Final Cut Express HD setting for exporting to Youtube?

shortfilmtexas · Jan 30, 2008

When exporting a video from Final Cut Express HD what is the best format and setup for posting to youtube?

Thanks!

esp4ever · Jan 30, 2008

Quicktime 6 compatible which is mpeg 4 LAN streaming or Quicktime 7 compatible H.264 for LAN. Anyway you can keep your final project under 100mb for posting on the web usually works.

filmmakerone · Jan 30, 2008

Does YouTube have a way to display 16 x 9 properly? I see a lot of distorted vids there. Is there a better solution than letterboxing? Can it properly back-distort anamorphic?

shortfilmtexas · Jan 31, 2008

LAN Streaming. Haven't tried that one yet. lol. Thanks. I'll give it a shot!

Red Prince · Jan 31, 2008

filmmakerone said:
Does YouTube have a way to display 16 x 9 properly?

In my personal experience the best way to upload a widescreen presentation on YouTube (and LiveVideo) is to letterbox it yourself but with a white background instead of black. The result gives out the impression of a true 16:9 image even if it actually is a 4:3 with white bars on both the top and the bottom. Since YouTube pages have a white background, the white bars visually blend with it.

filmmakerone · Jan 31, 2008

White letter box. What a great tip! Thanks.

BenB · Jan 31, 2008

H.264 is best, as Flash now supports it. Don't be afraid to down the quality to about the middle setting, you'll still get great video quality, and a smaller files size. Set the two upper controls to Auto.

The APTS book "Compressor Quick Reference Guide" is very cheap and super helpful to learn the details quick and easy.