This short educational video demonstrates how to export a movie from Final Cut Express for YouTube at HD 720p H.264 for the very best visual and audio quality.
HD Video by http://www.starbelt.ca
Music by http://www.2access.ca
Written Instructions:
Here is how to export a video from Final Cut Express v4.01 for best results with YouTube.com:
make sure your video sequence is highlighted and then:
File--Export--Using Quicktime Conversion...
Format=Quicktime Movie
Click the "Options..." button
Make sure Video checkbox is checked
Click the "Settings..." button
"Compression Type" pulldown menu=H.264
Go with the default settings here
(or set Quality to "High" and encoding to "Best quality (Multi-pass))
Click "OK"
ignore the "Filter..." button
Click the "Size..." button
(because it really does matter)
"Dimensions" pulldown menu="1280 x 720 HD"
(tip: do not use "HD 1280 x 720 16:9")
"Preserve aspect ratio using"=clear checkbox
"Deinterlace Source Video"=clear checkbox
(shoot your video in progressive scan for internet, or deinterlace it if your video was shot interlaced else you'll have lines running thru your video all the time when it is viewed online)
(just go progressive.. it is the future, baby!)
Click OK
Sound checkbox is checked
Click "Settings..."
Format=Linear PCM
Channels=Stereo (L R)
Rate=192.000 kHz
Quality=Best
Sample size=32 bits
Little Endian=checked
Floating Point=cleared
Unsigned=cleared
(tip: your video might end up silent if you select 64 bits or floating point.. it seems to break YouTube's encoder if you go beyond 32 bits)
"Preview" button is broken, do not bother
Play Source=cleared
Click OK
"Prepare for Internet Streaming"=clear
(tip: your choice.. I am still experimenting with this option but clearing this checkmark always yields consistent results so that might be the best option for now.)
Click OK
enter a filename that delights you
Click the "Save" button
You will notice your movie starts rendering quickly until about 9% and then it seems to hang for a long time.. do not worry, this is "normal" for Final Cut.. go make some coffee and mow the lawn or something.
It will take about 20 minutes to an hour to render most likely, so be patient.
The final product is a very sharp looking 1280x720p movie compressed/encoded with H.264 and very crisp audio quality that works well with YouTube.com
Good luck! =)
