Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

FCPX: file-size way too big on export?

T

Thijs Moonen

macrumors member
Original poster
Aug 22, 2011
58
2
Hi,

I just finished editing a one hour lecture. I was about to export it, using the 'Share->Vimeo...' option.

However, when I check under 'Summary', the file size came in 9GB for 1080p and at 4.87 for 720p. What's going on?

For a previous lecture, 45 minutes long, I got about 1.5GB on 720p.

We used four camera's, so first I thought the 'Disabled' tracks (pardon me, storylines that is) would still weigh in somehow, but deleting them didn't help anything.

This time I filmed at 25fps, as oppose to 24fps last time. Would that give such a huge difference?

Thanks for your help!
 
Last edited:
When you export using "current settings" it won't compress the video resulting in larger files. Try selecting the h.264 option in export media or use Compressor if you have it.
 
I'm afraid that doesn't help. Whatever compression I choose, I get ridiculous file-sizes. ProRes weighs in at 86GB. When I select H.246, I still get 9GB.

Any other suggestions of what the problem might be?

oh, I don't have compressor
 
FCP X just exports in ProRes. I highly suggest you get Compressor 4 twhich allows you to export in other file formats at a much smaller file size.
 
If you don't have compressor and have no interest in it then look into handbrake at the least. When compressing look for ways to knock off unnecessary file size like excessive resolution (if its not that important visual) and 6 channel audio...I don't need 6 channel audio for like 90% of the stuff I do. Next look at bit rate...Vimeo and a bunch of other sources say 5000kbps for HD (usually 720p) is the rate that keeps your quality from going to hell and 2000kbps for Standard Definition...to be perfectly honest you can get away with low bit rate HD so long as you know what you are doing. I wouldn't suggest killing all factors in the overall size of the video but knocking off a bunch of those will safe size...I made a 10 minute video yesterday from DSLR H264 and exported from FCP X and it totaled a whopping 12GB's :O When I exported H264 it came out to 3GB's...I use handbrake but I recently just got compressor and it would seam to be easier to just go to "share" and click "send to compressor"...then again I still can not figure out that program haha.
 
linuxcooldude said:
FCP X just exports in ProRes. I highly suggest you get Compressor 4 twhich allows you to export in other file formats at a much smaller file size.
Click to expand...

Surely this can't be right? I exported to H.264 before.


When I exported H264 it came out to 3GB's
Click to expand...

3GB's? For 10 minutes of video? That's unreasonable.

Thanks for your feedback thought, I'll look into the Handbrake option and consider buying Compressor. Still, I don't understand how I suddenly get to twice the file size I had before. If anyone knows... suggestions are still welcome!
 
Thijs Moonen said:
Surely this can't be right? I exported to H.264 before.




3GB's? For 10 minutes of video? That's unreasonable.

Thanks for your feedback thought, I'll look into the Handbrake option and consider buying Compressor. Still, I don't understand how I suddenly get to twice the file size I had before. If anyone knows... suggestions are still welcome!
Click to expand...

You can also use MPEG Streamclip to create a heavily compressed video file.
I just got a 3.6MB H.264 encoded .mov file out of a 448MB big ProRes LT file, with a resolution of 1280 x 800 pixel and a length of 70 seconds. Though it was nothing intensive like moving pictures, just an altered screen recording.

MSC_settings_1280x800%3Eh264.png
 
Thijs Moonen said:
Surely this can't be right? I exported to H.264 before.




3GB's? For 10 minutes of video? That's unreasonable.

Thanks for your feedback thought, I'll look into the Handbrake option and consider buying Compressor. Still, I don't understand how I suddenly get to twice the file size I had before. If anyone knows... suggestions are still welcome!
Click to expand...

FCP X does export as H.264, I have no idea if that guy was trying to say something else but in general it does NOT compress H.264 well in my opinion and you basically have no way of controlling the compression. As for my 3GB 10 minute video, when you output H.264 as I said it does not really compress so my video had a bit rate of 67mbps which is over kill for pretty much any video I'll ever make...12mbps with 1080p is what I usually like to stick to for Master copy's of videos that are more significant than others but the 10minute video I made was a mix of DSLR H.264 and some screen shots, raw photos, etc. Either way It'll end up getting compressed and down sampled from 1080p to 720p and the end file will be no more than 400MB's~ with no real loss of quality.
 
You can also use MPEG Streamclip to create a heavily compressed video file.
Click to expand...

Of course. Why didn't I think of that before!

Thanks for the feedback and comments everyone. It's always nice to learn new stuff.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back