Is 4K video quality recommended?

Udemy has decided on a one-size fits all strategy for video and only displays a maximum of 720.

(supposedly) They are "working on" adaptive streaming for up to 1080. You have to request it for all your courses. It's not auto added at this time. If you add a new lecture, you then have to request adaptive streaming for it.

I've done 4K for my students that sign up on my website (and some YT vids). They love it. As long as you "zoom" in as you're working.

Well this is the only option when you work with 4K, otherwise video will be blur and youcannot see the menus etc if you are teaching some software course.

Video quality in 1080P and 720P on udemy

Hey go through this thread

For screencast I strongly recommend 720P as per my experience.

TotalSeminars

We often capture in 4K, because we are usually capturing hi-res Mac screens, or 4K native monitors in Windows. Pulling down the resolution makes for slightly blurry captures.

We will often zoom in on certain parts of the screen to show details, and if we captured in 720p or even 1080p, the zooming gets quite blurry, especially after the compressing during rendering.

In Windows, you can increase the the scale size, and I'll usually set it to about 200-225% on a 4K monitor (see picture). This way, I can keep a nice, sharp screen capture, and have the resolution to be able to zoom in during post-production.

Hope this helps!

Shannon Murdoch

Video Production Manager

I guess my question wasn't clear enough. I'm not capturing the screen in 4K. It's captured in 1080p. But while editing and exporting from iMovie, when I export in 4K it looks better than 1080p, I don't know why!

Oh! So does that mean, whatever quality video you upload, it becomes 720p? But I'm sure I've seen some courses that look like having great resolution!

Is there such an option as "scale size" on Mac?

I'm not a published instructor yet, so I don't have access to this thread. Perhaps you could give me a summary here?

How you can better quality than its production quality? Did you try to play it on udemy?

That's exactly what I didn't understand - why the quality is better when I export in a higher resolution than production!? But anyway, I exported in 4K itself, uploaded to Udemy. Looks great in the preview.

Yes, unless you request 1080 adaptive streaming from customer support.

LawrenceMMiller

Unless you are watching the videos on a 65" 4k television, you will not be able to see anything more than 1080HD. Udemy does not transmit anything in 4K and most courses are watched in 720. You are only using up space on your hard drive.

I teach Photoshop and the menus are not blurry at 4K. Just the opposite. Much sharper.

For your reference... 2 (1).png 2 (2).png

So you're saying - capture in 720p and export in 720p and that works best with Udemy?

Hello @Sijal_Ahmed
, I see that 1080 is not as sharp for you, on Udemy. However, on my monitor 1080 is sharper vs. 720. You may want to contact Udemy to find out why it's not working on your end.

@ShrutiBalasa
, record in 1080 and export in 1080. After your course is published contact Udemy support and request 1080HD Adaptive Streaming.

Thanks @

Will do that.

Well, it may waste all your efforts of recording and editing videos. My 1080p option is already enabled on udemy and I have shown you that what is happening with my course at those settings. It is strange that youtube has no problem in playing my 1080p video in 1080p quality. However on udemy quality worsened when I upload 1080p videos and trying to play in 1080p.

That single video was just for testing purpose to see if I can get better quality. And I put it in already published course. You know for new course, it must contain atleast 5 video and 30 min content.

So my advise is that, play on safe side. 720p quality is best for any course you want to publish. On normal screens/monitors you cannot see differntiate between 720p and higher resolution.

As @LawrenceMMiller
said, you need 65 screen to feel 4k quality.

I disagree. You don't need a 65 in. screen to see 4K. I have a 27in iMac, with 4K.

Here is scientific proof that all you need is a 20" monitor to enjoy 4K; https://www.pugetsystems.com/labs/articles/Can-you-see-the-difference-with-a-4K-monitor-729/

I understand that Udemy doesn't display in 4K. However, this proves you don't need a 65" screen.

Also, I've shown that 1080 (side by side photo example above), on Udemy, is better than 720 on my monitor. I can't be the only one able to see the difference on their monitor.

Actully what you are doing is different. You are playing 1080p (or may be 4K) quality in 1080P and 720P setting. Secondly you are zooming in your video to section which you want to emphasis. If you capture full screen then quality will detrioite in higher resolution as font size will be very very small as compared to 720p settings.

Capture screen with 1080 p (1920*1080) setting and then 720p (1280*720) setting on udemy. Now play them in their respective qualities. Do not zoom in any particular section of your lecture. You will instantly tell the difference you will be getting between 1080p and 720p. Becuase I have already shown you will real example of my own video, may be you can come up with such example to discuss more...

I did as you asked. 1080 is still sharper than 720. Here are 2 more examples (un-zoomed)...