Why Snow and Confetti Ruin YouTube Video Quality 

0:36 That jacket throw was purely a flex to show off their editing skills, and I respect that.

"If you already understand interframe compression, you can pick another video." _No, I don't think I will._

I love how he says if we know how all the compression algorithms work we can skip this video, but the video itself is still insanely interesting and mostly focusing on bitrate which is assumable for many but none the less very nice to see an elegant explanation I could pass on myself

The enhanced bitrate that RU-vid put out recently has really changed the part towards the end when he manually brings the bitrate back up. Everything is fairly clear for me even before the snap.

"Don't know why I am yelling, I'll be adding the wind noise in later." It's those little gems that make your videos so much fun.

That editing... How lucky we are to have such talented people posting this kind of stuff on RU-vid

So a lot of people might not remember this but this video watching experence was slightly different when it came out. RU-vid has improved its quality over the years as has our internet connections. When Tom Scott says "over the next couple of seconds the quality of the video will come back" it was literal, it use to take a second or two for the quality to return. Now though? The quality instantly comes back within a fraction of a second. Maybe a few frames worth of low quality video but that's all that you can see now. Literally blink-and-you'll-miss-it. The same effect also would apply to when he increased the bitrate in the video. The quality used to still be rough for a few seconds.

Welcome back everyone testing the enhanced bitrate feature

Tom, please no more confetti you have to stop this ple- *MORE CONFETTI*

Just sitting here drooling over those effects and realizing that I really need to up my game.

Trees are really bad for doing this too. Any time there's a shaded path surrounded by trees, I have to bump the quality all the way up.

The best thing about Tom Scott videos is you never know if its from 7 years ago or 7 days ago

"I don't know why i'm yelling, i'll add the wind noise later" made me burst out my coffee :D

That jacket throw gag was completely unnecessary and I love it. Serious props to you for this, Tom; this is really well-put-together.

At 1080p enhanced the video quality is not reduced which is magical

the editing is beyond amazing, very interesting way to present information like this while making it easy to understand for people that are completely new to that concept, while keeping it entertaining!

One thing I didn't expect: the quality actually returns half a second before the confetti stops! RU-vid's encoding is a little smarter than I thought it was - I'd guess it worked out there'd be some spare bits coming up and used them to fill in the gaps.

legends say that he’s still demanding more confetti...

If you turn it to 144p you can literally see what he's talking about.

Wow thank you for such an easy and quick explanation of compression! I remember doing some quick math once for figuring out the bit rate needed for a 1080p video at 24 frames per second, and being shocked at how high it was and wondering how my internet speed could handle playing videos. I made a mental note to Google my questions about it, but never got around to it, and now out of nowhere, you perfectly explained it to me

Teacher: "can you all see me well?" Teachers camera: 3:39

"If you already understand interframe compression, you can pick another video." Me, watching this video for the 20th time: no

It’s interesting rewatching this video with 1080p “enhanced bitrate”

Premium 1080p bitrate mostly defeats the in-your-device demonstration at the end.

“I’m not actually in Norway” Well and there I thought we had something in common but one of us is just a big liar with editing capabilities

Loved the part where his coat was thrown out of the preview window in after effects. It's little touches like this that make Tom Scott's videos really stand out

4:05 "Video isn't what it used to be" Stares at the camera Refuses to elaborate Scurries away

At the very least, Premium 1080p is a noticeable difference in this hyper specific video about.

The editing on this video is amazing!

Snow & confetti doesn't ruin RU-vid video quality. RU-vid video ruins snow & confetti quality.

Tom: More Confetti! Tom's PC: please sir.... Tom: HERE WE GO!

This video is breathtakingly good. Thank you for creating that piece! So inspiring how you explain and show this very technical topic :)

I knew most of this already, but damn, the editing on this was fantastic! That literal "throwaway" joke with the jacket … wow! So much effort, but it goes a long way. Great job!

The initial scene was really well made. I couldn't decide if it's an artificial background or you have some weird lighting going on.

Whatching this video now with 1080p premium :P

*coat flies out of frame* Me: “Oh.”

This was a very good explanation! I learned this by trial and error while uploading animations. The more moving little details, gradients or flashing lights, means worse quality, so it's something to have in mind while making animations, well in general while making any YT content.

3:31 I thought the San Andreas theme song was about to play

Just got this video in the recommended and honestly, it makes me think about some old footage I recorded being blocky despite (what I thought at the time anyway) the bit rate being set to high. Makes total sense since so much was happening on screen all at once. It's nice to see a visual along with the explanation.

Having done my senior project on using wavelets to perform image compression, this explanation was very intuitive

For full experience, watch video in 144p

2:09 the slight delay really makes the film look proper, each frame too

I’ve watched many of your videos but this one got me the best! Good work

"Palms are sweaty" "Knees weak" "Arms are heavy" "Why snow and confetti ruins RU-vid videos quality" "Mom's spaghetti"

Such a great breakdown, great video man!

