FCP Export is always lower quality than original, help?

After searching for hours and hours multiple times I've decided to post here.

I've exported from FCP multiple times with different settings, whether it be H.264 or PNG or uncompressed I always feel my end result is worse quality than my original .mov file.

I usually transcode to Apple Prores 422 HQ, edit in FCP, then export but I always get the same result. Regardless of the file size of my export (from 100mb to 40GB today) the video is worse quality than my original files.

I did notice when I exported in Uncompressed 10bit the quality is much better, although my video is squeezed into a square.

I'm shooting with a 7D at 24p.

File -> Export using Quicktime Conversion and select Export to Quicktime Movie (.mov) -- settings I use (for 1080p Youtube) are below

i was having the same problem. thanks for the help

I've used those exact settings and get some quality issues. For some reason the text stutters at the beginning as well on both vimeo and youtube.

Example: http://vimeo.com/18414​049

Also, just a tip.

You're doing yourself no favors by using ProRes HQ. Use LT, instead, the HDSLRs don't put out enough of a bitrate to support HQ yet (in my experience)

I'll look into my export setup and see if I come across any answers as well. Are you guys using FCP 6 or 7?

Ambrose wrote in post #11672104
I've used those exact settings and get some quality issues. For some reason the text stutters at the beginning as well on both vimeo and youtube.

Example: http://vimeo.com/18414​049

make sure check "Prepare for Internet Streaming" and select Fast Start.

Looking at your blinking text, that doesn't appear to have anything to do with your export settings, but rather whatever text generator you used. It looks like maybe you used LiveType and had a fade-in, and then copy/pasted it a bunch of times so that the fade in got duplicated?
Also, be careful using copyritten music on the internet without the rights to do so.

Also, Have you thought about using Compressor to prepare a file instead? When we've uploaded files to youtube or vimeo they've always gone through compressor first as I have a preset saved with the optimal Youtube HD / Vimeo settings.

agphotography wrote in post #11672737
Also, Have you thought about using Compressor to prepare a file instead? When we've uploaded files to youtube or vimeo they've always gone through compressor first as I have a preset saved with the optimal Youtube HD / Vimeo settings.

I like using compressor when it's like, put one version to youtube, one to dvd, one to streaming size for flash, etc. etc. but if it's just going to one final format (eg youtube) it's just as simple to use Export Using QuickTime or whatever it's called.

I am having the same issue with Final Cut Express, have had several one to one with the head Final cut specialist and the same issue has always come up. It has come to the point I am starting to export the video through Imovie once it is done (only publishing at 720p then).

Honestly it has been a huge let down.

I used the same settings as the guy earlier recommended.

What is the issue you are having, as I don't see it.

Chippy569 wrote in post #11677994
What is the issue you are having, as I don't see it.

When the file is exporting the size is at like 450x280 or something ridiculously small. I then go in quick time conversion and change the size (back to 1920x1080) and have the same settings as listed above in the thread and the quality only comes out on youtube to 480 and looks like crap....

So I have been exporting through Imovie and it only puts it out at 720hd which sucks....

9 times out of 10 no one on youtube will notice between 1080 and 720, and many people with not-so-fast internet prefer the 720 or 480 just for the faster load times. Just food for thought.

But you must be doing something wrong because those are the exact settings I use to get 1080 on youtube.

Chippy569 wrote in post #11679160
9 times out of 10 no one on youtube will notice between 1080 and 720, and many people with not-so-fast internet prefer the 720 or 480 just for the faster load times. Just food for thought.

But you must be doing something wrong because those are the exact settings I use to get 1080 on youtube.

I have done it myself and with the chief editor consultant at the Apple store I go to (like 7 people in house that teach final cut and I worked with the so called Guru, lol)

KyletheVideographer wrote in post #11678222
When the file is exporting the size is at like 450x280 or something ridiculously small.

This is probably the "Compressor Native" setting, which is by default the size of your viewer window.

Are you waiting until Youtube finishes processing? It usually takes an hour or two after the upload has finished for the processing to also finish. Before then, your video will be available but at a very small bitrate so it looks trashy. If it hasn't finished processing, it will put a green bar above the video window that says "This movie is still processing" or whatever.

Ambrose wrote in post #11672104
I've used those exact settings and get some quality issues. For some reason the text stutters at the beginning as well on both vimeo and youtube.

Example: http://vimeo.com/18414​049

Hey, I dug your video up on Youtube as well to have a look. http://www.youtube.com​/watch?v=vZObwEOJFco -- looks pretty interesting to say the least!

Just out of curiosity, do you have the original file on your computer still? If so, try playing it with Quicktime (or whatever media player you have) -- is the text stutter in the original file? I suspect not because Vimeo and Youtube have acted differently.

These weird glitches that usually occur in the first ~10 seconds are usually caused either by not selecting "Prepare for Fast Start" or by having the wrong container. Double-check that you are exporting to Quicktime Movie (.mov) and that you are using H.264 compression.