What YouTube settings are the best for your videos? Different media sites have different requirements and guidelines regarding the size and format of your post. Before posting your videos on YouTube, look for their specific suggestions for uploading. While making your video, keep in mind the size and quality that will be best for YouTube while following the guidelines. Here are the suggested export settings for your videos.
1) Aspect ratio should be 16:9 with a minimum resolution of 1920x1080
You want your videos to be the best for your audience. YouTube is formatted to show videos in the traditional aspect ratio of 16:9. This is the typical "wide screen" format that you would watch a movie in. The resolution refers to how many pixels are in the frame. YouTube suggest a resolution of at least 1920x1080 (or Full HD). We suggest exporting it in the same size that you filmed it.
2) Video codec should be H.264 to give you a .mp4 file
YouTube suggests that your video codec be H.264, giving you a .mp4 file. H.264 is more advanced compression methods, which allows the video file to stay small while still retaining high quality. Use your video editing software, such as Premiere or Final Cut, to export your video in the right compression settings.
3) Bitrate should be a minimum of 8 Mbps for 1080p, or 35 Mbps for 4k
A video consumes a large amount of data. Bitrate is the amount of video data transferred in a certain amount of time. Without a high bitrate, your video resolution and frame rate won't look too good. Export your YouTube videos at a minimum of 8Mbps for a 1080p video (or 35Mbps for 4K video) for the best quality while keeping your file at reasonable size.
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