Huge Encoded File Size

Report · May 05, 2017

First, let me say I am very, very, new to Adobe Primiere. So, please, forgive my ignorance and possible misuse or miscommunication.

I am cutting down interview videos for a clients summit. All that is required is taking the videos she did with her experts (recorded via Zoom and saved as mp4) cutting out mistakes or connection lost or just them chatting before the interview actually takes place. Then exporting it for use on Vimeo.

Example of one video

File size: 139 MB

Length: 36:18

Frame W: 1280

Frame H: 720

Frame rate: 25 f/s

Data rate: 482 kbps

Total bitrate: 536 kbps

Audio

Bitrate: 53kbps

Now, the exported video needs to have a smaller file size. All the preset encode options I am seeing (including the Vimeo option at the bottom, which even at the lowest resolution is 1349MB) are creating HUGE files. The video does not have to have amazing hollywood quality, just decent enough that its not blurry or grainy. I'd like there not to be any black border around the outside, but that isn't a must.

In short, in which format/encoding setting do I use to export this video at a 640x360 resolution at decent video quality, but more importantly, a smaller file size for web viewing?

Thank you for any help!

Report · May 05, 2017

All the preset encode options I am seeing (including the Vimeo option at the bottom, which even at the lowest resolution is 1349MB) are creating HUGE files.

presets are just presets. you can change the bitrate to suit your needs and see an estimation of the file size:

Report · May 05, 2017

I hate to say it but getting a 36 minute video down to the file size you're apparently trying to aim for is VERY hard (and still have it look ok). What file size are you actually targeting? 1.3GB for a 36 minute file is super small! Yes, you can downsize it to 360 lines of resolution, but this will noticeably impact it's quality. Roei start to give the right idea of how to control the file size a little more manually. If you want, read my article on bit rates, although it mostly focuses on full 1080 video. You'll have to adapt a couple things if you're choosing 360, but it teaches you how the math works!

Bits and Bytes: The Simple Math of Premiere Pro’s Exports — Video Review & Approval

Report · May 05, 2017

I think what I'm mostly not understanding is why I am taking a video with a 1280x720 resolution and 139MB file size, removing portions of it that is actually making the video smaller (not by much, but still smaller), and decreasing the resolution and somehow ending up with a file 10 times as large. I'm not adding any effects or anything.

Report · May 05, 2017

File size = bitrate x duration.

No other factors are relevant.

Report · May 08, 2017

Video compression is a VERY complex topic. Here's a slightly simplified metaphor that isn't perfect, but helps a bit: Picture your video as a glass of water full to the brim. The water represents the quality of your video. Every time you are "exporting" (i.e. re-encoding), you are taking that water and pouring it into a different container. Based upon the settings you choose, you may be pouring it into an equal size glass and therefore hopefully it won't lose too much water/quality aside from a few drops that might splash out. Or you might pour into a teeny tiny paper cup and lose a lot of the water. Or you could pour it into a large bucket. It's a bigger container but you're not getting any water i.e. quality. It sounds like you're dealing with an INCREDIBLY low quality compressed video in the first place. Your bitrate is .5 megabits per second (.5 Mbps). I got this number from your original post where it says the total bitrate is 536 kbps. This is a crazy low bit rate and might work for videos of slide shows but will look pretty rough for anything else. Most of the h.264 presets have bitrates that are 5-20 times that bitrate. But as Roei mentioned and my article mentions, you have control over this in the Export Settings window. Its all about the bitrate slider.

Be warned though, when you take a video that's already that low-quality and recompress it to an equally low quality, the results sometimes are noticeably worse!

Report · May 08, 2017

perturbedpeep wrote
... a smaller file size for web viewing?

If I'm understanding correctly, by "web viewing" it sounds like you want to publish it on Vimeo. If that's correct, you don't need to worry about making the video as small as possible. Your job is to encode the video to Vimeo's specifications (you can use the Vimeo export preset), and if that results in a large file for upload, that's OK...because that's not how viewers will receive the video. Like YouTube, Vimeo will adapt the outgoing bitrate it sends based on the connection it detects. Viewers on less capable Internet connections will receive a lower bitrate stream. So you don't have to worry about crunching down the video yourself except to the specs Vimeo requires for upload.

In short, when publishing on a site like Vimeo or YouTube, you should upload a good quality file that meets their requirements and let the site adapt the video quality as needed for each individual viewer. You don't need to agonize over creating the smallest possible file, because they've automated all that for you on their end.

Report · May 08, 2017

Conrad makes a good point. I think I was getting too lost in the weeds trying to answer the question but the MORE important question is... do you NEED the file to be small? Probably not if you're just uploading to video sharing sites.

Report · Jun 20, 2017

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Huge Encoded File Size