What Is VBR (Variable Bitrate)?
An encoding mode where bitrate fluctuates based on scene complexity — more data for complex scenes, less for simple ones.
Variable Bitrate (VBR) dynamically adjusts the data rate based on what's happening in the video. Complex scenes (explosions, fast motion) get more bitrate, while simple scenes (static menus) use less. This produces better overall quality for recordings and uploads, but is NOT recommended for live streaming because the bitrate spikes can cause buffering for viewers with limited bandwidth. Use VBR for local recordings and YouTube uploads, CBR for live streaming.
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Related Terms
CBR (Constant Bitrate)
An encoding mode where the bitrate stays the same throughout the entire video, regardless of scene complexity.
Bitrate
The amount of data processed per second in a video or audio stream, measured in Kbps or Mbps.
Encoding
The process of compressing raw video data into a smaller format using a codec like H.264, HEVC, or AV1.