Congratulations on setting up your account! Let’s get your first video uploaded and ready to share.
Uploading videos to Uscreen is a straightforward process that allows you to share your content with your audience. This guide covers everything you need to know about uploading videos, including upload methods, tips on video formats, transcoding, video backups, and previewing your content.
How to Upload a Video
Navigate to Content > Videos
Click Upload Videos
to open the upload modal
Option 1: Direct Upload
Upload a video saved in your local storage.
In the Upload modal, drag your video file or click Select Files
If you clicked Select Files, select the video from your local storage
Option 2: Upload from Dropbox
You can also upload videos saved in your Dropbox account.
In the Upload modal, click Dropbox Here (link at the bottom)
Sign in to your Dropbox account
Select the video file/s you want to upload
Click Choose
⚠️ WARNING: Closing the browser tab while the video is uploading will cancel the process, so leave the tab open until it completes.
🎉 A green confirmation note will indicate that the upload has completed!
💡 TIP: Upload 10-15 videos at a time for the best experience, especially if you have a large library to upload.
Video Processing
After uploading a video, Uscreen automatically processes it to prepare for streaming.
This background process includes:
Transcoding to multiple resolutions for better playback across devices
Auto-caption generation for accessibility
Thumbnail creation
Compliance scanning to meet content guidelines
🔗 Learn more about Video Processing
Large, uncompressed, or uncommon file formats (like FLV or M4V) take longer to encode because they need conversion for older devices. While they generally work, we strongly recommend following our video guidelines to avoid any issues.
📝 NOTE: Processing typically takes between 10 minutes and up to 72 hours, depending on your video file size, bit rate, format, and other factors. You’ll be notified when it’s ready to publish.
Preview the Uploaded Video
You can easily preview your video before publishing it to ensure everything looks correct.
Navigate to Content > Videos
Find the video you want to preview and Edit
Preview the video on the right panel
💡 TIP: If the video is already published, you can click the View on Website button to see how it appears live.
Technical Recommendations
For the best playback experience, follow these format recommendations.
Video Format and Bitrate Settings
Format | MP4 (file extension .mp4) |
Aspect Ratio | 16:9 landscape mode (recommended) |
Codec | H.264 video codec (Main Profile) |
Resolution | 1080p/2K or smaller (max 2048x1152p) |
Frame Rate | 23.98 up to 60 FPS (Uscreen is best optimized for these specific frame rates) |
Bitrate | 8 Mbps or less (higher bitrates can cause playback issues)
|
Important Considerations
Videos in aspect ratios other than 16:9 will display with black bars to maintain proper proportions. This is especially important for TV App compliance, which requires videos to be in landscape mode.
Although Uscreen supports up to 60FPS, some Roku and Chromecast devices do not. If users experience stuttering issues on these devices and your content is rendered at 60FPS, the solution is you change it from 60 to a maximum of 30FPS and replace the video.
🔗 Learn more about Recommended Encoding Settings
⚠️ WARNING: We don't advise using QuickTime to encode videos. The save command stores reference points instead of trimming the video. The file will contain the original data. So, the transcoder will ignore your edits because it processes the video. Instead, you can use software from our list of suggested video editors and converters.
Audio Codec | AAC or MP3 (AAC preferred) |
Audio Channels | Stereo (2 channels) |
Audio Bitrate | 128-192 kbps for optimal quality |
Sample Rate | 44.1 kHz or 48 kHz (standard for most content) |
ℹ️ INFO: While our system works well with most audio formats, we recommend using AAC or MP3 for the fastest processing.
Additional Technical Specifications
Keyframe Interval | 10-second max (2 seconds recommended for streaming) |
Color Profile | Set to "1-1-1" (Rec.709 for color primaries, transfer characteristics, and color matrix) |
Range | Video range (16–235) for compatibility with most broadcast and OTT platforms |
Color Depth | 8-bit 4:2:0 or less |
GOP Structure | Closed GOP (group of pictures) |
Preventing Color Distortion Issues
When you upload High Dynamic Range (HDR) videos to Uscreen, you might notice color distortion, especially on mobile apps. Videos that look vibrant on your web browser may appear washed out, and skin tones might have an unnatural, pale yellow tint on mobile devices.
HDR videos utilize a different color space compared to Standard Dynamic Range (SDR) videos. When our system processes (transcodes) HDR content without the correct color space conversion, it can lead to visually unappealing results.
You might be experiencing HDR color space issues if:
Videos appear normal on the web but look washed out on mobile apps.
Skin tones seem yellowish or pale.
The same video displays with different colors across various devices.
Thumbnails show correct colors, but the video playback does not.
Solutions for HDR Video Issues
Export in SDR (Standard Dynamic Range) Format
The most reliable way to prevent color distortion is to export your videos in SDR format using the Rec.709 color space before uploading them to Uscreen. This ensures compatibility with our transcoding process and a consistent viewing experience.
Convert Existing HDR Videos to SDR
If you've already uploaded HDR videos and are encountering color problems, you can convert them to SDR. We recommend using ffmpeg for this conversion.
⚠️ WARNING: Please refrain from using HDR color transfer functions like SMPTE2084 (Perceptual Quantizer or PQ) when encoding your video. Using these settings can lead to transcoding failures and significant color quality issues when the content is played in the apps.
Backup your Video
Keeping backups of your videos ensures you’re always prepared for unexpected issues.
Data Security
Accidental deletions or technical issues can happen. A backup ensures your work is safe.
Version Control
Having the original file makes editing or re-uploading seamless without quality loss.
Recommended Backup Methods
External Hard Drives
Reliable and offline, these are great for organized storage.
Cloud Storage Services
Use platforms like Dropbox, Google Drive, or OneDrive for secure, scalable backups.
📝 NOTE: Uscreen backs up your videos for restoration, but we no longer offer bulk downloads. This helps keep our servers optimized and prevents congestion.