Videos exporting to much smaller file size

[nytebyrd13]

I imported a video that is 3.06 GB shot in 1920 x 1080. All I did was make a few adjustments with color and lighting. When I go to export I choose Match Source, format H.264, make sure frame rate, size etc is the same but the estimated file size is only 621 MB. Even when I increase the bitrate the largest my file size gets is 1618 MB. What am I doing wrong? Why isn't my exported video the same as the original (3.06 GB) or higher?

[Warren Heaton]

The Match Source option matches the video settings (frame size, scan method, frame rate) and audio settings (sample rate, bit depth, and use), but not the compression type.

If you were using an editing CODEC like ProRes for the source and the export, you would get the results you're looking for with matching (or very close to matching) file size.

[nytebyrd13]

So is it because I shot it in H.264 and I am exporting in H.264 that the file is smaller? Because the edit is compressed? The only thing different I notice in the original file and the export is the bit rate. My originals have high bit rates but I don't have the option to export at the same higher bit rates. Or is that irrelevant? 

[Ann Bens]

File size = duration x bitrate.

Exported files do not need to be of the same bitrate or filesize as the original.

Post screenshot export settings and clip info using MediaInfo in treeview.

[nytebyrd13]

These are the original file properties

[nytebyrd13]

These are the export settings (some of them, sorry I don't have Mediainfo)

80 KB??!  How does a 3.06 GB file turn into 80 KB without trimming?

[Ann Bens]

MediaInfo    very usefull app

Set bitrate to at least 30.

[nytebyrd13]

I will get it, especially if I am going to keep needing help with this! Even when I increase the bitrate to 50 my file size is still in KB. For a 3 GB video? I'm lost...

[Ann Bens]

Forget about the filesize.

make sure you export the entire sequence and not just in to out (screenshot shows 1 frame).

[nytebyrd13]

oh goodness, you are right. This was just one frame in the screenshot. That explains the 80 KB. But when I first asked this question it was because my export file size was about 621 MB with the settings matching the source. The original video file is 3.06 GB.  The only difference I could find was the bitrate.  But even with that at 50 Mbps the file size was about half of the 3.06 GB original. I will attach  new screenshots.

Anyway, I appreciate everyone's help.  I am new to digital editing... I learned on film years ago and decided to give this a try. I am confused already haha

[nytebyrd13]

This is with the bitrate at 19 Mbps

[nytebyrd13]

This is when I change it to 50 Mbps. But file size is still only half the original source.  I'm getting the impression this is normal and also that I don't need to have it set to 50 Mbps. I guess I will export it and play it back on the largest screen I can find and see if I notice a difference in quality

[nytebyrd13]

Ok Ann I got MediaInfo 🙂  Here are screenshots of the clip info after exporting

[Ann Bens]

Looks fine to me.

Remember, software does not use the exact same compression as your camera does, even though its H.264.

[Warren Heaton · Accepted solution]

It might be irrelevent.

Is the file that you are exporting for delivery to YouTube or social media (or anywhere else a finished movie file is likely to be used where the intended audience is viewing it)?  Then, yes, it is irrelevant as the exported file is expected to be smaller than high bitrate source footage.

Is the file that you are exporting to be used as source?  Then, no, it is not irrelevant as the exported file needs to be high bitrate to hold up well to further editing.

With H264, it's common for source footage (like a camera orignal file, for example) to be 50, 100, or 200 mbits per second while a delivery file might be 5, 10, or 40 mbits per second.  As such, the delivery file will be smaller.

[nytebyrd13]

Ok thank you for explaining it that way. You made it much easier to understand what is happening.No, my exported file does not need further editing. I see so many questions about the exported file size being so much LARGER than the original, I was confused as to why mine was so much smaller. I am not editing a bunch of clips together, I am just making adjustments on one video - a live music recording, no crazy lighting at the show. Just some people playing guitars and singing. 

So should I still export with the max bitrate allowed? I think it goes to 50 with CBR set. 

[Warren Heaton]

When an MP4 file with a variable frame rate is used as source (common for screen recording), this can result in a larger file when exported.

 50 mbits/sec CBR is probably fine, but it may be too much.

 Do you happen to have recommended settings for delivery to refer to?  Knowing our delivery setting requirements is how to best inform our choices for source footage settings and edit settings.

[nytebyrd13]

I'm not delivering it to anyone. These are just my personal videos that I am trying to touch up and maybe upload to YouTube. 

[nytebyrd13]

My camera settings are FHD - 29.97 and 100 Mbps. Should I change these?

[Ann Bens]

You can leave the camera settings as is or if possible set framerate to 59.94.

For personal archiving I would use Prores.

Makes huge files but visual lossless.

[Peru Bob]

Does the exported file have the desired quality?

[nytebyrd13]

I tried to compare side by side and it seems that the exported file has lower quality than the original. It isn't a terrible difference but I do see it.