Source: https://cliparr.dev/docs/export-settings/ Documentation # Export settings Choose clip format, quality, resolution, source, audio, filenames, estimates, and metadata. Cliparr exports clips in the browser. Video formats use Mediabunny, while GIF exports use Cliparr’s optimized GIF encoder with worker-backed frame processing. Open the export dialog from the editor after choosing a clip range, then review the output settings, summary, and estimated size before saving the file. ![Cliparr export dialog showing format, resolution, source, audio, filename template, and export summary.](https://cliparr.dev/_astro/export-dialog.CFt0FeXe_Z9S1f7.webp) ## Format | Format | Best for | | ------ | ------------------------------------------------------------ | | `MP4` | Sharing, uploads, and general compatibility. | | `WEBM` | Efficient web playback. | | `MOV` | Editing workflows that prefer QuickTime-style containers. | | `MKV` | Flexible container support. | | `GIF` | Short animated-image exports for platforms that require GIF. | Codec availability depends on the browser and source media. If an export cannot keep the selected audio or video track in the chosen container, Cliparr stops the export and shows the reason instead of silently dropping important media. Use `WEBM` instead of `GIF` when your destination supports video files. GIF is useful for compatibility with older platforms, but it is video-only, capped at 15 seconds, and usually much larger than a modern video export. ## Quality The `Quality` control is available for every export format. Video exports use `Compact`, `Balanced`, and `Sharp`; GIF exports also include `Efficient` for a smaller tuned animated-image preset. | Quality | Video behavior | GIF behavior | | ----------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------- | | `Compact` | Forces a smaller, lower-bitrate transcode. | 360p max, 10 fps, 64 colors. | | `Efficient` | Not shown for video exports. | 432p max, 12 fps, 128 colors with soft spatial and temporal dithering. | | `Balanced` | Forces a moderate-bitrate transcode for a smaller file than `Sharp`. | 480p max, 12 fps, 128 colors with soft spatial and temporal dithering. | | `Sharp` | Preserves the source stream when possible, or uses the highest current default. | 720p max, 18 fps, 128 colors with soft spatial and temporal dithering. | For video, `Sharp` is the safest choice when you want the closest match to the source. Use `Balanced` or `Compact` when file size matters more than preserving the original stream. For GIF, `Balanced` is the default because it preserves readable motion and detail. Choose `Efficient` when Balanced is slightly too large, or `Compact` when file size matters most. `Sharp` keeps the same tuned 128-color temporal dither but spends the file-size budget on higher resolution and smoother motion. GIF clips longer than 15 seconds are blocked before export starts. Trim the range or choose `WEBM` for longer animated clips. ## Resolution | Resolution | Behavior | | ---------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------- | | `Original` | Keeps the source dimensions when possible. | | `1080p` | Scales the output to 1080 pixels tall while preserving aspect ratio. | | `720p` | Scales the output to 720 pixels tall while preserving aspect ratio. | Use `Original` when you want the closest match to the source. Use `1080p` or `720p` when you want a smaller export for sharing or faster downloads. GIF exports apply the selected quality preset’s maximum height even when resolution is set to `Original`. ## Source Cliparr may have more than one media path for the same item. The export source chooses which path Mediabunny reads when creating the final file. | Source | Behavior | | ----------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | `Auto` | Chooses the best available path. It can use a direct fallback when HLS playback is not export-friendly. | | `Direct/original` | Uses provider direct media, a local file, or a direct media URL when available. | | `HLS playback` | Uses the playback stream. This is useful when the playback stream is the only available export source. | For most clips, leave source on `Auto`. Choose a specific source when troubleshooting an export or when you intentionally want the playback stream rather than direct media. ## Audio Use `Include Audio` for normal video clips. Cliparr keeps a stereo mix when source audio exists. Use `Video Only` when you want a silent clip or when the source audio is not needed. GIF exports are always video-only, so audio is disabled for that format. ## Estimated size The export dialog shows an immediate estimated size in the footer before export starts. Cliparr resolves a planned output codec and numeric average bitrate from the selected format, quality, dimensions, and audio settings. `Sharp` exports preserve compatible source video when possible; otherwise they use the same planned target as the encoder. Treat the value as approximate. Video uses variable bitrate, so exact output still depends on source motion, detail, browser codec behavior, GIF palette/dither behavior, and whether Cliparr can preserve the source track. ## Filename templates Filename templates are stored in your browser. Cliparr keeps separate defaults for movies and episodes, then fills available tokens from provider metadata and the selected clip range. Default movie template: ```text {source_title} ({year}) [{clip_start}-{clip_end}] ``` Default episode template: ```text {show_title} - {episode_code} - {title} [{clip_start}-{clip_end}] ``` Available tokens: | Token | Notes | | ------------------ | --------------------------------------------------- | | `{title}` | Item or clip title. | | `{source_title}` | Source item title. | | `{show_title}` | Series title for episode exports. | | `{season_title}` | Season title when available. | | `{season_number}` | Two-digit season number. | | `{episode_number}` | Two-digit episode number. | | `{episode_code}` | Episode code such as `S02E05`. | | `{year}` | Source year when available. | | `{clip_start}` | Rounded clip start, formatted for filenames. | | `{clip_end}` | Rounded clip end, formatted for filenames. | | `{clip_range}` | Start and end together. | | `{provider}` | Provider id such as `plex`, `jellyfin`, or `local`. | | `{item_type}` | Item type such as `movie`, `episode`, or `video`. | | `{format}` | Selected export format. | Unsupported or missing token values resolve to empty text, and Cliparr sanitizes generated filenames for filesystem compatibility. ## Metadata Provider-backed video clips can include title, show, season, episode, artwork, rating, and Cliparr timing metadata when the source provides it. Local files and direct URLs include only best-effort metadata. GIF exports do not embed metadata. See [Export metadata](https://cliparr.dev/docs/export-metadata) for the full metadata table. Exports use browser resources Longer clips, higher resolutions, subtitle burn-in, and large source files need more CPU and memory in the browser tab.