Export issue: Trying to retain lossless quality while keeping same raw filesize (Is it possible?)

Sorry it took so long on replying back and had a feeling someone would point out that I used the term raw instead of source.. Although, at the end of the day that still doesn't help the question at hand.

@Mike Dziennik - Shutter Encoder seems like a good alternative when it comes to cutting footage outside of Adobe, only downside I edit/export modified audio within the footage as well, it wouldn't be a straight cut from the original file in most cases.

@Averdahl - There is something I should mention. Everything I've showed in those screenshots isn't the normal settings I use to render my usual videos, most options that are checked or selected are there to see if anyone mentions anything different. I run Maximum Bit/Render quailty off, Software encode and Key Frame Distance to 30 already.

I've attempted almost everything you've mentioned inside Adobe software before making this thread like Maximum Bit Depth/Render Quailty, Hardware vs Software encoding, Key Frame Distances and every codec Adobe gives you straight out of their software. It's been a multiple year guessing game when I think about exporting full length videos or small video clips.

I was wondering when someone would mention any sort of plugin to enhance exports. I've heard of TMPG but never tried the trial version until now and notice a great improvement over normal H.264. I've heard about the original H.264 isn't great to begin with and plugins can pull better quailty in most cases.

Now the question is what settings can increase it further if I kept using the TMPG plugin? The quailty between source and TMPG export is great while keeping around same filesize.

I would skip Maximum Bit Depth and Maximum Render Quality and switch the Hardware Encoding to Software Encoding and lastly under Advanced Settings change the Key Frame Distance from 72 to 60 or even 30.

• Maximum Bit Depth and Maximum Render Quality do not create the best quality in all situations.
• Hardware Encoding do always look worse than Software Encoding.
• Key Frame Distance at a lower value creates more I-frames = Better quality.

ProRes 4444 is really overkill for your needs, go for ProRes LT. The file will be less large but can be uploaded directly to YouTube and that will give you great results but longer upload times. But yes, larger files and it demands a fast internet connection.

Or, get a better encoder such as TMPGEnc Movie Plug-in AVC for Premiere Pro that will give you x.264. There is a free 14-day trial with no watermarks available: TMPGEnc Movie Plug-in AVC for Premiere Pro. This plug-in will let you export directly from the timeline the way you do today.

I personally use TMPGEnc Movie Plug-in AVC for Premiere Pro for all my encodes to .mp4/Blu-ray, etc.

And yes, as @Ann Bens says, you shouldn't use the term 'Raw' as this implies a method of storing unprocessed data coming off the image sensor of a camera. The term is widely misused to denote 'source' files - which in your case comes from a screen-recording type scenario so there is no 'raw' image data.

RAW footage is something entirely different.

Unfortunately H.264 will never give you lossless quality.

Smart rendering in Premiere Pro

H.264 is pretty much always going to give you this issue, even at high bit rates as it will be creating new keyframes in different places from the source.

You might want to take a look at Shutter Encoder and use the 'Cut without re-encoding' function. It will only let you cut on keyframes so it might not trim to exactly the frame you choose but it won't do any re-encoding so it will be fast.