Best Export Settings for YouTube/Social Media in Final Cut Pro

Dylan John

13 Dec 202304:13

Summary

TLDRThis video guides users on how to properly export videos from Final Cut Pro to YouTube, emphasizing efficient settings that avoid large file sizes. It advises against using ProRes 422, instead recommending MP4 format with the H.264 codec for faster uploads. The video also suggests exporting in 4K resolution for YouTube, while noting that Instagram should use 1080p for better compression. Viewers are instructed to create a preset for social media exports and set it as the default for future use, streamlining the process for both YouTube and other platforms.

Takeaways

😀 Avoid using ProRes 422 for YouTube exports, as it leads to unnecessarily large file sizes.
😀 Choose the 'Computer' export option in Final Cut Pro for YouTube, as it saves videos in MP4 format, the recommended format by YouTube.
😀 Use the H.264 codec (single pass) for optimal video quality and faster export times.
😀 YouTube officially supports H.264, so it's better to stick with this codec rather than H.265 (HEVC), which has minimal quality difference.
😀 Single-pass encoding is faster and has no noticeable quality difference compared to multi-pass encoding for YouTube uploads.
😀 Always select the highest available resolution (e.g., 4K) for your exports to maintain video quality.
😀 Enable the faster export option if you're using macOS Sonoma and an M1 Max or later chip for quicker processing.
😀 Name your export settings (e.g., 'YouTube/Social Media Export') and make it the default for easy reuse.
😀 For Instagram, export in 1080p rather than 4K, as Instagram heavily compresses 4K videos, reducing quality.
😀 Use the 'Command + E' shortcut to quickly export your videos with the default settings you’ve created.

Q & A

Why should you avoid exporting in ProRes 422 for YouTube?
-ProRes 422 produces unnecessarily large file sizes, making it difficult to upload to YouTube efficiently. It is better to export in a more compressed format like MP4, which is recommended by YouTube.
What export format should be used for YouTube in Final Cut Pro?
-The recommended export format for YouTube in Final Cut Pro is MP4, which can be selected under the 'Computer' publishing option in the export destinations.
What is the main advantage of choosing 'Computer' as the export destination in Final Cut Pro?
-Choosing 'Computer' ensures the video is exported in MP4 format, which is the format YouTube recommends for optimal upload and playback performance.
Why should you use H.264 codec instead of H.265 for YouTube exports?
-Although YouTube accepts H.265 (HEVC), H.264 is still recommended as it is more widely supported and optimized for YouTube uploads, with no significant visible difference in quality for most users.
What is the difference between single-pass and multi-pass encoding in Final Cut Pro?
-Single-pass encoding is faster and results in minimal quality loss compared to multi-pass encoding, which takes longer but may offer slightly better quality. For YouTube, single-pass is generally sufficient.
Why is 'Faster' chosen over 'Better' for encoding speed in Final Cut Pro?
-Choosing 'Faster' for encoding speed provides nearly identical quality compared to 'Better' but reduces the encoding time, which is beneficial when exporting to YouTube.
What resolution should you choose when exporting for YouTube?
-You should choose the highest resolution available, which is typically 4K, as Final Cut Pro will automatically select the appropriate resolution based on your project settings.
Why is the 4K option not recommended for Instagram exports?
-Instagram struggles with 4K video uploads and heavily compresses them, which can result in worse quality than 1080p videos. It’s better to export in 1080p for Instagram.
How can you make your custom export settings the default in Final Cut Pro?
-Once you’ve set up your preferred export settings, you can right-click on them and choose 'Make Default' to use them for future exports. This allows you to quickly use these settings with the 'Command E' shortcut.
What is the significance of the new button in Final Cut Pro for faster exports?
-The new button in Final Cut Pro speeds up the export process, but it only works on macOS Sonoma with M1, M2, or M3 Max/Ultra chips. It helps reduce export time, especially for larger videos.