital telephone systems).
* Summary: If you want to see the recorded video through a portable device or edit the
recorded video, choose "PCM".