Rotate a MP4 file, while preserving codec and quality attributes

Question

I need to rotate a MP4 video by 90 degrees. There is software like Free Video Flip and Rotate available that does this but produces an AVI file.

Do you have any suggestions for a software to produce a MP4 that is in the same quality (and file size) as the original, just 90 degrees rotated? Does not have to be free software ;-)

score 9 · Answer 1 · edited Jun 14 '18 at 12:46

Open Avidemux (free video editing software)
Open your mp4 file.
Choose a "Video Output" other than "Copy" [I chose "Mpeg4 ASP (ff)"]
Choose Video > Filters (or in Windows, press Ctrl+Alt+F)
Double-click "Rotate" to add that filter
Choose 90 degrees
Press "Close" to exit "Video Filter Manager"
Save

(Thanks to @secret for getting me started, but his/her list of steps weren't complete.)

score 8 · Answer 2 · answered Apr 30 '17 at 15:06

If you actually recorded video in landscape mode, but phone erroneously saved in metadata that it is 90 degrees rotated (it happen to me today during helicopter flight) just download ffmpeg and use this command (completely lossless as it just writes new header - metadata):

ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -c copy -metadata:s:v:0 rotate=0 output.mp4

score 7 · Answer 3 · edited Jun 12 '20 at 13:48

I used Avidemux, a free video editor.

This software allows you to rotate any movie.

In a drop-down list you can select the desired output format (e.g. MP4, AVI, FLV, etc.).

If using the MPEG-4 ASP setting in the video drop-down list, you will have to fiddle around with Quantizer setting (A higher number means reduced file size and less quality).

This tool is great when you capture a movie on your cell phone and want to send the movie to friends!

score 7 · Answer 4 · edited Sep 27 '12 at 23:33

7

Open Avidemux
Press Ctrl+Alt+F (for Windows)
Select Rotate
Save

edited Sep 27 '12 at 23:33

Oliver Salzburg

89,072
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answered Sep 27 '12 at 21:05

secret

87

score 2 · Answer 5 · answered Aug 14 '13 at 02:07

You can rotate an MP4 video using VLC and some awesome nice guy wrote a detailed set of instructions with screenshots here: http://www.wintips.org/how-to-rotate-and-save-a-video-using-vlc-media-player/ (Disclaimer: This post isn't spam, I have no connection at all to the site or the dude who wrote the instructions. I merely used the instructions to rotate a video of my baby daughter and so I'm just really grateful for it.)

score 1 · Answer 6 · answered Jun 30 '11 at 21:45

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The easiest method I've seen is with QuickTime (Pro), open Movie Properties, click Video Track, then go to Visual Settings and use the arrows to rotate as needed. Then close the Movie Properties, then do a File Save As.

answered Jun 30 '11 at 21:45

Syclone0044

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score 1 · Answer 7 · answered Apr 12 '13 at 16:35

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I had many .mov files that needed rotation. I used Square 5 Streamclip and did not loose any quality. Super easy to save as in many file formats: http://www.squared5.com/svideo/mpeg-streamclip-win.html

answered Apr 12 '13 at 16:35

larry

11

score 0 · Accepted Answer · answered Dec 11 '09 at 22:47

0

There's no way to rotate a video without re-encoding it. So you can only appoximate the size and quality.

I recommend VirtualDub to do the rotation. It's free and fast.

answered Dec 11 '09 at 22:47

fretje

10,732

Rotate a MP4 file, while preserving codec and quality attributes

8 Answers8