I'm really struggling trying to work out why a 500mb Zoom meeting mp4 file imports into FCPX and even if I do no editing at all, just click share, the smallest it will save as is around 3gb and that's if I drop the resolution. I've tried keeping the same import format as well as changing format when importing the file, but it makes no difference. I'm obviously making a fundamental error somewhere. Advice Much appreciated !
iMac 27″ 5K, macOS 10.14
File sizes depend on codec, duration, frame size, content... and bit rate.
FCP encodes to H264 at a relatively high bit rate, higher than that used by Zoom.
FCP does not offer control over bit rate.
If you have Compressor, you can create a Compressor setting and use that when exporting from FCP.
If you don't have Compressor, you can try HandBrake (free) to create a smaller file than that output from FCP.
File sizes depend on codec, duration, frame size, content... and bit rate.
FCP encodes to H264 at a relatively high bit rate, higher than that used by Zoom.
FCP does not offer control over bit rate.
If you have Compressor, you can create a Compressor setting and use that when exporting from FCP.
If you don't have Compressor, you can try HandBrake (free) to create a smaller file than that output from FCP.
It sounds as though you may be sharing to ProRes instead of H.264
Select Share>Masterfile and click the Settings tab.
Ensure the Video Codec is H.264
Thanks Ian, I was using 264, but unless you can reduce the bit rate it seems impossible to avoid huge export files. Handbrake fixed it for me. Regards
Thanks Luis, Handbrake fixed it perfectly. I can't quite believe that Apple charge £300.00 for FCPX, when it lacks a fundamental feature, without which it is unusable as an editor for the millions that have taken to Zoom this year. Regards
If you want a really professional editing app that will allow you to export with a specific mbps/kbps output, look no further than Apple's finest . . . . iMovie, which contains the pro features that FCP X lacks.
As you can see from the screenshot below, with 1080p footage you can select from 3.33mbps (3,300kbps) up to 26.66mbps (26,660kbps).
Here I've chosen a very modest 4.108mbps (4,1080kbps)
As I keep telling people, if you want a truly professional editor, get iMovie. 😇
Wow, that is surprising! I had no idea that iMovie allowed this.
Thanks for sharing, Ian.
Actually you can alter the bit rate in FCP X by selecting different "Format" settings.
From memory, if you select "Video & Audio" FCP X exports with a ridiculous (for delivery) bit rate around 20,000kbps whilst "Computer" uses a more sensible 10,000kbps for 1080p footage and also produces .mp4 video rather than .mov
Smaller frame sizes should be proportionately lower.
FCPX Zoom files made huge
