How to Upscale and Export Video from HD to 4K in Final Cut Pro X

[@DionMedia]

Thank you for watching, let me know if you have any questions! For more, be sure to checkout: How to Create and Export a Transparent Watermark PNG Image in FCPX kzbin.info/www/bejne/i4Tad4ychqx0fck

[@joelsonJCA]

the minecraft icon on the dock adds the best detail

[@vinyleyezz]

Just what I needed! Straight forward and to the point! thank you!

[@DionMedia]

Glad the video helped! Thank you for your comment!

[@JasonCramer]

I am really unclear about this procedure - whether it really "upscales" the image quality. It seems like it would merely give it a larger file size, but leave the image quality the same. Real upscaling would involve doing some kind of image enhancement like for example when you perform ML Super Resolution in Pixelmator Pro on a static image. Now that PmP can work with video, I tried it with one, but it doesn't seem to have any affect on it whatsoever. Maybe in a later version they'll add this ability.

[@JasonCramer]

I tried your process and it didn't seem to have any affect on image quality other than the sharpness and color which I could do with just 1080p. I saw an option in FCP to export every frame of a video, which one could theoretically ML Super Res all of them in PmP then re-stitch them together as a video, but that seems like an insane amount of work when one could probably achieve a similar result with some kind of actual video upscaling software.

[@devmyself]

Thank you so much for this comprehensive guide on upscaling to 4K. Cheer!

[@DionMedia]

Glad the video helped! :)

[@rapaent]

Thank you for this awesome tutorial! I shoot mainly in 4K 60fps and 30fps. I have some 1080p footage that I would like to use with my 4K. Please correct me if I'm wrong. Simply upscale the 1080 as shown to 4K > render > export to a file then drop it in a 4K project/timeline and I'll be good to go to mix both? Also, in regards to mixing 4K frame rates, what would you suggest? Thanks again. 👍😊.

[@msfotostudioo]

I was looking for such a video!

[@DionMedia]

Glad you found it:)

[@kahundedoreen]

Thank you soo much 🙏🏽🤍

[@DionMedia]

Hi Kahunde, my pleasure!

[@Criminalfitness]

WOW best tutorial on this that I have found. So concise, and in laymen's terms thank you so much for keeping it clear concise but with lots of substance thank you! HUGE help as now I can create 4K content without uploading massive files!

[@DionMedia]

Thank you very much for your kind words! I am glad to hear the video helped! :)

[@onemoretimetexas]

Thank you for this valuable advice. This technique will achieve our objectives: use the HD format for its smaller file size, and allow KZbin viewers the best results. Thanks also for your well organized and presented material.

[@DionMedia]

Very glad to hear the video helped! Thank you for your encouraging feedback!

[@jyrmaine]

Thank you soooo very much! This was so informative and straight to the point!!!! You saved my vlogs!!!! -Jyrmaine

[@DionMedia]

Good to hear. good luck with your vlogs!

[@MayurMahapatraFilms]

Bro.. I just subscribed.. very nice content.. I am Final Cut Pro user and want to learn from your channel. 🤟🤟

[@DionMedia]

Thank you very much! Glad to hear :)

[@TheMentalHealthToolbox]

Thanks! Cant wait to give it a try when my new M1max comes MacBook Pro arrives in a couple weeks

[@DionMedia]

Exciting!

[@TheMentalHealthToolbox]

@@DionMedia indeed 😁

[@Samlol23_drrich]

That was great. Short, sweet, and to the point. Subscribed. Thank you.

[@DionMedia]

Thank you very much, glad the video helped!

[@alicegoldenvalley]

Lekker helder! Dankjewel! ✨👌🏼🎄

[@DionMedia]

Hi Alice, graag gedaan. Dutch roots?

