Best Export Settings For 1080p Video

Question

Best Export Settings For 1080p Video

I recent acquired a Panasonic Lumix GH4 and now shoot all my videos in 4K, but when exporting using the default "Video Sharing Services: HD 1080p" settings it just doesn't seem to retain enough of the quality in the final video (I don't expect 4K quality in a 1080p file, but I edit in a 1080p timeline and it looks exceptional whilst still in FCPX).

I will still be uploading videos online, and I do wish to compress it enough to make the final files I deliver smaller for my clients, but I want it to look the best I can make it without leaving it completely uncompressed.

Even if I need to make a custom export profile in Compressor, what should I do?

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.7.2), Using The Latest Version Of FCPX

Posted on May 15, 2014 3:12 AM

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Answer 1

Russ H

Level 7

22,432 points

May 15, 2014 4:42 AM in response to Whimsical Goofball

Where are you uploading to? If it's a service like Vimeo they will take whatever you give them and recompress it. So if time is not a factor, you could try uploading a (very large) Pro Res 422 file – giving them more digital information to work with.

Another thing to mention is that simply down-scaling can introduce artifacts. In Compressor, you can try setting the Resize filter to Best.

Post back and let us know how you do.

Russ

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Answer 2

May 15, 2014 7:54 PM in response to Russ H

Okay, so for YouTube and Vimeo I'll aim to upload in Pro Res 422. That was what I suspected I'd need to do.

Now you're saying that down-scaling can introduce artifacts? I wasn't aware of this...

So if I shoot in 4K but deliver in 1080p, which of the following would be best:

1) Edit in a 4K timeline, then export at 1080p.

2) Edit in a 1080p timeline, then export at 1080p.

3) Edit in 4K and upload in 4K anyway, as 1080p will look better.

Now, in regards to this "resize filter" in Compressor, I preume this only applies if I edit on a 4K timeline?

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