1. QUESTION Why would I choose to optimize my videos for long-term storage?
ANSWER When you purchase a Video Streaming Plan through FOREVER, you have the option to optimize your videos for long-term storage. Optimization often reduces the amount of storage you need to save video files in your FOREVER Account. We optimize your videos by converting your original files to a widely compatible, flexible sustainable, and efficient file that is used by leading broadcast media and cable providers (H.264, .mp4, max of 1080p @ 30fps).
Based on extensive research and development, we concluded that this format is currently the best format for saving, sharing, and viewing your videos online. That's why we use this same digital format when we convert video tapes and film reels through our Media Conversion Services. It is also the format FOREVER Executives use to preserve and share their own precious family videos in their FOREVER Accounts! But with a Video Streaming Plan, the choice is yours. You can decide how you want to store your videos for generations in your FOREVER Account.
2. QUESTION Are my Media Conversion videos optimized for long-term storage?
ANSWER Yes. When you send us your video tapes and film reels for conversion, our expert team digitizes them and automatically converts them to the optimized video format (H.264, .mp4, max of 1080p @ 30 fps). We do this because we have found it to be the best video format for archiving your converted videos.
3. QUESTION How much storage space can I save in my FOREVER Account if I choose to optimize my videos?
ANSWER The amount of space you can save depends on your original video file. Some videos, such as the videos converted at our Media Conversion facility, are already optimized for long-term storage as part of the media conversion process. Optimizing these videos again is unnecessary.
Other videos, such as videos recorded with HD Camcorders and DSLR cameras, are often much larger because they have no compression. Additionally, videos shot in 4K result in a much larger file size than 1080p. We have found that on average, you can save 60% OR MORE of your storage when you optimize these videos in your Storage Account.
Learn more about the difference between 4K Video and 1080p below.
4. QUESTION Are there benefits to keeping the original video format in my FOREVER Account?
ANSWER It depends on the original video file.
Older video files often have lower resolution than our optimized version (H.264, .mp4, max of 1080p @ 30fps). In these cases, there are no benefits to keeping the original format in your FOREVER Account and you can often free up additional storage by optimizing these videos.
Ultra HD (4K) videos have much higher resolution than Full HD (1080p) videos, which results in a larger file size and will consume more of your FOREVER Storage. If you are a person who wants to retain the archival version of the video as originally captured and plan to use that video in the future outside of FOREVER, then keep your original. However, the larger files do not improve your ability to enjoy or share your videos in FOREVER and most people simply do not benefit from keeping them in their FOREVER Account. But the choice is yours. As a FOREVER Storage Owner who has purchased storage, we give you control over how you want to use that storage.
5. QUESTION If I optimize my videos, can I get the originals back?
ANSWER No. When we optimize your videos for long-term storage, we remove the originals from your storage account, and they are no longer available. This enables you to free up additional storage in your FOREVER Account so you can save and share more of your memories and tell more stories for generations. We have found that the optimized version is currently the best version for saving, sharing, and viewing your videos at FOREVER.
6. QUESTION How can I optimize the videos in my FOREVER Account?
ANSWER There are two ways to optimize the videos in your FOREVER Account.
You can optimize videos one at a time by viewing them individually in your account and then clicking the "Optimize" button. If videos were previously optimized, or if no storage would be gained by optimizing the video, then the "Optimize" button will not appear.
You can also optimize all videos as they are uploaded to your account by setting that preference on the "Preferences" page under "Account Settings." Note that when applied, this preference will only apply to videos uploaded to your Account moving forward. It will not automatically go back and optimize videos previously uploaded to your Account.
7. QUESTION Why don't you offer the video optimization option to everyone?
ANSWER Optimizing videos for long-term storage and for viewing online costs money, and not everyone wants to apply this added value to videos stored in their FOREVER Account. If you want to keep the originals and stream video in your FOREVER Account on any device at any time, you can do that with a Streaming Video Plan.
If you simply want to store your original video files with FOREVER and not watch online, we offer that option at no additional cost. Eventually (in 10-20+ years) when, our professional judgment, your video file formats are no longer viewable offline by available devices, we will migrate your videos to a new file format. Of course, you can always switch to the FOREVER Video Streaming Plan at any point if you don't currently have one.
Comparing Ultra HD (4K) and Optimized Full HD (1080p) Video