[@patricksanderson3062]

Hi, thanks for the video. That is really interesting. I've just got a new camera that shoots in 4K. Unfortunately my old MacBook struggles with the footage when I open it in a 4K project in Final Cut. I don't have any problems if I drop the footage in a 1080p project. Can I put the footage in a 1080p project then export it in 4K at the end? I hope that makes sense.... Cheers

[@DionMedia]

Hi Patrick, thanks for your comment. Unfortunately there is currently no way to directly export a 1080p timeline in 4k in FCP. My suggestion would be to fully edit the project in a 1080p timeline (less heavy on the computer), then once it is complete, copy/paste the clips/media into a 4k timeline to export in 4k. Let me know if you have any questions.

[@patricksanderson3062]

@@DionMedia That's a great idea. I have been trying proxy's, but your idea sounds better. Thanks

[@twistedducati6895]

Thank you for this very helpful information! I wasn't able to drag my project down into the new 4k timeline because it was crossed out, but I was able to "Duplicate Project As" from a right click of the original project and then selected 4k from my options. Once that was done, I saw the timeline start the render and I was good to go! Must be due to some changes with the latest version of the software, but your solution got me on the right track.

[@LucyLeheilleix]

Very helpful video. Thanks very much :)

[@DionMedia]

Thank you! Glad to hear! :)

[@alanrodoficial]

Nice thx for this vid man.Did you shoot this video and if you did what camera and lens are you using?

[@DionMedia]

Thank you very much! I shot that video using a GH4 with a 12-35mm 2.8 lens and a Ronin M. Still a great camera, even today!

[@PeterMossUkulele]

Hi. - Thanks for creating this video. I am a newbie to FCPX and wanting to create in 1080p then upscale to 4K before exporting to KZbin. I followed you up to around 03:00 and your rendering to 4K. You highlighted some dots above the clip. Did FCPX then Auto render the clip to 4K OR did you manually select render somewhere and not film that part. Thanks, Peter.

[@DionMedia]

Hi Peter, thank you for your comment. Correct, at the 03:00 minute mark my project is rendering. If you have auto render on this will occur automatically. However, I have auto render off, therefore in order to render the project manually you have to go to: Modify ---> Render All. Or you can use the keyboard shortcut like I did in the video: Control+Shift+R.

[@PeterMossUkulele]

@@DionMedia Perfect - much appreciated. Peter. 👍

[@LanzaroteShowcase]

OP is not entirely correct about the timeline rendering. It makes no difference to the final output. It does, however, make for a smoother playback while editing. Every time you make a change such as colour correcting etc the dots will return and will have to be rendered again. A better option is to make proxies, edit with those, don't bother rendering, and switch back to full-res before your final output.

[@inazumashines]

@@DionMediathank u

[@tikitaka8650]

Thanks! it helps a lot!

[@DionMedia]

Glad to hear that!

[@CadenceFilmsInc]

Thanks, I just got a new Mac and forgot how to set this part up.

[@FreeTimeSpacken]

erstmal danke digga! Lohnt es sich direkt in dem format zu schneiden etc? also wenn ich mit hd material ankomme und es dann in das Projekt lade. oder erst hd schnitt dann rendern und dan nochmal da rein?

[@Wellington.Gonzalez]

Hell Of a job video editing is, I'll make sure to charge good money cuz not every person has the machines we have

[@emichew]

this helped so much! Thank you!!!

[@asmrlon7966]

Excellent explanation. Thank you

[@DionMedia]

You are welcome!

[@OleksandrBanashko]

Thanks man

[@DionMedia]

Glad to help!

[@Jazzbeau]

So very helpful! Thanks!

[@DionMedia]

Glad it was helpful!

[@Minus20Design]

Excellent video. When upscaling does it improve quality to start with full frame footage and a higher frame rate like 120 p and then change it to 24 p or 30 p when you upscale to 4K?

[@DionMedia]

Hi Nigel, thanks for your comment and feedback! Frame rate will not impact the video's quality. My suggestion would be to film in 24 or 30 fps, as higher frame rates (though good for slow motion) will create darker looking footage.

[@dr.dmitry.sokolov]

Hi Dion! Many thanks for your tutorial! Question: can I download a HD FCPX template from MotionArray and then use it in my 4K project?

[@DionMedia]

Yes you can, but you will see a drop in quality.

