Adobe Premiere is a popular video editing program, and can be used to prepare your video for upload to Vimeo. Please follow these instructions when exporting your file:

1. Highlight your final sequence and go to File > Export > Media…
2. Under Export Settings, select the following options:

   Match Sequence Settings	Unchecked
   Format	H.264
   Preset	Custom
   Comments	Leave blank
   Output Name	Click the output name to edit output filename and destination (if desired).
   Export Video	Checked
   Export Audio	Checked (if audio is present in your video).

    
3. Under the Effects tab, select the following options:

   Lumetri Look / LUT	Unchecked
   Imagine Overlay	Unchecked
   Name Overlay	Unchecked
   Timecode Overlay	Unchecked

    
4. Under the Video tab, click the button that says Match Source. This should set your export to match your original source video's settings.
5. Check the following settings and make any necessary adjustments (note: you can edit any of these settings by unchecking the box to the right of each setting):
    

   Basic Video Settings
   Width / Height Vimeo uses some unique calculations to determine how your video should be displayed. Please take note of the following: Will my video play in 720p HD on Vimeo? Videos with a frame size area equal to or larger than 700x700 (499,000 pixels square) are considered "720p HD" by Vimeo. Your video will need to have a frame area of at least 700x700 in order for your video to generate an HD version. Will my video play in 1080p on Vimeo?* To generate a "1080p HD" version on Vimeo, the minimum dimension must be at least 1080px or the maximum dimension must be at least 1920px. For example, 1920x1080 is considered "1080p," but 1280x720 is not. *All 1080p source videos are automatically converted to 720p upon uploading to Vimeo. Plus and PRO users have the option to upgrade their videos to 1080p, but only if your source file qualifies as 1080p. Read more.	Choose your source file's original width and height. If you wish to export your video at a smaller frame size, edit these values. If you aren't sure, leave them as-is.
   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 30 FPS: Choose a factor of your frame rate that is between 15-30 FPS. For example, if your frame rate is 50 FPS, choose 25 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 30 FPS or lower than 15 FPS, Vimeo will automatically adjust the frame rate for you — but we can't guarantee the results will be as expected. It's best to do the conversion on your end prior to uploading.	Choose your source file's original frame rate. (This should be the default value if you clicked Match Source.)
   Field Order	Progressive
   Aspect	Square Pixels (1.0)
   TV Standard	Leave as-is.
   Profile	For HD footage, choose High. For SD footage, choose Main.
   Level	4.1
   Render at Maximum Depth	Checked

    

   Bitrate Settings
   Bitrate Encoding Choosing "VBR, 1 pass" will speed up your export, at the cost of some quality. Never choose CBR.	VBR, 2 pass
   Target Bitrate [Mbps] These target bitrates are suggested for average video files. If your video contains below average visual complexity (such as a slideshow presentation), choose a lower target bitrate. If your video contains above average visual complexity (such as a video with high levels of grain), increase the target bitrate. Remember: Lower data rates lead to smaller file sizes and faster uploads! Experiment to pick the lowest data rate that yields acceptable image quality.	720p HD video: 4 — 10 Mbps 1080p HD video: 10 — 20 Mbps SD video: 2 — 5 Mbps
   Maximum Bitrate (Mbps) These maximum bitrates are suggested for average video files. If your video contains below average visual complexity (such as a slideshow presentation), choose a lower maximum bitrate. If your video contains above average visual complexity (such as a video with high levels of grain), increase the maximum bitrate. Remember: Lower data rates lead to smaller file sizes and faster uploads! Experiment to pick the lowest data rate that yields acceptable image quality.	720p HD video: 4 — 10 Mbps 1080p HD video: 10 — 20 Mbps SD video: 2 — 5 Mbps

    

   Advanced Settings
   Key Frame Distance	Unchecked

   ​ 
6. Under the Audio tab, select the following options:
    

   Audio Format Settings
   Audio Format	AAC

    

   Basic Audio Settings
   Audio Codec	AAC
   Sample Rate	48000 Hz
   Channels	Stereo
   Parametric Stereo	Unchecked
   Audio Quality	High

