Platform rules 5 min read
Douyin Video Quality: Upload Parameters and Platform Transcoding
Douyin re-encodes everything and prioritizes fast start over fidelity. Uploads that already match its target profile (1080×1920, H.264, moderate bitrate) survive with the least damage.
Pre-upload checklist
- Canvas: 1080×1920 (9:16). Horizontal sources should be cropped locally, not left to the platform.
- Codec: H.264 High, MP4; frame rate 30 fps.
- Bitrate: 8–12 Mbps for 1080p — above that the platform trims it anyway, below that you lose detail before they touch it.
- Duration: hook in the first 3 seconds; completion rate drives distribution more than resolution does.
Why uploads look soft even at high bitrate
The platform caps effective video bitrate per resolution tier and re-encodes with fast presets. Anything you upload above the cap is discarded quality; anything below the cap gets degraded twice — once by you, once by them. Match the cap and you lose only one generation.