Final Cut Pro 7

⚠️This article is intended for use with the legacy version of Final Cut Pro (from Final Cut Studio). For the latest version of Final Cut Pro X, please visit this article. 

If you're using Final Cut Pro 7 to edit your video, then you have two options for exporting your file. The first option is to send your video directly to Compressor, then adjust the compression settings there. Check out this tutorial to learn how to prepare your video using Compressor (note: only older versions of Compressor may be compatible with Final Cut Pro 7).

If you don't have Compressor installed, you can export the file directly from FCP7. Here are the instructions for doing so:

1. Highlight your final sequence.
2. If you're going to use Compressor, navigate to File > Send To > Compressor. Then, proceed with this tutorial. If you're not using Compressor, continue to step 3.
3. Navigate to File > Export > Using QuickTime Conversion... (Important! You must use the "Using QuickTime Conversion" option, not the "QuickTime Movie" option.)
4. In the "Save" window, select the following options:

   Save As	Give your exported file a name.
   Where	Select the desired destination location for your exported file.
   Format	MPEG-4
   Use	Default Settings

    
5. Click the "Options..." button.
6. In the MPEG-4 Export Settings window, select the following options:

   File Format	MP4

    
7. Under the Video tab, select the following options:

   Video Format	H.264
   Data Rate These data rates are suggested for average video files. If your video contains below average visual complexity (such as a slideshow presentation), choose a lower data rate. If your video contains above average visual complexity (such as a video with high levels of grain), increase the data rate. Remember: Lower data rates lead to smaller file sizes and faster uploads! Experiment to pick the lowest data rate that yields acceptable image quality.	1080p HD video: 10000 — 20000 kbits/sec 720p HD video: 5000 — 10000 kbits/sec SD video: 2000 — 5000 kbits/sec
   Optimized for	Download
   Image Size Vimeo uses some unique calculations to determine the available playback qualities for your video. Read More.	Choose your desired image size from the list. If your desired size is not listed, select "Custom" (then input the desired width and height). If you aren't sure which frame size to use, choose 1280 x 720 HD.
   Preserve aspect ratio using	If you're exporting using the same aspect ratio as your source footage (usually the case), leave this option unchecked. Check this option if you are exporting your file with an aspect ratio different from the source footage's original aspect ratio. (For example, if you're exporting a 4x3 video with a 16x9 aspect ratio.) Once checked, select "Letterbox." This will add black bars to the top, bottom, and/or sides of your image to fit it within the desired aspect ratio. These bars will be visible when viewing your video on Vimeo.
   Frame Rate There are some situations where you'll want to choose a frame rate different from the source: If your frame rate is higher than 60 FPS: Choose a factor of your frame rate that is between 15-60 FPS. For example, if your frame rate is 100 FPS, choose 60 FPS. If your frame rate is lower than 15 FPS: Choose a multiple of your frame rate that is between 15-30 FPS. For example, if your frame rate is 8 FPS, choose 16 FPS. If you upload a frame rate that is higher than 60 FPS or lower than 15 FPS, Vimeo will automatically adjust the frame rate for you — but we can't guarantee the results will always look as expected. It's best to do the conversion on your end prior to uploading.	Choose your desired frame rate (usually the same as your source frame rate, see note below) from the dropdown list. If you aren't sure which frame rate to use, chooses "Current."
   Key Frame	Automatic

    
8. Click the "Video Options..." button, then select the following options under H.264 Video Options:

   Restrict Profile(s) to	Uncheck all options.
   Encoding Mode	Best quality (Multi-pass)

    
9. Click "OK."
10. Under the "Video" tab, select the following options:

    Audio Format If your video has no accompanying audio, select None and skip ahead to step 11.	AAC-LC (Music)
    Data Rate	320 kbps (for stereo audio), 256 kbps (for mono audio). If you're not sure, select "320 kbps."
    Channels	Stereo (if your video contains 2-channel audio), or Mono (if your video contains 1-channel audio). If you're not sure, select "Stereo."
    Output Sample Rate	48.000 kHz
    Encoding Quality	Best

     
11. Under the "Streaming" tab, uncheck the "Enable streaming" option. You can skip the rest of the options under this tab.
12. Click "OK" at the bottom of the MPEG-4 Export Settings window.
13. Click "Save." The export process will begin. The time it takes to compress will vary depending on the size of your video.
14. View your finished, compressed file to make sure it looks and sounds correct — then upload it to Vimeo! Questions about uploading?