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

Vocal Video can publish videos in square, landscape, or portrait format. You can change a video's format in the Video Editor 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.
  • Landscape: 1920 x 1080. Best for websites, desktop viewing, YouTube, webinars, and presentation-style videos.
  • Portrait: 1080 x 1920. Best for vertical social placements such as Instagram Stories, TikTok, YouTube Shorts, and mobile-first campaigns.

Change a Video's Format

  1. Open the video in the Video Editor.
  2. Use the format dropdown above the video preview.
  3. Choose 16:9 Horizontal, 1:1 Square, or 9:16 Vertical
  4. Publish the video

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

Video Layout: Fill Frame or Shrink to Fit

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

  1. Open the video in the Video Editor.
  2. Use the Layout: Fit dropdown above the video preview.
  3. Select Video Layout: Fill Frame or Shrink to Fit
  • Fill 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.

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.
  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.

Which Format Should I Use?

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

If you plan to distribute the same testimonial in multiple places, duplicate the video and publish one version in each format you need.