    

   Bitrate Settings
   Bitrate [kbps]	320

    

   Advanced Settings
   Precedence	Sample Rate

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

   Basic Settings
   Multiplexer	MP4
   Stream Compatibility	Standard

    
8. You can ignore all the settings under the Captions tab.
9. You can ignore all the settings under the FTP tab. If you are interested in uploading via FTP, check out our FAQ.
10. At the bottom of the export menu, select the following options:

    User Maximum Render Quality	Checked
    Use Frame Blending	Unchecked
    Use Previews	Checked
    Import into project	Unchecked

     
11. Note the Estimated File Size and make sure you have adequate quota space to upload this video. Basic users are limited to 500MB per week, Plus users are limited to 5GB per week, and PRO users are limited to 20GB per week. You can check how much quota space you have remaining here.
12. Double-check all your settings, then click Export. The export process will begin.
13. View your finished, compressed file to make sure it looks and sounds correct — then upload it to Vimeo! Questions about uploading?

The best way to compress your video using FCP X is to send the file to Compressor, then adjust the compression settings there. (Compressor can be purchased from the Mac App Store.) Compressor gives much more fine-grained control over your video’s export settings than FCP X alone.

If you don’t have Compressor, you can export the file directly from FCP X, but you’ll have less control over the settings, and your video might not be optimized for uploading to Vimeo.

If you choose to export your video directly from FCP X, you may want to use a free program like Handbrake or MPEG Streamclip to further tweak your compression settings to optimize your video for Vimeo.

Please use the following instructions when transcoding your video with FCP X:

1. Highlight your final sequence.
2. Go to File > Share to Compressor...
3. If you're using Compressor 4.x, read this tutorial for further instructions. If you're using Compressor 3.5, read this tutorial.

1. Go to File > Share > Add Destination...
2. In the Destinations menu, select Add Destination, then double-click Export File.
3. Select the following options:

   Format	Video and Audio
   Video codec	H.264
   Include chapter markers	Unchecked

    
4. You can name this Destination by double-clicking on it in the sidebar and typing in the new name (for example: "Vimeo Export").
5. Leave the Destinations menu. Highlight your final sequence.
6. Go to File > Share > Export File... (or select the name you gave your Destination).
7. The export will begin. You can track its progress in FCPX's center module.
8. Recommended: Once the export is complete, use Handbrake or MPEG Streamclip to tweak compression settings prior to uploading to Vimeo.
9. View your finished, compressed file to make sure it looks and sounds correct — then upload it to Vimeo! Questions about uploading?

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.

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 folowing 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.	720p HD video: 5000 — 10000 kbits/sec 1080p HD video: 10000 — 20000 bits/sec SD video: 2000 — 5000 kbits/sec
   Optimized for	Download
   Image Size Vimeo uses some unique calculations to determine how your video should be displayed. Please take note of the following: Will my video play in 720p HD on Vimeo? Videos with a frame size area equal to or larger than 700x700 (499,000 pixels square) are considered "720p HD" by Vimeo. Your video will need to have a frame area of at least 700x700 in order for your video to generate an HD version. Will my video play in 1080p on Vimeo?* To generate a "1080p HD" version on Vimeo, the minimum dimension must be at least 1080px or the maximum dimension must be at least 1920px. For example, 1920x1080 is considered "1080p," but 1280x720 is not. *All 1080p source videos are automatically converted to 720p upon uploading to Vimeo. Plus and PRO users have the option to upgrade their videos to 1080p, but only if your source file qualifies as 1080p. 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 1280x720 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 30 FPS: Choose a factor of your frame rate that is between 15-30 FPS. For example, if your frame rate is 50 FPS, choose 25 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 30 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 teh 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?

This tutorial will show you how to prepare your video for Vimeo using Compressor 4.1.1 or later. If you’re using the older version of Compressor (version 3.5), read this tutorial instead.

