Prepare videos for streaming
In this article:
Preparing your video
Gumroad's streaming player supports nearly all file types and automatically optimizes your video for online playback across all browsers, devices, and connection speeds.
The resolution for SD video streaming is 480p, and HD streaming is 1080p. All 4K videos are automatically reduced to 1080p for streaming purposes.
For best results, we recommend:
- The MP4 container format.
- The H.264 video codec.
- The AAC audio codec.
- A screen aspect ratio of 16:9. More rectangular (4:3) or cinematic (2.39:1) ratios will result in black borders.
- A square pixel aspect ratio of 1:1.
- Progressive frames (i.e. 720p) instead of interlacing (i.e. 720i).
Video transcoding
To enable faster loading speeds while streaming, we auto-transcode videos after the first successful sale of the product. Depending on the video, it may take from a few minutes to hours for the transcoding to complete. Once completed, you will receive a success email notification from us.
If your video fails to transcode, please ensure:
- Video specifications are as per the recommendations provided above.
- The file is not corrupt.
If problems persist, try using a program like Handbrake to fix them.
Adding subtitles
To add subtitles, open the file drawer by clicking the drop-down arrow next to your file name, and click the "Add subtitles" button.
We recommend using the .VTT format, but also accept .SRT, .SUB, and .SBV formats.
If your subtitles do not load as expected, try re-uploading them, swapping them to a different file format, or creating them with different software.
Disable video downloads
When you upload a video file to Gumroad, you can choose to set your video to be downloadable or "stream only."
Gumroad's stream only feature prohibits customers from downloading your videos, only allowing them to watch on our site. After uploading a video, select the Disable file downloads toggle under each file on the Content tab.
As an extra security measure, we sign and expire all streaming links to prevent unauthorized sharing and embedding of your film.