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Export QT vs QT-conversion: result better w/ conversion?(!)
Working with sony EX3 .MOV files in a pro-res 422 sequence,
I made a 10sec piece using FILE-EXPORT-QUICKTIME (Setting: Custom, .h264)Then I needed a youtube upload.
Trying to follow their instructions for HD:
they specify, for FCP, using QT-Conversion and .h264 codec.
So I did one, and I noted the output file-size was MUCH larger than simply EXPORT-QT with .h264:A) Export –> Quicktime = 5 Mb
B) Export –> Quicktime Conversion = 28Mb.
The quality of (B) was noticeably better.Not wanting a 28Mb file, I dialed-down from “Best” to “High” setting
and got a file almost identical in size to (A).
The quality was still MUCH better:
A ————————————————————————- B
(Screenshot of Quicktime viewer, magnified 2x.)What gives? Again, here the filesizes are about the same.
The Compressor quality setting for the export on (A) was 100%.Looks like for .h264 I should be using QT-Conversion?
Dave G
FCS 3
Early Macpro, 6Gb, OSX 10.6.6 -
3 Replies
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Best result is to export firstly a self contained QT using Export>quicktime move with current settings (ie no transcoding). Bring that into Compressor and make the H264 in Compressor setting the resize filter to best in Frame Controls.
There are some Youtube presets in Compressor so use those as your starting point as they should have the right frame size and data rates. If you transcode to H264 either as export quicktime movie or quicktime conversion, it basically just uses quicktime pro to do the conversion. Compressor should yield better results.
There are specifics about Compressor settings in this forum as this is a very common query so a search may help
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Michael – thanks much.
My main concern is for what i’m exporting to broadcast & dvd.
It was a bit of a shocker to see what I saw (see first post).
—If you transcode to H264 either as export quicktime movie or quicktime conversion, it basically just uses quicktime pro to do the conversion. Compressor should yield better results.
Actually FCP appears to be calling Compressor not QTpro when it does EXPORT->QT-conversion.
Maybe I’m wrong, but the dialogue window says “Compressor Settings” and appears identical to the Compressor dialogue.
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FYI
I’ve gone back and used SEND-to-compressor, with compressor at
same settings as the (B) picture (High), and with the frame controls as you said. The filesize on the left is about 8Mb, compared with about 6 on the right.I think the smaller filesize (QT conversion, on right) looks slightly more crisp, while the left is a bit more saturated (and a bit warmer).
In the end, this time, I went with Compressor.
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Hi David,
You have to learn to control quality and file-size.You can’t do much with the “Quality” slide.
You have to control quality and size by setting data-rate and the Key-frames manually.
NEVER leave Key-Frames: AUTO.
Don’t forget to set your sequence “Render in High Precision”.[David Gallessich] “Actually FCP appears to be calling Compressor not QTpro when it does EXPORT->QT-conversion.
Maybe I’m wrong, but the dialogue window says “Compressor Settings” and appears identical to the Compressor dialogue.”
No related with “Compressor” the application.
Compressor here, means the codec you using.
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