1. If you imported your video into Compressor directly from Final Cut Pro, it should already be preloaded into the main window. If this is the case, skip ahead to step 3.
2. If you aren't using Final Cut Pro, import your file by clicking Add File in the lower panel. Alternatively, you can navigate to File > Add File... Select your video file, then click Add.
3. Navigate to Window > Show Settings & Locations.
4. In the bottom left-hand corner, click the + symbol and select New Setting.
5. In the Format dropdown, select MPEG-4. Give the setting a Name (for example: "Vimeo Export") and a Description (ex. "Export setting for Vimeo"). Then, click OK.
6. Underneath your video's filename, click Add Outputs.
7. Select your custom Setting (what we called "Vimeo Export") from the list.
8. Next to Location, select Desktop. Then, click OK.
9. Underneath your video's filename, make sure the setting is highlighted, then click the Inspector button in the upper right-hand corner of the Compressor application.
10. Under the General tab, select the following options:

    Name	Leave as-is.
    Description	Leave as-is.
    Default location	None
    Format If your video does not contain audio, choose Video.	Video and Audio
    Optimize for network use	Unchecked
    Set duration to	100% of source

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

    Video Properties
    Frame Size Vimeo uses some unique calculations to determine how your video should be displayed. Please take note of the following: Will my video play in 720p HD on Vimeo? Videos with a frame size area equal to or larger than 700x700 (499,000 pixels square) are considered "720p HD" by Vimeo. Your video will need to have a frame area of at least 700x700 in order for your video to generate an HD version. Will my video play in 1080p on Vimeo?* To generate a "1080p HD" version on Vimeo, the minimum dimension must be at least 1080px or the maximum dimension must be at least 1920px. For example, 1920x1080 is considered "1080p," but 1280x720 is not. *All 1080p source videos are automatically converted to 720p upon uploading to Vimeo. Plus and PRO users have the option to upgrade their videos to 1080p, but only if your source file qualifies as 1080p. Read more.	Choose your desired frame size from the list under Manual. If you aren't sure what frame size to use, choose Automatic.
    Pixel aspect ratio	Square
    Frame rate You can enter a custom frame rate by choosing Automatic and entering your new frame rate value to the right of the dropdown. There are some situations where you'll want to choose a frame rate different from the source: If your frame rate is higher than 30 FPS: Choose a factor of your frame rate that is between 15-30 FPS. For example, if your frame rate is 50 FPS, choose 25 FPS. If your frame arte is lower than 15FPS: 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 30 FPS or lower than 15 FPS, Vimeo will automatically adjust the frame rate for you. However, we can't guarantee the results will always look as expected. It's best to do the conversion on your end prior to uploading.	Under Manual, choose your source video's native frame rate. If you aren't sure which frame rate to use, choose Automatic.
    Field order	Same as Source
    H.264 profile	For HD footage, choose High. For SD footage, choose Main.
    Entropy mode	CABAC
    Key frame interval	Automatic
    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.	720p HD video: 5000 — 10000 kbps 1080p HD video: 10000 — 20000 kbps SD video: 2000 — 5000 kbps
    Multi-pass	Unchecked
    Allow frame reordering	Checked

     

    Copping & Padding
    Cropping	Custom (Top/Bottom/Left/Right should all be set to 0)
    Padding	Preserve Source Aspect Ratio

     

    Quality
    Resize filter	Best (Statistical Prediction)
    Retiming quality	Better (Motion Adaptive)
    Adaptive details	Checked
    Anti-aliasing level If your video contains aliasing (jagged edges), you may wish to increase this value. Use sparingly.	0
    Details level If your video has soft edges, you may wish to increase this value. Use sparingly.	0

     
12. Under the Audio tab, select the following options (you can skip this step if your video does not contain audio):

    Channel layout	Stereo (L R)
    Sample rate	48
    Data rate	320 kbps

     
13. Double-click the filename to edit the exported file's name (optional).
14. Click Start Batch. You can watch the progress of your compression job in the Active tab.
15. View your finished, compressed file to make sure it looks and sounds correct — then upload it to Vimeo! Questions about uploading?

This tutorial will show you how to prepare your video for Vimeo using Compressor 3.5. If you’re using the newer version of Compressor (version 4.x), read this tutorial instead.

