illustration on how to upload a video to a video brochure

How to Upload Video to Video Brochures

At theVideoCards, we understand the importance of seamless content updates for your video brochures, video mailers, and video boxes. Whether you’re showcasing products, services, or compelling stories, keeping your video content fresh is important. Or, perhaps you want to personalize each video brochure with a video created specifically for each client.  In this detailed guide, we’ll take you step by step through the uploading process and provide troubleshooting tips to ensure a hassle-free experience.

Uploading Your Videos

  1. File Preparation
    Before you begin, ensure your video file aligns with the native resolution of your brochure’s screen. Refer to the resolution for individual diagonal screen sizes.
    4″, 4.3″, 4.5″: 800×480
    5″: 854×480
    6″: 960×540
    7″, 9″, 10″: 1024×600
  2. File Conversion
    Utilize Adobe Express or any preferred video conversion tool (Adobe Media Encoder) to adjust the resolution. Save the file in MP4 format with a recommended bitrate of around 5 MBs. For smaller screens (4″ – 5″), consider optimizing the bitrate to 3 MBs to ensure smooth playback.
  3. Connect to Your Computer
    Using the USB cable provided with your brochure, connect it to your computer. Use the cable that came with the brochure for optimal file transfer.
  4. Accessing the Drive
    Upon connection, a new drive should appear on your computer. In case it doesn’t, navigate to the file explorer and locate the newly available drive. Delete any existing files on the brochure to make room for the new content.
  5. Copying and Pasting
    Copy your freshly converted video file and paste it onto the brochure drive. Once the file transfer is complete, safely disconnect the USB cable.
  6. Reopening the Brochure
    To ensure the seamless playback of your new content, close and reopen the brochure. Your updated video will now play effortlessly, captivating your audience.

Pro Tip: For those looking to enhance their presentations further, remember that brochures can play multiple files in alphanumerical order. Rename your files to curate a specific playback sequence.

For Brochures with Image Slideshow Functionality

  • If your brochure boasts an Image Slideshow function (must be requested), maintain organization by uploading video files to the designated “Video” folder and JPG files to the “Image” folder. The multimedia experience will seamlessly transition from videos to images.

Troubleshooting Tips

  • “NO FILE” Message
    If you encounter a “NO FILE” message, the resolution might be incorrect. Delete the existing file and upload a new one in the appropriate resolution.
  • New File Doesn’t Play
    Ensure that you briefly close the brochure after uploading and disconnecting it from the computer. This step is crucial to initiate the playback of the new file.
  • No Drive Available on Your Computer
    If the brochure isn’t recognized for upload, consider trying a different USB cable. Ensure there are no file locks preventing the deletion of files from the brochure. Confirm that your computer is configured to open new available drives.
  • Not Enough Space for New File Upload
     On Mac, ensure that the Trash folder is emptied, creating space for the new content.
  • Can’t Upload a New File
    If you’ve exhausted all the above steps without success, attempt to reformat the brochure on a PC. This action effectively deletes any previously stored files, providing a clean slate for new uploads.
  • Files Play in the Wrong Order
    To control the playback sequence, rename your files based on the desired order (e.g., 01.mp4, 02.mp4, 03.mp4).
  • Every video I make on my iPhone does not fit. What should I do?
    On iPhone (or many Android phones as well), you can shoot a video at different resolutions, including 720p, 1080p, and 4K. Video brochures are not designed to handle larger resolutions like 1080p or 4K. Please convert your video to a lower resolution based on the screen size of the brochure you purchased.

Ensure your video brochures consistently deliver captivating content by following these detailed guidelines. Trust theVideoCards for a multimedia experience that captivates and communicates effectively.

Frequently Asked Questions – Software and File Upload

While our products are capable of playing videos in various formats, we recommend converting video files to MP4 file format.

The video needs to be converted to the native resolution of the screen. The native resolution depends on the size and type of the screen.

If the video does not play even if it’s uploaded, and the screen says “no file”, most likely the video is not in the correct resolution. The video needs to be resized to the resolution of the screen.

The video files will play in alphabetical and numerical order, so if several files are uploaded, they should be named according to the order they should play, like 01.mp4, 02.mp4, 03.mp4, etc.

Most of our video brochures have 256 Mb memory capacity, which is good for 8-12 minutes depending on the screen.

Simply connect the brochure to a computer via the supplied USB cable and a new drive will appear. Delete the existing file and upload a new file, or add a new file and name it accordingly.

Some video brochures can also play a slideshow with a set of images. Images must be resized to the screen’s resolution. They will play based on the file name in alpha-numerical order. This feature must be requested during an order.

Yes, our brochures have a volume memory. If a volume is adjusted and the brochure is closed, when opened again, it will retain the volume set during the previous playback.

Only brochures with buttons can be locked to prevent files from being downloaded or deleted. The password is a sequence of button presses. This feature must be requested during an order.

While MP4 is recommended, for optimal compatibility and playback quality, we suggest using the H.264 video codec with AAC audio. Ensure a constant frame rate (e.g., 25fps or 30fps) and a bitrate that balances file size with visual quality, matching the screen’s native resolution.

For image slideshows, we primarily recommend using JPEG (.jpg or .jpeg) or PNG (.png) file formats. Ensure images are resized to the screen’s native resolution for the best display quality, as larger files will take up more memory and potentially slow down transitions.

By default, video brochures are set to auto-play the first video file (e.g., 01.mp4) as soon as the brochure is opened or powered on. If no video is present, the screen will typically display a “No File” message.

While memory capacity determines the absolute maximum video length, we generally recommend keeping videos concise and impactful, typically between 1 to 3 minutes, depending on your message. Shorter, high-quality videos often lead to better user engagement and ensure the entire message is consumed.

Yes, it’s a common feature of our devices to have a static splash screen or introductory image display for a few seconds before the main video content automatically begins playing. This can be used for branding, a title slide, or an initial message. If required, the image can be updated.

This is a common behavior when deleting files from external drives on a Mac. When you drag a file to the Trash from your video brochure (which acts as an external drive), the file is moved to a hidden .Trashes folder on the brochure itself. It’s not truly deleted from the brochure’s memory until you empty your Mac’s Trash while the video brochure is still connected to your computer. If you empty the trash, it will solve the problem.