[@dr.dmitry.sokolov]

@@DionMedia Many thanks for your reply!

[@dr.dmitry.sokolov]

@@DionMedia On that note: if I use HD template from MA in 4K FCPX clip, then export and upload to YT as 4K, but view in 1080p - would that drop in quality be sensed at all? (I am just planning to use 4K as default for my YT FCPX projects so that upon uploading to YT they get compressed with the better codec and look better in FHD, than FHD uploaded to YT per se)

[@anphiibian5013]

Gr8 video, straight to the point

[@DionMedia]

Thank you!

[@gustavfrankecinematography]

Great video, except when I started renderning the new project, my library size started blowing up. Filled up 20 gigs in like 30 seconds. What's that about? And how do you upscale without your library expanding in size like that? It's normally 100mb or less big since I leave files in place when importing.

[@DionMedia]

Hi Gustav, thanks for your feedback! In regards to library size, rendering in 4k will definitely take up more space than with lower resolutions. My advice would be to clear your render files after rendering and exporting, to regain some of this lost storage. I have a separate tutorial linked here which shows how to do this :) - kzbin.info/www/bejne/opTJlJV3p6angas

[@kamalneet]

very helpful

[@DionMedia]

Glad to hear that

[@knkogaming]

Do we need to wait all the 1st render (upscaling-blue dots to dissapear) to export? please i need a answer.

[@praisetinungki]

Do you have to wait for it to render before creating a master file of it?

[@DionMedia]

Hi, there is no need to render before exporting. However some say that the export may take a bit longer if the project is not rendered first.

[@JohnLe]

Hi, should I edit my whole project (1080P) files in a 4K timeline, or edit everything in 1080P timeline then put the finished project in a 4K timeline like you did?

[@DionMedia]

Hi John, thanks for your question. Ultimately both options will work, in my video I started in a 1080p timeline for demonstrative purposes. However it would be easier to import directly into a 4K timeline, as this saves a step. Let me know if you have any questions

[@JohnLe]

@@DionMedia gotcha. I did not know if editing in a 1080P timeline then upscale the finished project would be easier for the machine to handle. Unless compression from first export ruins the quality of the video. A follow up question - an unedited timeline (no layers) 30 mins project is estimated to be 32GB ... that's too big even on H.264. are my settings off?

[@DionMedia]

​@@JohnLe Thanks John, correct, as you pointed out, every time you export a video (unless lossless) there will be some compression, leading to loss of quality. Therefore I would either edit in a 1080P timeline, then copy/paste into a 4K timeline to export, or my suggestion would be to directly edit and export in 4K. I can't say for sure what the difference is in terms of impact on computer processing power, but this likely wont be too significant. As for your second question, 32GB for a presumably 4K 30 min timeline in H.264 does seem a bit high. Though I recommend exporting it first to see what the final file size is once complete, as I find Final Cut tends to overestimate the file size.

[@JohnLe]

@@DionMedia thank you for your help!

[@vidsbyjeremy7902]

Would you have to do the same thing if you Mixed 1080p with 4K in editing to Render it to still be 4K? (if that makes sense)

[@iphonemtl]

Hi, I have a question for you. A few years ago, I filmed for my vacations with my iPhone 6S in 1080p. If I use this method, does the quality will look that good that if I had enable the 4k option at the time ?

[@DionMedia]

Hi, upscaling will optimize it for higher resolution display. When uploading it on online it will give a higher bit rate, giving the impression that it is higher quality (but look at the video again where I explain this in detail)

[@ghosttactique]

little question. When I export a video in 4K and publish it on youtube, it publishes it in 1080P60 instead of 4K. How can I fix this

[@juanlujano4895]

Thanks for sharing!

[@DionMedia]

Hi Juan, thank you, as they say: sharing is caring :-)

[@adamjohnzon]

Thank you for this. My biggest question is... do you have to edit in a 4K timeline ? Or can you edit in a 1080p time line then upscale after?