A note before we get started: Compressor loads with several different panes or “windows” (such as the Settings, Inspector, and Preview windows). If at any point you accidentally close some of these windows, you can return to the default layout by navigating to: Window > Layouts > Standard 1440x900

1. If you imported your video into Compressor directly from Final Cut Pro, it should already be preloaded into the main window. If this is the case, skip ahead to step 3.
2. If you aren't using Final Cut Pro, import your file by clicking Add File in the top-left corner of the window. Alternatively, you can navigate to Job > New Job With File... Select your video file, then click Open.
3. Under the Settings tab, click the + symbol to create a new setting. Select QuickTime Movie from the dropdown list of options.
4. In the Inspector window, set the following inputs:

   Name	Give your new preset a name, such as "Vimeo Export"
   Description	Give your preset a description, such as "Export setting for Vimeo"

    
5. Click the Encoder options icon, then select the following options:

   File Format	QuickTime Movie
   Extension	mov
   Allow Job Segmenting	Unchecked
   Video	Enabled
   Audio If your video does not contain audio, select Disabled.	Enabled
   Streaming	None
   Add clean aperture information	Unchecked

    
6. Click the Settings... button to the right of Video. In the Standard Video Compression Settings window, select the following options:
    

   Motion
   Compression Type	H.264
   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 30 FPS: Choose a factor of your frame rate that is between 15-30 FPS. For example, if your frame rate is 50 FPS, choose 25 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 30 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, choose Current.
   Key Frames	Automatic
   Frame Reordering	Checked

    

   Compressor
   Quality	Best
   Encoding	Best quality (Multi-pass)

    

   Data Rate
   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.	Select Restrict to, then enter a value depending on the resolution of your video: 720p HD video: 10000 kbits/sec 1080p HD video: 20000 kbits/sec SD video: 5000 kbits/sec If you aren't sure which resolution you're working with, choose Automatic instead.
   Optimized for	Download

    
7. Click the Settings... button to the right of Audio. In the Sound Settings window, select the following options:

   Format	AAC
   Channels Vimeo does not currently support audio with more than 2 channels (for example, 5.1 surround sound). If you are working with a 5.1 mix, you'll need to mix your audio down to stereo prior to exporting your video.	Select Stereo (L R) for stereo (2-channel) audio. Select Mono for mono (1-channel) audio. If you aren't sure, select Stereo (L R).
   Rate	48.000 kHz
   Show Advanced Settings	Unchecked
   Render Settings: Quality	Best
   MPEG-4 AAC Encoder Settings: Target Bit Rate	320 kbps (if you selected Stereo), 256 kbps (if you selected Mono)

    
8. Click OK.
9. Next, click the Frame Controls options icon.
10. Click the gear icon to the right of the Frame Controls dropdown. Then, select the following setting:

    Frame Controls	On

     
11. Turning on the Frame Controls option will enable you to edit the rest of the settings in this panel. Select the following options:
     

    Resizing Control
    Resize Filter	Best (Statistical prediction)
    Output Fields	Same as source
    Deinterlace	Best (Motion compensated)
    Adaptive details	Checked
    Anti-alias If your video contains aliasing (jagged edges), you may wish to increase this value. Use sparingly.	0
    Details level If your video has soft edges, you may wish to increase this value. Use sparingly.	0

     

    Retiming Control
    Rate Conversion	Better (Motion compensated)
    Set duration to	100% of source

     
12. Click the Geometry options icon, then select the following settings:
     

    Source Inset (Cropping)
    Crop to	Custom
    Left / Right / Top / Bottom	0

     

    Dimensions (encoded pixels)
    Frame Size Vimeo uses some unique calculations to determine how yoru video should be displayed. Please take note of the following: Will my video play in 720p HD on Vimeo? Videos with a frame size area equal to or larger than 700x700 (499,000 pixels square) are considered "720p HD" by Vimeo. Your video will need to have a frame area of at least 700x700 in order for your video to generate an HD version. Will my video play in 1080p on Vimeo?* To generate a "1080p HD" version on Vimeo, the minimum dimension must be at least 1080px or the maximum dimension must be at least 1920px. For example, 1920x1080 is considered "1080p," but 1280x720 is not. *All 1080p source videos are automatically converted to 720p upon uploading to Vimeo. Plus and PRO users have the option to upgrade their videos to 1080p, but only if your source file qualifies as 1080p. Read more.	Choose your desired frame 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 100% of source.
    Pixel Aspect	Square

