How to compress large videos with NotchStar
To shrink big videos in NotchStar, open the Disk tab, pick Compress and press Find large media. It lists photos over 2 MB and videos over 50 MB, you choose which to shrink, and the original goes to the Trash. A result that is not clearly smaller is discarded.
What it finds
- Folders: Downloads, Desktop, Documents, Pictures and Movies.
- Photos: JPEG and HEIC files of 2 MB or more.
- Videos: MOV, MP4 and M4V files of 50 MB or more.
- Hidden files and package contents are skipped, and the list is sorted largest first.
What it does to each file
- Builds a smaller version next to the original, in a hidden temporary file.
- For a photo, recompresses at 70 percent quality and keeps metadata such as EXIF, location and orientation. For a video, exports as HEVC at the highest quality preset for HEVC.
- If the new file is not under 90 percent of the original size, it deletes the new one and leaves your file alone.
- Otherwise it moves the original to the Trash and puts the new file in its place, with the same name.
A progress line shows how many are done and how much is saved. Stop after this one ends the run after the current file.
Limits
- It is lossy. Compare the result before you empty the Trash.
- It only works on files in your home folder, through the same safety check as the rest of Disk.
- Compression can take a long time on long videos. See why a scan is slow.
- Other formats are not listed.
For where the original ends up, read the Trash step. The Disk feature page has the rest.
