Export custom resolutions?

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Level 1

8 points

Export custom resolutions?

Final Cut Pro X, just updated to 10.4.9

Before the most recent update, I was exporting videos in mp4 format in 2560x1440 resolution. This is considered a "custom resolution", but as long as the project settings were set to 2560x1440, that option appeared in the pull down options in the export window.

After the update, the mp4 (and mov and m4v) export options appear to be locked to 1920x1080 or 4K, with no middle option available despite the project settings remaining the same as before. With the project settings at 1440p, the highest export option is 1080p; if I change the project settings to 4K, that option becomes available.

The only way I appear to be able to export a file at a "custom resolution" is to do a Master Export mov, which I'd prefer not to do. Has anyone else experienced this since the update? Is there a solution to get back custom resolution exports?

Posted on Sep 10, 2020 3:00 PM

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Answer 1

LieutenatDan Author

Level 1

8 points

Sep 10, 2020 6:18 PM in response to Tom Wolsky

Why did that change though? For the past 4 months I HAVE been selecting “Computer” for an MPEG-4, and while the default export resolution was 1920x1080, as long as the project settings was set to 2560x1440 (I assume other custom resolutions would have worked but I never tried them), then 2560x1440 would show up in the export resolution pull down. Now suddenly Master File is the only option for custom formats?

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Answer 2

LieutenatDan Author

Level 1

8 points

Sep 11, 2020 8:40 AM in response to Tom Wolsky

You can't, but "Computer" is not under "Mastering" in the export menu, it's under "Publishing." As I said, I WAS using "Computer" to previously export videos @ 2560x1440, but since the update the highest available export option under "Computer" is 1920x1080 (even though the project setting is 2560x1440), unless I change the project setting to 4K at which point 4K becomes a selectable export option under "Computer."

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Answer 3

LieutenatDan Author

Level 1

8 points

Sep 11, 2020 8:44 AM in response to Luis Sequeira1

Thank you for confirming! Unfortunately using the Mastering export, even with H264, the file is still larger than the same video @ 4K using the mp4 Publishing export. I'm less concerned about the container and more about the encoding parameters to achieve a certain file size.

Thanks again!

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Answer 4

Tom Wolsky

Level 10

152,815 points

Sep 11, 2020 5:10 AM in response to Luis Sequeira1

What other way could you create MPEG-4 (not m4v) aside from Computer?

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Answer 5

Sep 11, 2020 2:04 AM in response to LieutenatDan

No idea why it changed, but I checked and I confirm it.

Alternatively, you can export as mov in H264.

It will work almost anywhere the mp4 file would.

Alas, we no longer have MpegStreamclip to change the container format without reencoding...

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Answer 6

LieutenatDan Author

Level 1

8 points

Sep 11, 2020 10:55 AM in response to Luis Sequeira1

I understand what you're saying. I don't know all the specifics of FCPX encoding during export, but here is what I'm talking about:

I have a video exactly 20 minutes long.

Exported with "Computer" settings (mp4, H.264 codec) at 1920x1080, the file size was 3.02GB

Exported with "Computer" settings (mp4, H.264 codec) at 3640x2160, the file size was 7.53GB

Exported (before the update) with "Computer" settings (mp4, H.264 codec) at 2560x1440, the file size was 3.38GB

Exporting using the Master "Video and Audio" WITH H.264 settings (mov) at 2560x1440, the file size estimate is 9.33GB

So obviously there is something different between Master w/ H.264 and "Computer" using the same video codec, since the 4K "Computer" file size is less than the 1440p "Master" file size, even though both are using H.264. I'm not surprised there is a difference, I'm just reiterating that the pre-update settings where I could export a 1440p video with the "Computer" setting was much more desirable than now having to use "Master export" settings which, even with the same codec, is producing a file nearly 3x as large, and still larger than a 4K video exported with the "Computer" setting. And I don't see why that export option would change.

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