Why Export Settings Matter

After you finish colour and audio in your NLE, the final step is encoding versions that comply with each platform’s requirements. YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok all publish official specifications—and mismatches can trigger recompression artefacts or rejected uploads. This guide distils the current recommendations from their help centres as of Q4 2025.

1. Start with a Mezzanine Master

Keep a high-quality master before producing delivery files. Export from your editor using:

  • Codec: Apple ProRes 422 HQ (macOS) or Avid DNxHR HQX (Windows)
  • Resolution: Match the native Sora2 output (commonly 1920×1080 for landscape, 1080×1920 for vertical)
  • Frame Rate: Same as your edit (24/25/30/60 fps)
  • Audio: 48 kHz, 24-bit PCM stereo

This mezzanine file acts as your source for generating compressed variants without cumulative quality loss.

2. YouTube Encoding Recipe

YouTube’s official recommendations (Support article 1722171) emphasise MP4 with H.264 video and AAC audio.

Preferred Settings

  • Container: MP4 (Fast Start enabled)
  • Video codec: H.264, High Profile, progressive scan, 4:2:0 chroma
  • Frame rate: Upload at source fps (24/25/30/48/50/60)
  • Bitrate targets (SDR): 8 Mbps for 1080p30, 12 Mbps for 1080p60, 5 Mbps for 720p30
  • Audio: AAC-LC, stereo, 48 kHz, 320 kbps

If you deliver 4K upscales from Sora2, follow YouTube’s guidance of 35–45 Mbps for 2160p30 or 53–68 Mbps for 2160p60 so VP9 encodes kick in quickly.

Tip: Flag the upload as “made with AI” inside YouTube Studio; this complies with the disclosure policy rolled out in 2024 and prevents moderation delays.

3. Instagram Feed and Reels

Meta’s creator documentation recommends vertical 9:16 masters for Reels and 1:1 or 4:5 for feed posts. The latest Reels update (August 2025) supports clips up to 20 minutes, but short, high-bitrate exports still perform best.

Reels/Stories (Vertical)

  • Resolution: 1080×1920 (minimum 720×1280)
  • Frame rate: 30 fps (Instagram accepts 24–60 fps but converts to 30 fps on playback)
  • Bitrate: 10–12 Mbps for visually dense footage
  • Codec: H.264 with AAC stereo, 44.1 or 48 kHz
  • File size limit: 4 GB

Feed (Square or Portrait)

  • 1:1 – 1080×1080 at 8 Mbps
  • 4:5 – 1080×1350 at 10 Mbps
  • Add burned-in captions for silent autoplay; Instagram mutes audio by default until viewers tap

4. TikTok Delivery

TikTok’s creator hub specifies vertical videos using H.264 or HEVC inside an MP4 container. The platform accepts uploads up to 10 minutes in the mobile app, while TikTok Studio and selected desktop accounts support longer runtimes—verify your current limit before encoding.

Recommended Targets

  • Resolution: 1080×1920 (minimum 720×1280, maximum 1440×2560)
  • Frame rate: 24, 25, or 30 fps for cinematic pieces; 60 fps for fast action
  • Bitrate: 12–16 Mbps for 1080p30, 20 Mbps for 60 fps content
  • Audio: AAC stereo, 44.1 kHz, 256–320 kbps
  • File size limit: 1 GB (mobile) or 4 GB (desktop upload)
Reminder: TikTok’s AI content policy requires you to enable the “AI-generated” toggle when posting Sora footage. Failing to disclose can lead to reduced distribution.

5. Broadcast and Client Deliverables

Agencies often request mezzanine and platform-ready files:

  • Broadcast: 1080i59.94 or 1080p29.97 XDCAM HD422 at 50 Mbps with 8-channel audio
  • Digital signage: 2160×3840 portrait ProRes 422 LT at 23.976 fps
  • Enterprise CMS: WebM (VP9) at 8–12 Mbps when bandwidth is limited

Confirm colour specs (Rec.709 vs. P3) in the deliverables sheet before encoding.

6. Automate Exports with ffmpeg

Use ffmpeg to batch-create platform variants from your mezzanine file:

ffmpeg -i sora_master.mov -vf scale=1920:1080 -r 30 -c:v libx264 -profile:v high -preset slow -b:v 8M -pix_fmt yuv420p -movflags +faststart -c:a aac -b:a 320k youtube_1080p.mp4

Adjust -vf scale, -r, and -b:v to match each platform recipe outlined above.

7. Quality Control Checklist

  • Audit exports for banding, crushed blacks, or macroblocking on large displays.
  • Verify loudness stays between -16 and -14 LUFS integrated for social uploads.
  • Confirm metadata (aspect ratio, frame rate) using MediaInfo before handoff.
  • Store masters and project files in redundant storage (local RAID plus cloud) for future revisions.

Next Steps

Once your delivery presets are dialed, explore Advanced Workflows to manage campaigns with multiple Sora2 scenes and live-action plates.