The real scoop on premiere pro export settings for you tube

[Filip Stillerska]

YouTube always re-compress the files you upload (<4K files will be re-compressed to H.264 and 4K and above files will be re-compressed to VP9). This means that if you upload an already compressed file to YouTube, they will compress it again, which means that you’ll loose some quality. I always upload uncompressed or close-to-uncompressed (lossless) files to YouTube, like Apple ProRes 422 or GoPro CineForm. However, exporting a 32 minute 1080p video will result in a very large file if exporting with codecs like Apple ProRes 422 or GoPro CineForm.

If quality is your number one priority and file size and upload time doesn’t matter, go with codecs like ProRes or CineForm.
If file size and upload time is your number one priority, use H.264 or H.265 and follow YouTube’s recommended upload encoding settings: https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/1722171?hl=en

Good luck!

[Filip Stillerska]

You also have the option to upload to YouTube directly from Media Encoder: https://helpx.adobe.com/in/media-encoder/how-to/publish-to-youtube-vimeo.html

[Kevin Dawson]

Thanks for the reply. But I have not expressed myself adequately. I don’t care about file size or how long it takes to upload. I care about the ability for people to see the video run smoothly on their computers. For example, If I use a target bit rate of 50 mgps vs 10mgps will only a low percentage of current modern day computers with current average internet speed be able to view the video smoothly. Is the higher the bit rate used cause more computers or smartphones or iPads to not be able to see the video smoothly, especially if you have motion graphics in your video?

Kevin Dawson

[David Roth weiss]

Kevin,

You say you only want it run smoothly, but I’m sure that if your video played smoothly, but was totally pixelated, you’d not be happy at all. Right? That’s because ALL video compressionists struggle with file size, which affects smooth play, vs video quality, which affects perceived video quality. And, because file size and video quality are directly related I one another, you can’t ignore either. That being said, modern compression is awesome, and it allows for very high quality at relatively small file sizes.

Most important, is that you understand the limitations of each site where you’ll post your video, because they all have different upload restrictions. For instance, if your video is short enough, you can upload a hi-Res master, and just let YouTube recompress. But, if your video file is too big for Youtube or another site, you simply need to experiment with different bit rates until you successfully create a file that is the about as high as you can go, but one that doesn’t exceed the upload requirements of the site to which you’re uploading. Once you experiment and successfully do it a few times, write down your successful results and use those the next time. It’s not rocket science, but it is science none the less.

David Roth Weiss
Director/Editor/Colorist & Workflow Consultant
David Weiss Productions
Los Angeles

David is a Creative COW contributing editor and a forum host of the Apple Final Cut Pro forum.

[Graham Tees]

Here’s YouTube’s recommended upload encoder settings;

https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/1722171?hl=en

[Filip Stillerska]

Kevin, if you’re uploading the video to YouTube they will re-compress the video and therefore also decide the bit rate for you to make sure it will play smoothly. Upload in the highest quality possible with a high bitrate and let YouTube worry about compatibility and internet speeds.
FYI: For 1080p YouTube usually will re-compress the videos to ≈8 Mbps.