Export Settings for best (highest bitrate) as per source file

[Cyberfyber]

Hi, still a relative neubie with Premiere. Multi-fold question here.

I've got these 4k MP4 10 bit files which I know are at and about 150 Mbps.

In dealing with the export settings I see the following:

When exporting as H.264

• For Preset 'High Quality 2160p 4k'
  I get Target as: 80 Mbps  and   Max: 96 Mbps
  Why not 150?
  • Is it up to me to then change the bitrate within the settings below that to a target befitting that which I believe the original to be at?
• 'Use Maximum Render Quality'
  • I see mention at one online source that I may benefit from this if:
    ""Your source media has a higher bit depth than the format you are outputting to""
    • Soooo, considering how unsure I am about the target bitrate I should be using...IF I know that the original source' bitrate was about 150 Mbps and I target for say, 100 or 125. Is it highly recommended I check this one off?

I ask the above for the sake of rendering the highest quality for stock footage but at the same time, being able to keep down the rendering times.

Thanks humbly in advance.

[R Neil Haugen]

"Max Render Quality" is primarily of use when you are doing significant resizing, either from say 4k to 1080 or 1080 to 720.  It can help especially in smoothing "jaggies" on diagonal lines.

H.264 is a very high compression interframe format. It uses only a complete compressed frame every 9-30 frames, and in between a simple data matrix of the pixels that have changed since the last complete I-frame, will change before the next I-frame, or both.

It's best use is a camera format when much data needs to get to disc fast or delivery format especially for web use.

What is the format/codec of your original media? What format/codec does the stock agency you are considering recommend?

Neil

[Cyberfyber]

https://forums.adobe.com/people/R+Neil+Haugen  wrote

What is the format/codec of your original media? What format/codec does the stock agency you are considering recommend?

Neil

Hi and thanks for the reply.

The accepted formats are H.264 as MP4 or MOV   and, ProRes as MOV

My source files are at h.264, MP4

[Ann Bens]

Cyberfyber  wrote

• 'Use Maximum Render Quality'
  • I see mention at one online source that I may benefit from this if:
    ""Your source media has a higher bit depth than the format you are outputting to""
    • Soooo, considering how unsure I am about the target bitrate I should be using...IF I know that the original source' bitrate was about 150 Mbps and I target for say, 100 or 125. Is it highly recommended I check this one off?

Bitdepth is different from bitrate.

[Cyberfyber]

https://forums.adobe.com/people/Ann+Bens  wrote

Bitdepth is different from bitrate.

Thanks for the clarification.

I'm learning.

[Ann Bens]

Export depends on what you are going to do with the file: archive, disk, thumbdrive, Youtube...?

[R Neil Haugen]

He's talking about submission for stock.

If I'm paying for stock I'm wanting something like ProRes 422 or better. But then, starting from long-GOP media anyway ... huh.

Which stock service are they contemplating may I ask? Pros, prosumer, what's the end market? That would help.

Neil

[Ann Bens]

Ah stock footage : you will have to ask the company that will handle the footage. They all have their own technical requirements.

[Cyberfyber]

Ann, my concern isn't about what the company wants. That I know.

My originating question centered around Premiere Pro and my making the best of what it offers.

[R Neil Haugen]

I guess I'm still not understanding your concern.

You stated you needed an export setting, and those are always dependent on the needs for the deliverable.

And in the details, mentioned it is for submission to a stock agency.

Therefore ... the appropriate export for that deliverable is the one that best fits the requirements of the stock agency.

For a different use, the appropriate format/codec would probably be very different. As stated, one exports for the specific need.

Neil

[Cyberfyber]

https://forums.adobe.com/people/R+Neil+Haugen  wrote

I guess I'm still not understanding your concern.

Someone already answered the Maximum Render Quality portion of my question to some extent.

The other portion dealt with the bitrate and why was it showing 96 as maximum instead of the original 150Mbps for the source file.