[@DionMedia]

Hi Adam, thanks for your comment! To my knowledge you do have to edit in a 4K timeline in order to upscale and export in 4K. However you can choose to export the 4K timeline to 1080p, just not the other way around. If you are looking to save storage/processing power, you can also edit your project using proxy media while still editing in a 4K timeline. Hope that answers your question.

[@adamjohnzon]

DionVideoProductions yes that helped. I kinda figured that was the only work around seems how you can’t make any adjustments when exporting. Thank you for the help and response!

[@RMappy-oe4nr]

But does using pro res 422 still look better??

[@Zc_films_il]

Thank you!

[@DionMedia]

Glad the video helped!

[@OMNIFICPICTURES]

how do you export somethings to 300dpi?

[@rithvikm.s4543]

Amazing!

[@HaterGonnaHate]

This is what im thinking about: Bitrate! Exported 1080 shooted in 1080 looks much noisy than same expoted in 4k. But where to customize bitrate separatly from resolution? Do you know what number fcpx uses for default (default export bitrate /) ?

[@DionMedia]

Hi AD, unfortunately FCP does not have the option to independent change the bit rate. One thing you could do try is to use “export in progress or unpressed format” to maximize the quality of the video. Hopefully this will work, but take in mind these formats take up a lot of storage

[@HaterGonnaHate]

@@DionMedia i found solution! Settings can be changed via Compressor than it shows in FCPX

[@VictoriosoCH]

In changing to H264 does it change the quality of the video somehow? I am afraid not to destroy something with the footage :)

[@DionMedia]

It will depend on what export setting you are coming from. Compared to for example ProRess 422, H.264 will preserve the vast majority of the video quality, while providing a much smaller file size. If you are uploading to the web or viewing on a phone/computer, the difference in quality is very small.

[@VictoriosoCH]

@@DionMedia upload to youtube. So basically it will worth to go to H264.

[@DionMedia]

@@VictoriosoCH Exactly :) that is how I upload my KZbin videos too, takes much less long to upload also!

[@VictoriosoCH]

@@DionMedia thank you for your time. If you will have time take a look at my YT Channel Victorioso Reviews. :)

[@northislandnow8858]

Use H.265 instead if you have the option. Its slower, however your gaining so much more for KZbin. Best to export using Apples Compressor program instead of Final Cut.

[@alexandernegretefilms]

So if I’m understanding correctly, if I’m shooting my 1080 video on say a Canon EOS RP I can upscale it to 4k in final cut? As you said, it won’t be the same as shooting natively but This sounds like a good method for me as a beginner with a more budget camera. The EOS RP can shoot 4k but obviously have that weird crop, however if I was to shoot in 1080 it sounds like my problem would be solved in the editing room

[@DionMedia]

Thanks for your comment. That is all correct! Upscaling is the best way to avoid the crop and still have footage that is technically 4K 👍

[@madanmohanGopaji143]

Hello ,I have a doubt,My clients ask me 4k in Mp4 format,Recently i worked on wedding proj in 1080p, My question to you is,Can i convert 1080p Mov to 4k Mp4 Format (h.265).

[@DionMedia]

Hi, thank you for your patience, it is possible to convert an already exported HD project to 4K. To do this, import the HD project into a 4K timeline (like a normal clip, as shown in the video), then export that 4K timeline. Let me know if you have any questions!

[@computeranalyst5737]

I want to upscale from 360p to 720p. Will this give a decent result ? Or do I need to use AI for that ? If you can give some guidance on how to get better results for lower resolution videos.

[@DionMedia]

Hi, that is a good question. This will depend on whether this is video shot in 360p or video that is downloaded in 360p. If you have video shot in 360p my suggestion would be to upscale to 720p and export in Pro Res for better quality (but will also mean larger file size). On the other hand, if you have video that is downloaded in 360p, upscaling will make little real-world difference. This is where an AI enhancer of sorts may be something to look into.

