Ideal export settings

[Steve Lewis]

So I have been messing around with export settings and I just can't seem to find the perfect balance between quality and file-size. When I export from FCP as a MOV with 3000kbps, the quality just isn't as stellar as I would like: http://www.vimeo.com/1404536 But when I upload at a higher bitrate, say 5000kbps, the file size jumps, yet the quality doesn't seem to: http://www.vimeo.com/1276523 So, my question is, when my target destination is video sharing site, like vimeo or whatever, what are the settings you guys tend to rely on for exporting?
-STeve

[Noah Kadner]

well it also depends on frame size as well. There's always a trade-off between the two. I find H.264 gives the absolute best quality for online distribution. But yeah it takes a lot of tweaking to get just the right look. Sorenson Squeeze ain't cheap but it takes a lot of the guesswork out of this:

http://www.sorensonmedia.com/pages/?pageID=2

Noah

[James Brill]

Get the newest edition of Episode Pro (http://www.flip4mac.com/episode.htm) especially if you have a new mac pro. You will laugh about how much faster and better it is than compressor and sorenson squeeze. On top of that the presets are really good and the only tweaking would be frame size.

[Steve Lewis]

Originally Posted by James Brill

Get the newest edition of Episode Pro

I dont have $1000 to drop on more software, however i tried using compressor, and the quality is WAY BETTER! I had an H.264 MOV file that was 1280x720 @ 4Mbps rendered by QT Pro and the quality was lacking... then I made the exact same file from the same QT Ref File in Compressor and the quality skyrocketed and the file size only went up marginally (3Mb)
-Steve