How to Change Video Format: Horizontal, Square, or Vertical

Vocal Video can publish videos in square, horizontal (landscape), or vertical (portrait) format. You can change a video's format in the Video Editor easily before publishing or republishing it.

All formats are rendered in high definition:

  • Square: 1080 x 1080. A good default for social sharing and mixed desktop/mobile audiences.
  • Horizontal (Landscape): 1920 x 1080. Best for websites, desktop viewing, YouTube, webinars, and presentation-style videos.
  • Vertical (Portrait): 1080 x 1920. Best for vertical social placements such as Instagram Stories, TikTok, YouTube Shorts, and mobile-first campaigns.

In this article:

Change a Video's Format

  1. Open the video in the editor.
  2. Use the format dropdown above the video preview.
  3. Choose 16:9 Horizontal , 1:1 Square, or 9:16 Vertical.
  4. Preview the video to make sure each scene looks right in the new format.
  5. Publish when you are ready.

Changing the format affects the entire video. It does not change the original recording file from your respondent.

If you plan to publish different versions for different channels, duplicate the video to make a new version to work from. You can also set preferred defaults for new drafts in Default Video Settings.

Fill Frame and Shrink to Fit

When a recorded clip does not match the format you selected, Vocal Video gives you two options so the clip still looks polished.

  1. Open your video in the editor
  2. Select the layout controls above the video preview.
  3. Choose the layout option that fits your use case.
  • Fill Frame fills the frame. This is useful when you want a full-bleed look, but some of the original clip may be cropped.
  • Shrink to Fit keeps the respondent visible when the original recording and final format have different orientations.
  1. You can also go to Scene > Alignment to adjust what part of the video shows.

For example, a portrait recording can still look good in a square or landscape video when you use the right layout option.

Adjust Backgrounds and Colors

If a clip does not fill the whole frame, the background around it becomes part of the video design. You can adjust those background areas in the editor.

  1. Select the scene you want to adjust.
  2. Use the Scene panel to change scene-specific background settings or upload a custom background.
  3. Use the Design panel to adjust broader video design settings such as theme, colors, and fonts.
  4. Preview the video after making changes.

Use brand colors or a subtle background image when you want the formatted video to feel more designed, especially when placing vertical footage into a square or landscape frame.

For related design controls, see Video Themes, Customizing Fonts in Videos, Galleries, and Cards, and How to Upload Images.


Which Format Should I Use?

  • Use Square when you want one flexible version for social posts, email, landing pages, and general sharing.
  • Use Horizontal (Landscape) when the video will be embedded on a website, shown on desktop, or uploaded to a platform where 16:9 is standard.
  • Use Vertical (Portrait) when the video is intended for vertical social channels or mobile-first ad placements.

For more distribution guidance, see How to Share and Embed Videos, Tips for using Video Testimonials on Instagram, and Optimizing Vocal Video for TikTok.