[@computeranalyst5737]

​@@DionMedia Thank you for the explanation. Actually, I have some downloaded animated tv shows in low resolution that I want to convert it into full HD. So, I assumed that Cut Pro X could do that stuff to convert them to best quality without AI. Moreover, I'm trying to use Video Enhance AI. The results are excellent as it's almost to full HD quality but it's taking a lot of processing time for the frame conversions using the AMD Radeon Pro 5500M GPU on my Mac. Any last suggestion for this ?

[@neohulk20]

YT upload limit is 256GB I have no issues with internet and size. So, can I go with 4444Q as long as the file size is

[@eoedits5277]

Hi I followed all your steps but for some reason it won’t export to 4K as I don’t see the dotted lines anymore and there’s no master file option please help

[@Shayler78]

I was editing 4K footage in a 4K timeline in FCPX, which was making my system slow down when using plugins such as MFilmLook, MTitle, Film Convert Nitrate, & Neat Video, so I modified 4K timeline to 1080, now all the audio is gone, footage is silent - even the volume gauge bar has no sound indicator. Any ideas what happened to my audio and how to resolve this issue, other than modifying 1080 timeline back to 4k? Thanks.

[@deputyvanhalen6386]

Does this use A.I. to upscale, remaster HD to 4K at 60FPS? Is this better or something called "Topaz"?!

[@LanzaroteShowcase]

No, it does not. Topaz is a pro upscaling plugin that does actually do what the OP is claiming. There is a lot of misinformation in this video, judging by the comments I think a lot of inexperienced creators are now mistakenly thinking they are making 4K videos...

[@deputyvanhalen6386]

@@LanzaroteShowcase it's a shame that all movies aren't 4k remastered movies in 60fps.

[@sonnislimm]

What if the video doesn’t render? The dots are just sitting there🤷🏿‍♂️

[@DionMedia]

Hi Koheles, thanks for your comment. Yes, if you turn off auto render the project will not render until you do so manually. However when exporting, regardless of whether the project is rendered or not, Final Cut Pro will then still render the project. That way the project will look at it's best once exported.

[@busninessman123]

What should I do if my 1080p videos look choppy in 4K even after exporting. I’ve checked the frame rates and they match. The only way I notice that makes it a little better is if I double the frame rate of my project.

[@scrow9]

Why don't you just export from your 1080p project but then in your export settings select 4K as the output resolution?

[@DionMedia]

Hi Steve, thanks for your question. Unfortunately that is not possible, although I think it should be. The resolution options for exporting a timeline only go up to the same resolution as the original timeline. Which is why the timeline first has to be upscale to 4K allowing you to export as 4K. Hope that helps!

[@scrow9]

@@DionMedia yep never noticed that before

[@sdutango]

I'm sorry but what's the point? I mean why not just edit whatever file you have and export whatever resolution you want. Does this improve the image quality? As far as I know it won't magically improve the image quality but to increase the size only.

[@shootcutdeliver]

But don’t you loose resolution by upscaling

[@DionMedia]

Hi, thanks for your comment. Technically you do not loose resolution by upscaling. A 1080p video upscaled to 4K, will still be 1080p, however will not be true 4K.

[@Musicbox187]

Is the Quality of the Video better from 1080p to 4K

[@DionMedia]

Hi, depends a bit on how you define quality, but yes, it will increase the resolution of the video significantly and thus in a certain way the quality

[@caseyhallwild]

My new 4K project keeps coming up blank after I create new project in 4K 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@virtualcurbappeal8637]

Unfortunately this did not work for me. I followed directions but when I upload to youtube the quality is as terrible as ever.

[@seanrawlinson]

Title is a bit misleading. This won't improve the quality of the original video. All this does is makes it 4K so that it tricks KZbin into showing it in higher quality.

[@Shayler78]

I was editing 4K footage in a 4K timeline in FCPX, which was making my system slow down when using plugins such as MFilmLook, MTitle, Film Convert Nitrate, & Neat Video, so I modified 4K timeline to 1080, now all the audio is gone, footage is silent - even the volume gauge bar has no sound indicator. Any ideas what happened to my audio and how to resolve this issue, other than modifying 1080 timeline back to 4k? Thanks.