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Tip #561: Optimize Compression Settings for YouTube

… for Codecs & Media

Tip #561: Optimize Compression Settings for YouTube

Larry Jordan – LarryJordan.com

In most compression software, the optimal settings are not the default.

Video compression bitrates for YouTube for SDR media.

Topic $TipTopic

Here are settings you can use to optimize audio and video compression for YouTube. (These are based on published settings from YouTube, a link to which is below.)

Container: MP4

Video codec: H.264

  • Progressive (deinterlace interlaced media)
  • High Profile
  • Closed GOP
  • Variable bit rate
  • Chroma subsampling: 4:2:0

Audio codec: AAC-LC (AAC if no LC choice is available)

  • Bit rate: 384 Kbps stereo / 128 Kbps mono

Frame rate: The frame rate you shot. Do NOT convert frame rates.

Bit rate: See screen shot for table.

If given the choice:

  • Turn off mulitpass compression if your hardware is more recent than 2015.
  • Turn on Frame Reordering
  • Turn off Add clean aperture information

NOTE: These settings differ from the YouTube default settings in Apple Compressor.

EXTRA CREDIT

Here’s the link to YouTube’s Support Site with more details.


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2 replies
  1. Bill Rabkin
    Bill Rabkin says:

    Any chance you could give us Tips on how to achieve these settings in popular video editing and compression apps?

    Thanks!

    Reply

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