     

    Output Image Inset (Padding)
    Padding	Preserve source aspect ratio
    Left / Right / Top / Bottom	0

     
13. Click Save at the bottom of the Inspector window to save these settings.
14. In the Settings window, click and drag your newly created setting onto your imported video.
15. Click the Destinations tab. Here, we'll select a destination location for your exported file. (Note: selecting a destination is not mandatory. If you skip this step, your exported file will be sent to the same directory as your source file.)
16. Expand the folder called Apple. You'll see a few preset destinations. We want the one called Desktop. You can also create a new destination by clicking the + symbol and selecting Local.
17. Click and drag the Desktop destination onto the word "Source" within your imported video. (Note: make sure you are dragging the destination onto your applied setting. If you drag it elsewhere on your video, it will create a new destination without any applied settings.)
18. Click the Submit button, then enter the following information:

    Name	Give a name to this export job. (This will only be used by Compressor to reference this particular export job.)
    Cluster	This Computer
    Include unmanaged services on other computers	Unchecked
    Priority	High

     
19. Click Submit. The compression and export will begin. You can monitor the progress in the History panel. The time it takes to compress will vary depending on the size of your video.
20. View your finished, compressed file to make sure it looks and sounds correct — then upload it to Vimeo! Questions about uploading?

HandBrake is a program that can be used to compress and prepare video for Vimeo. It can be downloaded for free here.

If you have a question about using HandBrake, or are running into an error, please check out HandBrake's Support FAQ.

Please use the following instructions when transcoding your video with HandBrake:

1. When you open HandBrake, you will be automatically prompted to select your source file. You can also access the file selection menu by clicking File > Open Source, or by clicking the Source button in the upper left-hand corner of the application.
2. Select the file that you want to work with, then click Open. HandBrake will scan the source file, which may take several seconds.
3. Under the Source heading, ensure the following settings are selected:

   Title If you're working with a file that contains multiple titles, select the option that shows the longest duration. This is usually the main title.	Select the title that you wish to work with.
   Angle	Leave default.

    
4. Under the Destination heading, select the following setting:

   File	This is the destination path of your output file. You can enter a new path manually, or select Browse to choose a new destination.

    
5. Under the Output Settings heading, select the following settings:

   Format	MP4 file
   Large file size	Unchecked
   Web optimized	Unchecked
   iPod 5G support	Unchecked

    
6. Under the Video tab, enter the following options:

   Video Codec	H.264 (x264)
   Framerate (FPS) There are some situations where you'll want to choose a frame rate different from the source: If your frame rate is higher than 30 FPS: Choose a factor of your frame rate that is between 15-30 FPS. For example, if your frame rate is 50 FPS, choose 25 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 30 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.	Same as source
   Variable / Constant Framerate	Select Constant Framerate.
   Video Quality 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.	Select Average Bitrate (kbps). Then, enter the average bitrate appropriate to your video file: 720p HD video: 5000 — 10000 kbps 1080p HD video: 10000 — 20000 kbps SD video: 2000 — 5000 kbps
   2-pass encoding	Checked
   Use x264 Advanced Options Panel	Unchecked
   x264 Preset	Drag the slider until the "veryfast" option is displayed.
   x264 Tune	none
   Fast Decode	Unchecked
   H.264 Profile	auto
   H.264 Level	auto

    
7. Under the Audio tab, enter the following options:

   Track	Select the audio track you'd like to include in your video file. Or select None if you do not want to include audio in this video file. (If you select None, you can skip ahead to step 8.)
   Codec	AAC (CoreAudio)
   Mixdown	Stereo (if available), otherwise Mono
   Samplerate	48
   Bitrate	Highest available
   Gain	0
   DRC	Leave as-is.

