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blaasvaer
Participant
September 26, 2017
Question

Screencast size explode when cut down and exported from Premiere Pro?

  • September 26, 2017
  • 2 replies
  • 522 views

I've recorded a screen cast from QuickTime Player that is 02:43 min. long and has a file size of 33.4 MB.

Now, I've imported it into PP CC and trimmed it to 01:23 min., exported it, and now the file size is 477,4 MB ... WTF!?

Yeah, I know this has to do with the output settings one selects. I've tried them all ... believe me.

But why is it, that in 2017 I cannot export a screen cast back out in the same compression format, that makes sense in relation to input size getting equally lower when actually cutting large parts of the movie away!?

Or put in another way; how do I not increase the file size on such a simple project (what settings do I use)?

    This topic has been closed for replies.

    2 replies

    E
    excited_Genie16B8
    Legend
    September 26, 2017

    File size = bitrate x duration.

    To get a smaller file, you need to reduce the bitrate, create a shorter program, or both.

    You've done the latter.  Now you need to do the former.

    Richard van den Boogaard
    Community Expert
    Richard van den BoogaardCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    September 26, 2017

    Can you please provide us details of the codec you've chosen? Please share a few screen shots...

    B
    blaasvaerAuthor
    Participant
    September 26, 2017

    Now, this is the input:

    And no matter WHAT settings I choose in the output I get nowhere near the file size I use as input. Now QuickTime Player must have some special version of the H.264 codec used for screen recordings. And the claim that file size = bitrate * duration simply cannot be accurate.

    If QT Player can record with compressions like this (it's a toy), why can't PP CC not come anywhere close?

    B
    blaasvaerAuthor
    Participant
    September 27, 2017

    the claim that file size = bitrate * duration simply cannot be accurate.

    Think about it.

    What it a file made of?  What is "bitrate"?


    I think the problem lies within the fact that a screen recording (depending of what you're recording of course), in my case a programming one (which in sense means high contrast, very little pixel shifts, very few colors), is that when PP compress it, it doesn't see it as kind of GIF like, and apply some JPEG like compression to it.

    Now, if you open up a GIF in Photoshop, and choose GIF when you export it again, nothing is really added to the file size (if you match the output with the input), as Photoshop can actually SEE a GIF. Whereas if you export the GIF using JPEG, the file size explode, and on top of that basically ruin the image as well, as those crispy sharp pixels are now a total blur.

    And my guess is, that this is EXACTLY what i happening when PP exports a screen recording ... otherwise it wouldn't be a problem.

    I simply cannot understand how you can import a file the size of 33,4 MB and not find a setting that can export it again to the exact same size, if you haven't even touched the damn thing (that is, made ANY edits or CHANGES AT ALL, apart from simply importing it)?

    I've put the actual movie in question here (it's a video trying to show an issue with a library I try to use, so no Hollywood stuff here ; ) ): http://blaasvaer.dk/fractal.mov

    Just to show what material where talking about here ... it's 2:43 min, and 33.425.992 bytes (33,4 MB on disk).

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