Wow... What an absolute masterclass in editing and visual aids.

5 years later and I'm still learning more everyday from @Tom Scott

Thank you for this information. I'm over here recording video games, editing/encoding/uploading those videos, and I've been learning a lot through this. I see other people post videos that looks sharper, and I ask myself, "what do I need to improve?". I just figured out one of my problems with audio delay occurring in some recordings as the result of render delay. I am Streaming/Recording/Playing at the same time, which limits my ability to use maximum settings because of increased render delay. Now I'm looking at recording bitrate, and someone sent me this video. I've learned a lot!

This is a very high quality video, and I'm not talking about bit rate or compression!

Just wanted to let you know that whenever this happens on TV, everyone in my family goes "it's the Tom Scott thing!". I'm sure loads of other people do too!

Its really a pleasure to listen you mate.

Your editing skills are on another whole level!

Thats why 720p videos on RU-vid looks like 240p in a few videos with lots of stuff going on

There was one bit i didn't understand, but at any rate, you included lots of detail ;)

wow, this is the most interesting youtube video i’ve seen in weeks. kudos to Tom Scott for the longevity and for being so prolific that even though i’ve been watching his stuff for ten years, i still managed to miss such an amazing video of his until five years after the upload.

genuinely my favorite video on RU-vid. very entertaining and educational.

Wow, a RU-vidr that doesn't cut every 3 seconds. Good job man

I never understand his videos but still enjoy them a lot.

That was a splendid explanation. thanks Tom

One of my favourite Tom Scott videos

200 kilos of confetti? Omg I feel sorry for the janitors

This type of video is what I call quality educational content. You demonstrated something I wanted people to realize for a long time very well.

The editor needs a raise. This is some of the best editing I’ve ever seen. That video was so edit and after effects heavy.

Amazing editing in this video ! Totally made it easy to understand

Alternate Title: Tom Scott destroys the fabric of reality during a party

Tom: Video literally isn't what it used to be... (realizes that his pizza rolls in the oven are starting to burn)

This is a fantastic video. I have always noticed but never thought about why the video quality dropped when I am watching a game on tv and the camera switches to the crowd or when i am watching a movie and there is a fast moving action sequence in a crowded area! It all makes sense now!

Great job on all the graphics and transitions!

Tom this is absolutely THE BEST video you have ever made. I loved the effort, the detail, all the work that you put into it. Very well done, and keep it up :)

3:56 That was soooo impressive!!!!

When this was released in 2016, when he said "Even if I turn the bit rate back up, it still won't look good right now" it really didn't, it was almost as bad as when he limited the bit rate manually. Now, in 2024, it's instantly back and close to crystal clear, and the effect of when he stops the confetti and snow is almost unnoticable. This video is almost like a time capsule, so much fun to come back to.

ah, that explains a LOT , thank you for this short and concise video!

3:39 my dad trying to watch a tutorial video on his overheating laptop with 200 viruses

So this is why all Instagram videos looks like Minecraft letsplays

Tom's videos are timeless

this is one of the best editing I've seen so far

dude, I have your coat, do you want it back?

"If you already understand inter-frame compression, you can pick another video." I am glad I didn't listen to that advice... Understanding these concepts is one thing, seeing them in action in such a fantastic video demonstration is another. Thank you for sharing this.

just wanted to say this was really well done and a great watch

Amazing vid Tom!

Throwing the jacket through the editing screen messed me up

Tom: takes the bitrate back up My crappy mobile device: no.

Brilliant video, thank you so much for the explanation.

Brilliant demonstration! Thank you!

You deserve an award for editing! This video was sick!

I've watched this video too many times, but I still come back to it for just a perfect explanation and sheer joy of watching the video degrade as Tom yells "MORE CONFETTI"

just subscribed! can't wait to see what new content you put out!

Amazing post editing in this video. Great explaination.

I have crippling compression

MORE CONFETTI. I DON'T WANT TO BE ABLE TO SEE ANYTHING BUT CONFETTI! MORE! MORE! _MORE!_

Thank you so much Tom Scott!

It was posted 6 years ago, but the quality is insane, good job!

MORE CONFETTI!!!!

Huh, a video recommended that I actually enjoyed, thanks for the nice video.

Excellent demonstration. Thanks

Literally the most entertaining video on bitrate compression I have ever seen. Id would have happily sat here and watched an hour of this 😀

How have you not got your own tv show already?

Hah, I already understood compression and bitrate, and I still watched your video. Take that!

This guy explains everything so well with great editing! This is why i love youtube

Still one of my favorite videos of yours