Long export times with Compressor on SDR to HDR Conversion

Hi everyone,

First of all thanks a lot for allowing me to be a part of this community. This is my first post. I recently got a M1 Mac mini 16 gb and also got the Final cut pro paid version. I tried to convert a SDR file from DJI Pocket 2 (4k 24p) to HDR (wide colour HLG). I increased the luminance from 100 to 1000 which gave me good results but the export takes a lot of time. I am using Compressor and it took me one hour to export a 3 minute clip. I used Apple 4K Devices 10 bit setting to Export in Compressor.
Please can someone throw some light as to why it takes so much time ?
Also Compressor limits the bitrate to only 50kbps which is quite low as compared to other softwares I have used. Is there a way of increasing the bitrate ? Many thanks 

Why are you converting SDR to HDR? For what purpose? It doesn't add data to the image.

Hi Ben, I am doing this to increase the dynamic range and surprise surprise the video i s detected as a HDR video on youtube and looks great too. I think it is a decent way of making footage from DJI pocket 2, which is a SDR Footage to HDR and some content creators are doing this.
I also use Iphone 12 footage which is HLG to export HDR Videos but still the Compressor takes ages to export. Average time is 1 hour for a 3 minute clip. Please let me know if anymore detail is needed and if I am doing something wrong

You can't add image data to a file that doesn't exist, so I am very suspicious if you're really improving the quality of your video. I'd have to see a side-by-side.

As for export time, a lot could be going on here. What are your Mac's specs? How much titles and effects and such are you using in this three minute clip? HDR does take a long time to export, it's a lot more data.

You may have increased the luminance and perhaps that accounts for it looking better, and YouTube treats it as HDR since you exported it that way. However it most likely is still SDR. You'll be able to tell by playing it back on a standard rec 709 monitor. If it was HDR wide gamut then those luminance levels on a rec 709 display would surely be blown out beyond recognition. Viewing on a wide gamut display (or thru FCP with tone mapping enabled in a wide gamut project would make it look normal). The Pocket 2 will actually record HDR in 2.7K but not 4K, so maybe try exporting some footage actually recorded in HDR and test your export. It should not normally take the time you are seeing unless you are using a really underpowered computer.

Hi Ben, I will try and get a screenshot tomorrow for both files. Also my specs are Mac Mini M1 optimised for Final Cut with 16gb of RAM. My biggest disappointment is that Lumafusion (which is an IOS based software) can render quicker than FCP. I think it might be that I am not using the latest version which I will check tonight.

Hey, thanks for your reply. I fully understand what you are saying with the SDR to HDR conversion. I have both monitors so will give that a try. Also DJIs HDR is not really HDR for some reason. If you analyse the footage with Mediainfo, it is shot in Rec 709 8 bit colour space and also not detected as HDR when uploaded on youtube so some youtubers have recommended using d cinelike profile on DJI Pocket 2 and then converting it HDR. Also I am using a mac mini 16gb so the specs are decent. I will have uninstall reinstall the software maybe