What are the actual best video, sequence & export settings for Instagram?

[rentals_5564]

I've seen a lot of articles discussing the best video, sequence & export settings to get that crystal clear resolution on Instagram, but none of them are consistent with each other lol. If I'm shooting video on an iPhone 13 or newer, is 4k at 30fps best? 4k at 60fps? or 1080 at 30fps? Should I be shooting HDR? It gives that weird bright look that also dims the screen which I don't like at all.

What about the format? Most compatible? And then in terms of the sequence settings in premiere....I'm assuming 1080x1920? Do the sequence settings have to match the settings of the video I recorded? Or can they be slightly different?

In terms of the export I get totally lost, I need to learn more about bit-rate anyway, but for codec I've heard adaptive medium bitrate at H.264 is best, but I'm not sure. What about CBR/VBR? Are the aspect ratios for stories and posts different? Do I need to shoot with a specific camera to get that better-than-eyesight look? What about using slow motion? 

TIA for reading all of my questions I know it's a lot...just want to make sure I get this right.

[R Neil Haugen]

It always depends on what the image is made of. So there's not one over-all setting.

If you have relatively little motion of either the camera or subject matter, then a lower bitrate can work fine. If you have much in the way of motion, a higher bitrate and different export settings may be needed.

Most of the 'socials' seem to have different uploading basics depending on country of origin or individual upload speeds or  ... something. As the same settings one place that work aren't as good for another user.

Tell us about your media, the image that is, and then 'we' can suggest starting points to test.

[Averdahl · Accepted solution]

This document should answer some of your questions: The best Instagram video format (adobe.com)

For export it says "Change the format to MPEG4 at the top of the panel." but set the Format to H.264 instaed. Its basically the very same thing but MPEG4 has a ton more parameters to change, so its easy to get lost there. I would use 1080x1920 for the sequence settings. But it seems that you can use many different video sizes so maybe more than one setting is the way to go. The video size can be different but then you have to scale the footage to fit. If you dont like the look of HDR, skip it.

Regarding VBR/CBR i always choose CBR since VBR tend to look a tad worse and sometimes very much more worse.

For the rest, you have to decide if you need a specific camera, depending on the look you want. The same goes for slow motion. If you want it, use it. If you dont want it, skip it. Nothing is right or wrong.

With all different video sizes it seems that one has to decide beforehand what one want to upload and do many tests until one find what suits best.

More links:

Reel size & aspect ratios on Instagram | Instagram Help Center

The Complete Instagram Video Size Guide for 2024 ( +6 Tools ) (influencermarketinghub.com)

The Complete Guide to Social Media Video Specs in 2024 (hootsuite.com)

Guide to Instagram Video Size for 2024 (socialpilot.co)

[rentals_5564]

Thank you!

[minecraft_9355]

To get the best video quality for Instagram, here’s a concise guide based on your questions:

1. Shooting Settings:

   • For iPhone 13 or newer, shoot in 4K at 30fps for most cases. Use 1080p at 30fps if you need smaller file sizes.
   • Avoid HDR if you don’t like its look—stick to SDR.
   • Use slow motion sparingly, but 1080p at 120fps or 240fps works well for this.

2. Sequence Settings in Premiere Pro:

   • Set your sequence resolution to 1080x1920 for vertical content or 1920x1080 for horizontal.
   • Sequence settings don’t have to match your footage exactly but keep the aspect ratio consistent.

3. Export Settings:

   • Use H.264 codec with an MP4 format.
   • Bitrate: Choose VBR (2-pass) for better quality control.
     • Set the target bitrate to 8 Mbps for 1080p or 12-15 Mbps for 4K.
   • Aspect ratios:
     • Stories/Reels: 9:16 (1080x1920).
     • Posts: 1:1 (1080x1080) or 4:5 (1080x1350).

4. Final Tips:

   • Maintain high-quality lighting and avoid heavy compression during editing.
   • For more resources on video settings, check out helpful guides like those on Honista APK's website.

This setup should give you sharp, high-quality results optimized for Instagram.

[save_9146]

Hey rentals_5564,

Great questions! Instagram can be tricky with video settings, but here’s a clear breakdown to help you get the best quality:

Best Recording Settings (iPhone 13 & Newer)

• Resolution: 4K at 30fps (best balance of quality and smoothness)
• Alternative: 1080p at 30fps (if you want to save space or upload faster)
• HDR: Avoid it—Instagram doesn’t handle HDR well and can make colors look off. Stick to Standard Dynamic Range (SDR).
• Slow Motion: Record at 120fps or 240fps, but export at 30fps for smooth playback.

rentals_5564
Sequence Settings (Premiere Pro)

• Resolution: 1080x1920 (Vertical for Stories/Reels) or 1080x1350 (for Feed posts)
• Frame Rate: Match your recorded video (30fps if shot at 30fps)
• Aspect Ratios:
  • Stories & Reels: 9:16 (1080x1920)
  • Feed Posts: 4:5 (1080x1350)

Best Export Settings (Premiere Pro)

• Format: H.264
• Preset: Match Source – High Bitrate
• Bitrate Encoding: VBR, 2 Pass (better quality, smaller file size)
  • Target Bitrate: 6-10 Mbps (1080p), 10-20 Mbps (4K)
• Audio: AAC, 48kHz, 320kbps

Instagram compresses everything, so even high-quality videos might lose some sharpness. The key is shooting in the highest quality possible and exporting with the right settings.

For more expert video editing tips and tools, check out this website . Hope this helps!  Let me know if you need more details!