Best Aspect Ratios for Music Videos by Platform

Last updated 21 October 2026.

The wrong aspect ratio is the quickest way to make a good video look careless: black bars on YouTube, cropped titles on TikTok, a square clip shrunk in a vertical feed. This guide puts the platform sizes first, then helps you decide which versions to make. For background on why ratios matter, see the longer explainer on music video aspect ratios.

What are the best aspect ratios for each platform?

These are widely used sizes, not guarantees. Platforms update their layouts and upload limits, so check each platform's help pages before an important release.

Which aspect ratios does Shimga support?

Shimga Studio canvases come in 16:9, 9:16 and 1:1. Export resolutions are 480p, 720p, 1080p, 2K (2560x1440) and 4K (3840x2160), and the short side of the video follows the resolution you choose. A 1080p export at 16:9 is 1920x1080, and at 9:16 it is 1080x1920. A 4:5 shape exists only as a frame option for the logo layer, so for a 4:5 feed post you would export 1:1 or 9:16 and check how the platform crops it.

How do you choose which versions to make?

1. Start with where the song lives. If the main release is on YouTube, make 16:9 first.
2. Add vertical for discovery. Short-form feeds are where many listeners first hear a track, so a 9:16 clip is usually the second version.
3. Add square only if you post to feeds. A 1:1 version is useful for Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn posts.
4. Add Spotify Canvas last. It is a 9:16 loop of a few seconds. See the Spotify Canvas how-to.

How do you adapt one project for several ratios?

1. Build in 16:9 first. Open Shimga Studio, add the audio and design the scene.
2. Export the 16:9 MP4. Choose 1080p and 30 fps.
3. Switch the canvas to 9:16. Move the logo to the centre, resize the spectrum and move text away from the top and bottom edges.
4. Export again. Each ratio is a separate export, unless you use Pro's option to render several ratios in one pass.
5. Repeat for 1:1 if you need a square version.

Saving the scene as a template keeps your branding consistent across the versions.

What are safe zones, and why do they matter?

A safe zone is the area of the frame that stays visible once the platform adds its own interface. In vertical video the top holds the account name and search, and the bottom holds the caption, buttons and progress bar. Place logos and titles in the middle of the frame, with generous margins. In 16:9, keep titles away from the edges so they are not hidden by overscan on some displays or by the player's controls.

• Vertical: keep key elements in the central area, away from the top and bottom edges.
• Square: centre the subject; feeds may crop the edges in previews.
• Landscape: keep text inside a margin on all sides.

What resolution should you export?

1080p is the practical default for every platform in the table. Higher resolutions rarely help social feeds because platforms compress and downscale uploads. For YouTube, 2K or 4K can be worth it for a final release, but it requires Shimga Pro.

Standard scenes at 1080p or lower, 24 or 30 fps and up to five minutes export without Pro and without a watermark. Pro is $5 per month with a 7-day trial, a $3 export pass for 5 exports within 3 days, or $131 lifetime. For a deeper look at quality settings, see exporting at 1080p and 4K.

Common aspect ratio mistakes

• Uploading 16:9 to a vertical feed. The video shrinks into a small band. Make a 9:16 version.
• Cropping instead of redesigning. Cutting a 16:9 export into 9:16 loses the sides. Rebuild the layout at the new ratio.
• Text in the danger zone. Titles at the very top or bottom of a vertical video get covered.
• Ignoring the thumbnail. The first frame often becomes the preview, so check it.

See also making a visualizer for YouTube, YouTube music video maker and the YouTube music visualizer page.

Frequently asked questions

What aspect ratio should a music video be?

16:9 for YouTube and other landscape players, and 9:16 for Shorts, Reels and TikTok. Add 1:1 if you post to social feeds.

What size is a YouTube Short?

YouTube Shorts are vertical 9:16 videos, commonly 1080x1920. Check YouTube's help pages for the current maximum length.

Which aspect ratios does Shimga Studio support?

Shimga Studio supports 16:9, 9:16 and 1:1 canvases, with export at 480p, 720p, 1080p, 2K and 4K. 2K and 4K need Pro.

Can I export several aspect ratios at once?

Yes, with Shimga Pro. Without Pro, you export each ratio separately by switching the canvas and exporting again.

Is 4:5 supported in Shimga?

Not as a canvas ratio. 4:5 exists as a frame shape for the logo layer. For 4:5 feed posts, export 1:1 or 9:16 and check how the platform displays it.