Simply wanted to see if I were missing out on something with my understanding of Premiere.

Admittedly, I could've detailed why I mentioned the stock agency portion. It was in anticipation for anyone wondering why I'm bothering shooting at 150Mbps. Been down that road other times when you mention something like, I'm shooting at such and such settings, then folks begin to chime in as to why are you bothering with such settings?

Shudder to think of the response if I mentioned the 400 Mbps 10 bit clip I just tested it out which Surprise! Renders tons faster than the one mentioned above. Although, it's got a huge file size. lol.

[Cyberfyber]

https://forums.adobe.com/people/R+Neil+Haugen  wrote

Neil

'and thank you most kindly Neil and the others for trying to help. I DO appreciate it since every interaction with you folks helps me in my learning process. ❤️

[R Neil Haugen]

We're all happy to help. Work's gotta get done, you know?

The "Max Render Q" and "Max Bit Depth" options so puzzle people. Both are needed in certain situations, not in others. Occasionally, they can gritch an export, when they weren't needed to begin with. And don't do actually what people expect.

And bit rates for exports ... that's an entire encyclopedia volume there to explain!

Even the exporting ... concepts. Sometimes it's useful to export a high-Q master, that you then simply bring up in MediaEncoder when you need a deliverable, and use the settings you need for that deliverable. Sometimes it's just easier to re-open the project, select the final or master sequence, and do an export or queue-to-Me process. Without ever creating that Master file for the project.

It all ... depends.

As to shooting at high Mbps, well ... these days ... that's getting pretty normal. That BMPCC4K I've got puts out some pretty massive files, but then ... you can practically bend them back on themselves without banding or artifacts, and yea, for stock, they'd be pretty sweet.

I should probably buy stock in hard-drive/SSD factories. Forty minutes of shooting and I've got what, 195 GB produced? Sheesh ...

Neil

[Cyberfyber]

https://forums.adobe.com/people/R+Neil+Haugen  wrote

That BMPCC4K I've got puts out some pretty massive files, but then ... you can practically bend them back on themselves without banding or artifacts, and yea, for stock, they'd be pretty sweet.

I should probably buy stock in hard-drive/SSD factories. Forty minutes of shooting and I've got what, 195 GB produced? Sheesh ...

Neil

Speaking of which (Black Magic), learning up right now on Davinci. Although, unfortunately, the free version won't handle 10 bit files...'and the 'supposed' workaround of converting files into ProRes might defeat the purpose with the time taken (not sure).

'and yup, looking into adding yet another hard drive to my collection. Not that I would seriously consider doing ALL-I 400Mbps for all my upcoming work...but then again. For that, just over 1 minute amounted to 3.5 gigs.

[R Neil Haugen]

There are some things I'll do in Resolve, had the $299 version before getting the BMPCC4K. Toolbox for color is wide and deep, but I much prefer editing in Premiere.

BM so throttles down a Tangent Elements panel .... grrr ... so for most of my work I can use Lumetri without having to change apps and do a lot ... fast.

I've got the Elements mapped way out through other functions on Premiere so it even speeds editing. That and an Orbweaver Chroma set for macros to accomplish multiple key-short steps with one tap.

They're tools. Just tools.

Neil

[Cyberfyber]

https://forums.adobe.com/people/R+Neil+Haugen  wrote

They're tools. Just tools.

Neil

Neil, if I could trouble you over one thing...my original question.

Right now, I'm seeing it. When I set for the following when exporting:

h.264

High Quality 4k

Bitrate Encoding: CBR

I keep getting 80 as the Target Bitrate despite the source being 150.

Is that normal?

Thereafter, I've been then adjusting it to 150.

[R Neil Haugen]

Yea, it's just what the preset was set to. Presets are only suggestedstarting points. Set things as you need them, then save your own presets.

Neil

[Cyberfyber]

Thx again Neil.

Enjoy the weekend.