How do I compress a 2 min FCP video into 100MB for web upload?

Simply export from FCP using the "current settings" option (this gives you a best quality master) and take that to Compressor. You should be OK with the "YouTube" preset in Compressor; if not, select the H.264 preset of your liking.

HTH

Hi Edward,

The You Tube preset in Compressor is your best option as Mr vega said.

If you are having trouble with Compressor try this.

http://www.digitalrebellion.com/compressorrepair/

DM

First, what are the pixel dimensions and pixel aspect ratio of your sequence in fcp? If you're resizing and changing the pixel aspect ratio (square pixels are strongly recommended for web use), it's a good idea to customize the preset in compressor enabling frame controls and setting the resize filter to best.

If you're material is interlaced with a lot of motion, it's usually a good idea to also deinterlace. This can also be done in the frame controls panel by changing the output fields to progressive and the deinterlace to best.

Here's a user tip with working with compressor

https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-2611

David Mclaine wrote:

Hi Edward,

The You Tube preset in Compressor is your best option as Mr vega said.

If you are having trouble with Compressor try this.

http://www.digitalrebellion.com/compressorrepair/

DM

Mr. Vega? surely you know me well enough to call me Rat, David... 😁

so "rat" is the preferred title? Good to know.

Michael Grenadier wrote:

so "rat" is the preferred title? Good to know.

Yes, Michael. The "Rat" in my nickname is not a character slur but rather a reference to a big block Chevrolet racing engine, commonly referred to as a "rat motor." Likewise, a small block Chevy is commonly called a "mouse motor." I wasn't always a post guy... 😉

From now on thou shalt be known as Sir Rat.

DM

Are you old enough to remember Big Daddy Roth and Rat Fink?

Absolutely... beyond the cartooning, I was a big fan of Ed Roth's cars; the Beatnik Bandit was my favorite.

All my account info makes me look like a noob, but I've been on this forum since 2004. My Apple ID has been scrubbed twice for reasons beyond me; that's why I have the special character since 2011.

First, let me apologize for the way we were chatting on your thread while waiting.

Let me summerize what I think we have here:

1. You have a 2 minute show you want to convert to some codec appropriate for high quality presentation, but under 100MB final filesize.

2. You feel you don't want to use Compressor or a preset for YouTube.

3. You're in a hurry.

The fastest and highest quality method of making this conversion is using Compressor. It is designed to do precisely what you ask. The codec you want is H.264.

The YouTube preset is being suggested not because we think you're going to upload the clip to that site, but because the YouTube preset is a remarkably easy way to get a HQ H.264 clip with acceptable filesize. I'm staring at a 3:40 clip of 1080p that would knock your socks off and it's 90MB!

Even on a laptop the conversion is a matter of minutes.

If you're OK with my arguement, I'll write out a step-by-step proc for you and you can be done with this in time for that primetime show you want to watch. OK?

p.s.: don't believe everything you see on YouTube... 😉

If you check out the user tip I linked to, you'll find some help in navigating compressor.

Ok, here you go:

1. Export the clip from FCP to your hard drive with (Apple Menu) File>Export>QuickTime Movie (⌘E) using "current settings." This will be your source clip.

2. Start Compressor and open a Batch window if one is not already open. (⌘N)

3. Import your source clip using the Add File icon in the upper left corner of the Batch window.

4. Enter "you" into the typing area of the Settings Tab. (If no Settings tab is visible, go to (Apple Menu) Window>Settings (⌘3) to create one.) This will bring up a preset named "YouTube sharing." Drag and drop the icon inside the borders of your source clip in the Batch window.

5. Select the preset that you just dropped on your source clip. This loads it into the Inspector. (If there was no inspector window to begin with, double click on the preset on your source clip to open an Inspector window.)

6. In the Inspector window, there are six square buttons near the top. Click on the fifth from the left (next to the last) one. It should show the name "Geometry" in a space below the buttons. In the Dimensions area, change the Frame Size drop down menu to "100% of source."

7. Press the "Submit" button at the bottom of the Batch window.

8. A drop down window allows you optionally) name your batch. Do so if you wish. Press the Submit button in the drop down window to start the compression process. The converted file will be named after the source plus "-YouTube sharing" and written to the same folder as the source clip. You can edit the name of the clip to whatever you like after it is written.

Have a good time and good luck on your entry.