How To Change Bitrate Premiere Pro (2024 Tutorial)

When you're just starting out with Adobe Premiere Pro, understanding how to select the correct video and audio bitrate can seem like a daunting task. However, it's crucial to ensure the quality of your exported videos. Let's break it down into simple steps.

February 5, 2024
How To Change Bitrate Premiere Pro (2024 Tutorial)
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Adobe Premiere Pro Change Bitrate Tutorial

Firstly, it's important to note that you should only upload Broadcast or Film Festival Grade Masters. To export, use only ProRes HQ or DNxHR HQ, and PCM audio. These are production codecs, and the bitrates are inherent to them. If you decide to export your video file in H.264 on Adobe Premiere, here's a step-by-step guide to select the correct video and audio Bitrate.

Step 1: Open The Export Window

After selecting your timeline, navigate to File > Export > Media or press Control+E (Windows) or Command (or Cmd) ⌘+E (macOS). This is where you'll begin the process of exporting your video.

Step 2: Select the Format and the Codec

Next, you'll need to select the format and the codec for your video. To do this, select Format > H264. After that, select Preset > Match Source - High Bitrate. These presets will guarantee the best video and audio quality, and are a good base if you're unsure about your video settings. Alternatively, you can also select High Quality 1080HD.

Step 3: Fine Tune Your Settings if Needed

Under the Video tab, all settings are selected by default to match the source video and timeline settings. If you need to change the resolution, frame rate, etc you can un-select and adjust. If you have a 4k timeline and want to export it in H.264, the bitrate must be ≥ 50 Mbps. As a safety measure since the bitrate is slightly variable, add 30% more just to be safe. This way for a 4k resolution you should export with 65 Mbps. If you want the best quality from H.264 you can select VBR, 2 pass. Always make your Maximum Bit Rate double the Target Bit Rate. In this case for a 4k Timeline of 50 Mbps for Target Bitrate, select 100 Mbps for the Maximum Bitrate. When you choose 2 pass, Premiere will run through your timeline twice to make sure that there are no corrupted frames and ensure that your export is clean.

Step 4: Select the correct Audio Bitrate

Under the Audio tab (for H.264) select AAC, the min. accepted is 128 kbps (stereo), but always select the best possible bitrate. In this case, select the 320 kbps bitrate.

Step 5: Choose Filename and Location

Click the blue filename to open the Save As dialog box. Use this to choose an export location and a name for your new file, and then click Save.

Step 6: Export Time!

Now you are all set to export your video, just click Export at the bottom. After the export finishes play the file to see if everything is ok and start uploading to Filmhub.

Pro Tip: Save a preset with your settings for future exports. This way you don't have to manually insert all the settings. It's the first icon next to the preset.

FAQ

How do I lower the bitrate in Premiere Pro?

Lowering the bitrate in Premiere Pro is a straightforward process. When you're ready to export your video, go to File > Export > Media. In the export settings, you'll find a section called 'Bitrate Settings'. Here, you can adjust the 'Target Bitrate' and 'Maximum Bitrate' sliders to lower the bitrate. Remember, a lower bitrate will result in a smaller file size, but it may also reduce the quality of your video.

What should my bitrate be Premiere Pro?

The ideal bitrate in Premiere Pro depends on the quality and resolution of your video. For instance, if you're exporting in H.264 format, a good starting point for a 1080p (Full HD) video is a target bitrate of around 10-12 Mbps. However, if you're working with 4K video, you might want to increase this to around 35-45 Mbps. Always remember to adjust based on your specific needs and the final platform where your video will be displayed.

What is a good bitrate for 1080p Premiere Pro?

For a 1080p video in Premiere Pro, a good bitrate would be between 10-12 Mbps for H.264 format. This ensures a balance between video quality and file size. However, if you're aiming for higher quality and don't mind a larger file size, you can increase the bitrate.

What is the best bitrate for 1080p 30fps premiere?

If you're exporting a 1080p video at 30 frames per second (fps) in Premiere Pro, a target bitrate of around 10 Mbps should provide good quality. However, if you're aiming for the highest quality, you might want to increase this to around 16 Mbps. Remember, the higher the bitrate, the larger the file size.

Is 6000 bitrate enough for 1080p 60fps?

A bitrate of 6000 Kbps (or 6 Mbps) could work for a 1080p 60fps video, but it might not provide the highest quality. For a video with these specifications, a higher bitrate, such as 12-15 Mbps, would likely offer better quality. However, keep in mind that a higher bitrate will result in a larger file size.