mp4 file quadruples in size after render, even on lowest settings

dan-m4869 wrote on 4/6/2021, 10:26 AM

Hello! I have an issue that seems to be common with Vegas Movie Studio Platinum 17.0, but none of the articles I found have helped me resolve it.

I use Movie Studio to edit recordings of Zoom meetings. Here's an example of what happens. A video is sent to me in MP4 format. The size of the file 1.2 GB. I add the video to my new project in Vegas and cut out several minutes of footage. When I render it I choose what I think is the lowest-quality .MP4 option there. However, my new video, which is now several minutes SHORTER than the original, is now over 10 GB!

So my question is this. Is there a way to render a video to the MP4 format in Vegas while retaining a file size close to the original? If there ISN'T a way, what format could I use that would give me comparable file size and be as common as MP4 files (so they are easily played on all devices)?

 

Thanks!

Comments

Former user wrote on 4/6/2021, 11:15 AM

File sizes are detemined by two things (format makes little difference). 1: Length of Show 2: Bit rate of final render. We need you to provide more specifics before we can help.

Musicvid wrote on 4/6/2021, 11:42 AM

Zoom has incredibly low bitrate, marginal at best. You will not improve on it, and any reasonable encoder settings in Vegas or another NLE will be larger, often much larger. Bitrate control over suboptimal source is not negotiable.

dan-m4869 wrote on 4/6/2021, 11:52 AM

Thanks for the quick response. So these are the render settings using the Internet HD 720p 25fps template.

Use this setting to create an MP4 (AVC/AAC) file for progressive internet downloads.
Audio: 192 Kbps, 48,000 Hz, 16 Bit, Stereo, AAC
Video: 25 fps, 1280x720 Progressive, YUV, 8 Mbps
Pixel Aspect Ratio: 1.000

Musicvid wrote on 4/6/2021, 12:29 PM

4 Mbps would be more than adequate, considering only 2 Mbps source from your Zoom source.

Preferred encoder in Vegas would be Sony, not MC AVC. In HOS or Voukoder, definitely x264.

That would cut your file size in half, or even more with x264 CRF..

dan-m4869 wrote on 4/6/2021, 12:34 PM

Great, I think this is the answer I'm looking for! So you're saying I should change the encoder and lower the bitrate? Would an average bitrate of 2 and a maximum of 4 be appropriate?

Musicvid wrote on 4/6/2021, 12:47 PM

It's worth a try, but crappy encoding in the original will stand out, as in my own tests.

Feel free to mark one of the responses as the Solution, if you wish.