Exporting for Different Platforms
You spent hours getting that sunset shot looking perfect. The colors are smooth, the highlights are holding, the shadows have detail. Then you export it, upload to Instagram, and it looks like it was filmed through a dirty window.
That is compression destroying your work. And it happens because you used the wrong export settings.
Every platform compresses video differently. They all have their own rules about resolution, frame rate, codec, and bitrate. If you do not play by those rules, your grade gets smashed. Here is how to export properly for each major destination.
The Golden Rule: Export a Master First
Before you make any platform-specific exports, create a master file. This is your archival copy, the source of truth for everything else.
A master file preserves your work at the highest possible quality. If a platform changes its specs next year, you can re-export from the master without going back to your timeline.
For your master: export in ProRes 422 HQ or DNxHR HQ at your timeline’s original resolution. This file will be large, but storage is cheap and regrading is expensive.
YouTube
YouTube is fairly forgiving, but you still need to get the basics right.
Codec: H.264 or H.265 (HEVC). Either works.
Resolution: 4K preferred. YouTube compresses 1080p more aggressively, so uploading in 4K actually makes your 1080p viewers get a better stream.
Frame rate: 24fps or 30fps. Match your source footage. Do not convert 24fps to 30fps.
Bitrate: For 4K, aim for 40-60 Mbps. Resolve’s default H.264 settings often export too low. Go into the video tab and manually set the bitrate.
Color space: Rec.709 for standard dynamic range.
YouTube’s compression is variable bitrate based on motion. Fast-moving drone flights get compressed harder than static shots. That 40-60 Mbps target gives you headroom so the algorithm does not crush your footage during intense parts.
Instagram Reels
Instagram is brutal. The compression is aggressive, and the vertical format means fewer pixels.
Aspect ratio: 9:16 for Reels, or 4:5 for feed posts. Export with these aspect ratios baked in.
Resolution: 1080p. Instagram downscales anything higher.
Duration: Max 60 seconds for Reels.
Codec: H.264.
Bitrate: Go higher than you think. Aim for 15-20 Mbps for 1080p. Instagram compresses it anyway, so start with the best possible source.
TikTok
TikTok specs are nearly identical to Instagram Reels: 9:16, 1080p, H.264, under 60 seconds. You can push bitrate to 20-25 Mbps since TikTok handles slightly higher bitrates without choking on uploads.
Stock Footage
Stock is a completely different game. You are exporting for buyers who will use your footage in their own projects.
Quality: Maximum. ProRes 422 HQ or DNxHR HQ. No exceptions.
Resolution: Original resolution. If you shot in 5.3K, export in 5.3K.
Color grading: NONE. Buyers want clean, neutral footage they can grade themselves. If you add a creative grade, you eliminate 90% of potential buyers.
This is the most common mistake new stock contributors make. You are selling raw material, not a finished product. Export with basic corrections (white balance, exposure) but no creative grading.
Quick Reference
| Platform | Codec | Resolution | Bitrate | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Master | ProRes 422 HQ | Original | N/A | Archive copy |
| YouTube | H.264/H.265 | 4K | 40-60 Mbps | Rec.709 for SDR |
| H.264 | 1080p | 15-20 Mbps | 9:16 or 4:5 | |
| TikTok | H.264 | 1080p | 20-25 Mbps | 9:16 |
| Stock | ProRes 422 HQ | Original | N/A | No grading |
Export once, check how it looks after upload, then adjust. Every platform updates their compression algorithms periodically, so stay flexible.