    
8. Skip the Subtitles, Advanced, and Chapters tabs. These aren't required for the average Vimeo video!
9. In the upper right-hand corner of the application, click the Picture Settings button.
10. Under the Size tab, select the following options:

    Width Vimeo uses some unique calculations to determine how your video should be displayed. Please take note of the following: Will my video play in 720p HD on Vimeo? Videos with a frame size area equal to or larger than 700x700 (499,000 pixels square) are considered "720p HD" by Vimeo. Your video will need to have a frame area of at least 700x700 in order for your video to generate an HD version. Will my video play in 1080p on Vimeo?* To generate a "1080p HD" version on Vimeo, the minimum dimension must be at least 1080px or the maximum dimension must be at least 1920px. For example, 1920x1080 is considered "1080p," but 1280x720 is not. *All 1080p source videos are automatically converted to 720p upon uploading to Vimeo. Plus and PRO users have the option to upgrade their videos to 1080p, but only if your source file qualifies as 1080p. Read more.	This value should default to your source file's width. You can leave the default value.
    Keep aspect ratio	Checked
    Height	This value should default to your source file's height. You can leave the default value.
    Anamorphic	None
    Modulus	16
    Cropping	Automatic

     
11. Under the Filters tab, select the following options (you can read more detailed descriptions for each option here):

    Detelecine	Off
    Decomb / Deinterlace	H.264
    Deinterlace	If your source is interlaced, select Slow. If your source is progressive, select Off. If you're not sure, select Off. Learn more about deinterlacing with HandBrake.
    Denoise If your video contains a lot of grain or visual noise, you may want to enable this feature to reduce your bitrate and file size. Use with caution.	Off
    Deblock If your source footage is low quality, you may want to enable this feature to remove blocking artifacts. Use with caution.	Off
    Grayscale	Unchecked

     
12. Click the Start button in the upper left-hand corner of the application to begin the encoding process.
13. View your finished, compressed file to make sure it looks and sounds correct — then upload it to Vimeo! Questions about uploading?

Please use the following instructions when exporting your video from Windows Movie Maker:

1. Go to File > Save movie > Create custom setting...
2. In the Create Custom Setting menu, input the following options:

   Setting	<New>
   Name	Give this new export setting a name (for example, Vimeo Export 720p).

    
3. In the Video settings section, enter the following options:

   Width Vimeo uses some unique calculations to determine how your video should be displayed. Please take note of the following: Will my video play in 720p HD on Vimeo? Videos with a frame size area equal to or larger than 700x700 (499,000 pixels square) are considered "720p HD" by Vimeo. Your video will need to have a frame area of at least 720x720 in order for your video to generate an HD version. Will my video play in 1080p on Vimeo?* To generate a "1080p HD" version on Vimeo, the minimum dimension must be at least 1080px or the maximum dimension must be at least 1920px. For example, 1920x1080 is considered "1080p," but 1280x720 is not. *All 1080p source videos are automatically converted to 720p upon uploading to Vimeo. Plus and PRO users have the option to upgrade their videos to 1080p, but only if your source file qualifies as 1080p. Read more.	Enter your source file's original width. If you wish to export your video at a smaller frame size, edit these values. If you aren't sure, leave them as-is.
   Height Vimeo uses some unique calculations to determine how your video should be displayed. Please take note of the following: Will my video play in 720p HD on Vimeo? Videos with a frame size area equal to or larger than 700x700 (499,000 pixels square) are considered "720p HD" by Vimeo. Your video will need to have a frame area of at least 720x720 in order for your video to generate an HD version. Will my video play in 1080p on Vimeo?* To generate a "1080p HD" version on Vimeo, the minimum dimension must be at least 1080px or the maximum dimension must be at least 1920px. For example, 1920x1080 is considered "1080p," but 1280x720 is not. *All 1080p source videos are automatically converted to 720p upon uploading to Vimeo. Plus and PRO users have the option to upgrade their videos to 1080p, but only if your source file qualifies as 1080p. Read more.	Enter your source file's original height. If you wish to export your video at a smaller frame size, edit these values. If you aren't sure, leave them as-is.
   Bit rate These bit rates are suggested for average video files. If your video contains below average visual complexity (such as a slideshow presentation), choose a lower bit rate. If your video contains above average visual complexity (such as a video with high levels of grain), increase the bit rate. Remember: Lower bit rates lead to smaller file sizes and faster uploads! Experiment to pick the lowest bit rate that yields acceptable image quality.	720p HD video: 5000 — 10000 Kbps 1080p HD video: 10000 — 20000 Kbps SD video: 2000 — 5000 Kbps
   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 30 FPS: Choose a factor of your frame rate that is between 15-30 FPS. For example, if your frame rate is 50 FPS, choose 25 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 30 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.	Enter your source file's original frame rate.

