Encoding Profiles mystery

Since I wanted to figure out if the Auto setting in my Project is in fact the High setting, I rendered the same movie in both profiles. To my surprise the Auto setting resulted in a larger file (168 MB) than the High setting (165 MB). I would expect the High setting to produce the largest file?

Maybe Auto is using High 4:4:4?

Maybe Auto is using High 4:4:4?

Have never heard of. What is that?

That is the chroma sub sampling and comes in 4.2.0, 4.2.2, 4.4.4, and 4.4.4.4.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chroma_subsampling

That is the chroma sub sampling and comes in 4.2.0, 4.2.2, 4.4.4, and 4.4.4.4.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chroma_subsampling

Thanks Charles!

Maybe Auto is using High 4:4:4?

Could be like that since I'm using Chroma Key. Still would be interesting to know for sure but I guess the support are the only ones who know.

Since I wanted to figure out if the Auto setting in my Project is in fact the High setting,

Are you talking the h.264/265 encoder? This thing is basically completely undocumented by BM.

It is fine if you want to so something like a 60mbit export for YT. But if you want a good quality image at minimal file size, it is practically impossible in resolve.

The practice I recommend it to export DNxHR HQ (8bit) or HQX (10bit) and then use Handbrake to compress to H.265. This tool has proper support and documentation so you can get the settings you need. Shutter Encoder or FFMEG are all fine options as well (identical under the hood)

if you want a good quality image at minimal file size, it is practically impossible in resolve.

That depends on how you define "good quality".

Is the export being re-used for further editing? Is it for final delivery? To whom - cinema, broadcast, a local company, a bride and groom?

In my testing the following routinely gives results visually comparable to x264 at CQ 16, which is very good.

Best SDR.png (50.91 KiB) Viewed 544 times

In fact, when that export is brought back into Resolve and compared to the original BRAW, the difference is minimal, both visually and on scopes.

Careful with "Bypass re-emcode when possible". Some folks have recently reported problems when playing it back on other systems.

Since I wanted to figure out if the Auto setting in my Project is in fact the High setting,

Are you talking the h.264/265 encoder? This thing is basically completely undocumented by BM.

It is fine if you want to so something like a 60mbit export for YT. But if you want a good quality image at minimal file size, it is practically impossible in resolve.

The practice I recommend it to export DNxHR HQ (8bit) or HQX (10bit) and then use Handbrake to compress to H.265. This tool has proper support and documentation so you can get the settings you need. Shutter Encoder or FFMEG are all fine options as well (identical under the hood)

Thanks! However I think YT converts videos to H.264, which is the one I use by the way.

Thanks! However I think YT converts videos to H.264, which is the one I use by the way.

Always upload to YT at 4k, upscaling your footage if needed, so that YT uses the better VP1 codec.

Regardless of what settings you use, YT is going to recompress your footage, so no need try and match their codec.