Problems of Uploading Final Cut Pro X to YouTube

November 19, 2013 6:31 pm / Posted by Ian Lam to Video Conversion

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Recently, I've been asked a lot from some editors with the problems of directly uploading files to YouTube from Final Cut Pro X. In response to them, I did some research and found that the problems were resulted from Google.

In early April 2013, Google has newly adjusted its APIs which control uploading files to YouTube. The changes set barriers to all automated upload systems, including Final Cut Pro, and thus one cannot upload files to YouTube from anywhere except Web Browsers. However, later on April 19, Google again changed the APIs back to the original settings, which means one can upload FCPX to YouTube like they did before. Just expect Google to leave things alone for a longer while!

On a related test a few days ago about uploading XAVC files from FCPX to Vimeo and DVD burning, I found the settings have not changed in FCP X 10.0.8, so they should still work.

However, my personal preference and recommendation is to handle sharing videos from FCPX to YouTube in 3 steps:

1. Export a Master File: "File > Share > Master file". This could be the fastest way to export files with the highest quality.

2. View the Master File to make sure it looks and plays great.

3. Compress, or convert the Master File: the Master File needs using a Compressor or a Mac Video Converter.

Of course, this process requires a few more extra steps, but I'm quite sure that the results will be consistently with higher quality and most reliable. It is also the fastest way to upload FCPX to YouTube.