    
4. In the Audio settings section, enter the following options:

   Audio format	Choose the option from the dropdown that provides the highest bit rate (kbps), and includes 48 kHz sample rate. For example, 192 kbps, 48 kHz, stereo. If you do not wish to include audio with your video, choose No audio.

    
5. Click Save to save this new preset on your hard drive. Then, click Close to exit the Create Custom Settings menu.
6. Highlight your final sequence.
7. Go to File > Save movie > Vimeo Export (or the name you gave your new export setting).
8. Select a destination location for the exported file on your computer. Pick somewhere that you will remember — for example, your Desktop.
9. Enter the following options at the bottom of the Save Movie menu:

   File name	Enter a name for your exported file.
   Save as type	Choose MPEG-4/H.264 Video File if available. If not, choose Windows Media Video File.

    
10. Click Save.
11. The export will begin. The time it takes to export will vary based on the length of the video and the compression settings selected.
12. View your finished, compressed file to make sure it looks and sounds correct — then upload it to Vimeo! Questions about uploading?

iMovie is a simple video editor that comes standard on many Macs. While the program is easy to use, it's important to note that the video files it produces are often larger than needed, meaning they will take longer to upload and use up more of your quota. Therefore, we recommend using iMovie in conjunction with another program, such as Compressor, HandBrake, or MPEG Streamclip (see optional step 8 below).

If you prefer to skip this step, your uploads from iMovie will still work. They'll just eat up more of your time and quota than they should.

Please use the following instructions when exporting your video from iMovie:

1. Highlight your final sequence.
2. Go to File > Share > File...
3. In the File menu, select the following options:

   Title	Enter the title for your video.
   Description	If desired, enter a description for your video. This description will not appear on Vimeo.
   Tags	If desired, enter some tags for your video. These tags will not appear on Vimeo.
   Size Vimeo uses some unique calculations to determine how your video should be displayed. Please take note of the following: Will my video play in 720p HD on Vimeo? Videos with a frame size area equal to or larger than 700x700 (499,000 pixels square) are considered "720p HD" by Vimeo. Your video will need to have a frame area of at least 720x720 in order for your video to generate an HD version. Will my video play in 1080p on Vimeo?* To generate a "1080p HD" version on Vimeo, the minimum dimension must be at least 1080px or the maximum dimension must be at least 1920px. For example, 1920x1080 is considered "1080p," but 1280x720 is not. *All 1080p source videos are automatically converted to 720p upon uploading to Vimeo. Plus and PRO users have the option to upgrade their videos to 1080p, but only if your source file qualifies as 1080p. Read more.	Choose your desired frame size from the list. If you aren't sure which frame size to use, choose the highest available resolution from the list.
   Add to Theater	Unchecked.

    
4. Click Next...
5. In the next window, name your file next to "Save As" and select a destination location for the exported file on your computer. Pick somewhere that you will remember — for example, your Desktop.
6. Click Save.
7. The export will begin. You can track its progress by clicking on the blue circle in the upper right-hand corner of iMovie.
8. Recommended: Once the export is complete, use Compressor, HandBrake, or MPEG Streamclip to tweak compression settings prior to uploading to Vimeo. This may reduce your upload time significantly.
9. View your finished, compressed file to make sure it looks and sounds correct — then upload it to Vimeo! Questions about uploading?