This article provides a detailed reference of the recommended export specifications for Adobe Premiere Pro when preparing video files for upload to Vimeo. Each section provides brief explanations, followed by details of the necessary settings to choose.
In this article:
- Things to know before you begin
- Export settings
- Effects tab
- Video tab
- Bitrate settings
- Audio tab
- Multiplexer tab
- Captions tab
- Final export options
Things to know before you begin
These instructions outline Adobe's export settings, incorporating Vimeo's compression guidelines. However, note that because Adobe frequently updates its software, the newest features or navigational steps may not be included. We encourage you to consult Adobe's official 'How to export and share video' tutorial for the latest information.
Export settings
| Setting | Value |
| Format | H.264 |
| Preset | Custom |
| Match Sequence Settings | Unchecked |
| Comments | Leave blank |
| Output Name | Click to edit filename and destination |
| Export Video | Checked |
| Export Audio | Checked (if audio is present) |
Effects tab
| Option | Setting |
| Lumetri Look / LUT | Unchecked |
| Image Overlay | Unchecked |
| Name Overlay | Unchecked |
| Timecode Overlay | Unchecked |
Video tab
To ensure your export settings match the original video, click Match Source. You have the option to manually adjust any setting by unchecking the corresponding box.
Basic Video Settings
Width / Height
Vimeo determines available playback resolutions using unique calculations. It is recommended to choose the original resolution for export unless a smaller size is specifically required.
Frame Rate
If exporting in a non-standard frame rate range, adjust as follows:
- If frame rate > 60 FPS: choose a factor between 15 - 60 FPS (e.g., 100 - 50).
- If frame rate < 15 FPS: choose a multiple between 15 - 30 FPS (e.g., 8 - 16).
- Vimeo will otherwise auto-convert, but results may vary.
Profile
Choose based on your source resolution:
| Setting | Recommended Value |
|---|---|
| Width / Height | Source resolution or chosen export size |
| Frame Rate | Match Source (or adjusted per above guidelines) |
| Field Order | Progressive |
| Aspect | Square Pixels (1.0) |
| TV Standard | Leave as-is |
| Profile | High for HD, Main for SD |
| Level | 4.1 |
| Render at Maximum Depth | Checked |
Bitrate settings
Lower bitrates result in smaller files and faster uploads. Increase bitrate for highly detailed or grainy footage.
Target Bitrate (Mbps)
| Resolution | Recommended Range |
| SD | 2–5 |
| 720p | 5–10 |
| 1080p | 10–20 |
| 2K | 20–30 |
| 4K | 30–60 |
Maximum Bitrate (Mbps)
| Resolution | Recommended Range |
| SD | 2–5 |
| 720p | 5–10 |
| 1080p | 10–20 |
| 2K | 20–30 |
| 4K | 30–60 |
Encoding Type
Choosing VBR, 1 Pass is faster but lower quality. Do not choose CBR.
| Setting | Value |
| Bitrate Encoding | VBR, 2 Pass |
Advanced Video Settings
| Setting | State |
| Key Frame Distance | Unchecked |
Audio tab
Audio Format Settings
| Setting | Value |
| Audio Format | AAC |
Basic Audio Settings
| Setting | Value |
| Audio Codec | AAC |
| Sample Rate | 48000 Hz |
| Channels | Supports mono, 2-channel stereo, 5.1/7.1 surround, ambisonic (AmbiX) |
| Parametric Stereo | Unchecked |
| Audio Quality | High |
Bitrate Settings
| Setting | Value |
| Bitrate | 320 kbps |
Advanced Audio Settings
| Setting | Value |
| Precedence | Sample Rate |
Multiplexer tab
| Setting | Value |
| Multiplexer | MP4 |
| Stream Compatibility | Standard |
Captions tab
You may ignore all Caption settings unless adding subtitle tracks.
Final export options
| