Export & distribution questions from FCPX to the user

Each year I edit a local school show for my wife, but I stepped it up last year by doing a multicam shoot after learning about multicam clips, but I have a few problems I wondered if anyone has any good workflow advice. I'm sure I could do it better. I always end up with lots of masters as I trial and error to get the best solution.

1 it's hard to get it to export from FCPX to MP4 under 4gb. I need this as I distribute it via USB wrist bands for the kids. They love em! This was a great idea initially until I remembered the 4gb fat 32 limit. Exporting from FCPX is never easy to achieve the right size, I did create an MP4 option for Compressor but as the show is so long (2 hours) I end up having to play with bitrates to get it small enough. I worry I am ruining the quality.

I tend to do a main Master file then convert that to something smaller, via iMovie to MP4. This year I have tried splitting the movie in 2 halves (it has a break in the middle anyway) so that may help. But even those I can't get to lower than 4gb from FCPX without compromising on the size or quality. So I've had to use iMovie after the mov export.

I'm an audio guy not video but can bumble through FCPX ok enough, but I wondered has anyone some advice or workflow for 1 getting small MP4's from FCPX without losing too much & any other idea's on how to distribute the Video? I have to use fat32 so it's compatible. I tend to stick a hi res version online with a link for people to download. but at least this way they can take something home & plug it into a TV or computer & play it.

Apreciate any advice..

boomish wrote: … 4gb fat 32 limit. .. did create an MP4 option for Compressor but as the show is so long (2 hours) I end up having to play with bitrates to get it small enough. I worry I am ruining the quality....

comparison: a 2h DVD is ~ 4GBs ... in 720x480!

the 'knobs' to play with are
• resolution - fullHD is 1920x1080, try 1280x720
• framerate - 30fps, outside US it's 25, for talking heads 15fps would do fine
• bitrate - amount of data, high quality demands high bitrates ... low bitrates create 'blocks' (watch the shadows!)

cutting the show into two parts is an excellent step to mantain quality and keeping 4GB/h.

try in FCPX "Apple 720', in its options, switch from 'Apple device' to 'computer' to create an mp4 ....

if that doesn't work, you have to create in Compressor a 720 set with some lower bitrate, 6mbps, 2mbps ... depending on your content ...

And Welcome, Alan, to fcp.co

Deliverables are the constant bane of our existence!!

If I were you I would export from FCPX as Prores422HQ. Then take that file into Handbrake. Have it compress into an H.264 MP4. The reason I use Handbrake now is that Compressor doesn't give you the flexibility with compression styles (& it's free). Go with a low variable frame rate and use 2-pass encoding for better quality if slightly longer compression times. You can play with the bit rate slider during your testing until you get the best possible quality at your acceptable file size. For your show, start with around 5,000 bps and go down from there until it gets ugly.

Definitely use 1280x720 and 24fps to help keep it small.

Good luck!

---> Jarrod

Thats so helpful thanks for the replies Karsten & Jarrod, never thought about FPS! I was trying to use Compressor as I read it uses the GPU as well as the CPU. (I could be wrong) . I also looked at Handbrake as I know that program well but again I tend to stick with presets on that, thanks for the tips at least I know what to play with.
The edit I split into two halves I had to reduce them to below 4gb by transcoding again and it had awful aliasing (jagged edges) I'll try it now with these new idea's.

Thanks again..and the warm welcome, what a great forum!

Deliverables - yes the biggest pain..
Wouldn't it be great to have one drive format that took large file sizes everyone used! maybe streaming is the best option, I like people to take something physical away though..

boomish wrote: …
Wouldn't it be great to have one drive format that took large file sizes everyone used!...

a very generic format is exFAT - actual Windows versions support that out-of-the-box. Macs anyhow. Not so most 'smartTV' (=Android derivats) , they still rely on 200years old fat32.

When you're firm with Handbrake - x264, the re-engineered vers. of h.264 is known for better results with super-low bitrates ... but jagged edges sounds .. terrifying :woohoo:

split into 2x1h and resize to 720 ....

boomish wrote: ...maybe streaming is the best option, I like people to take something physical away though..

Even USB sticks are increasingly difficult to read since many people's only computing device is a phone or tablet.

You can stream it and make a decorative, glossy gift card with artwork and a QR code and URL to the web-based video. That way the viewers receive a tangible physical item, yet you're not limited by physical distribution.

If you use Vimeo you can optionally provide users the ability to download the video file at a resolution you define.

joema wrote:

boomish wrote: ...maybe streaming is the best option, I like people to take something physical away though..

Even USB sticks are increasingly difficult to read since many people's only computing device is a phone or tablet.

You can stream it and make a decorative, glossy gift card with artwork and a QR code and URL to the web-based video. That way the viewers receive a tangible physical item, yet you're not limited by physical distribution.

If you use Vimeo you can optionally provide users the ability to download the video file at a resolution you define.

Thats a genius idea! I was planning on doing some QR code stuff for the pupils this year, thanks so much. The school raises a tiny bit of money doing it so it's important I feel to have something good and tangible. This would solve both as they could have the card at the time and get the video as son as it goes online. We do have a private school Vimeo account So I might be able to use that.
Thanks again...thats made my day..oh gosh no more copying onto the USB's thats going to save loads of time. Mind you the kids like funky wrist bracelets I get made, 16gb is a bit over the top for a Yearbook PDF and a Vimeo link:) So maybe I'll keep putting on a low res version but now with an online HD option, I do that anyway but not with QR codes.

boomish wrote: ...Thats a genius idea! I was planning on doing some QR code stuff for the pupils this year, thanks so much.

In case you don't already have a procedure, the following article describes how to use Google to create your own QR codes:

lifehacker.com/5511793/make-qr-codes-in-a-jiffy-with-googl

For the highest-quality user experience you might prefer the video to play by itself without ads. This is possible with Vimeo Pro, and they also have "Portfolios" so you can create customized web pages and framing for the video without any programming.

Another advantage is they supply a fixed video URL which allows updating your video without changing the URL. This comes in handy if changes are needed after the URL and QR code is distributed.

Unfortunately Vimeo Pro is $199 a year. Maybe others will mention different options.

vimeo.com/professionals