Container and codec: the two halves of every video
A video file is a container (MP4, MOV, MKV, WebM) holding one or more streams, each compressed with a codec (H.264, H.265, VP9, AV1 for video; AAC, Opus, MP3 for audio). The container decides which apps will open the file; the codec decides whether they can actually play it. That's why one MP4 plays everywhere while another shows a black screen, the second probably uses H.265.
The codec string, such as avc1.64001f, encodes the exact flavour: this one is H.264 High profile, level 3.1. ClipLime translates it for you. Profiles and levels matter for older TVs, set-top boxes and hardware decoders, which often support only up to a certain level.
What the numbers mean
- Resolution is the size after rotation, as people see it. If a phone stored the frames sideways, you'll also see the stored size and the rotation flag.
- Frame rate is measured from the actual frame timestamps rather than trusted from the header. When frames arrive irregularly, the video has a variable frame rate, common for phones and screen recordings, and a known cause of audio drift in some editors.
- Bitrate is how much data is spent per second. It explains file size better than resolution does: a 1080p screen recording can be ten times bigger than a 1080p download from a streaming site.
- HDR and color show the color primaries and transfer function. PQ and HLG mean HDR, which looks spectacular on HDR screens and can look washed out elsewhere.
- Audio: sample rate (44.1 kHz for music, 48 kHz for video), channels (mono, stereo, 5.1) and the audio bitrate.
Tags, cover art and hidden location data
Files often carry metadata tags: a title and artist, the recording date, the app or camera that made them, and for music, embedded cover art. All of it is listed, and the full set of raw tags is one click away for when you need the exact field names.
Phones can also save the GPS location where a video was recorded. If a file contains one, ClipLime shows the coordinates and a privacy note, so you know before you send the original to anyone.
Fixing what you find
Most problems an inspector reveals have a quick fix. A file that's too big for email or chat can be shrunk with the video compressor. A MOV, MKV or WebM that won't play somewhere can be turned into a universal MP4 with the video converter, and a clip stored sideways can be fixed with Rotate Video.
Working with audio? The loudness meter tells you whether a track will sound right on Spotify, YouTube or in a podcast app, and the audio converter changes formats in bulk.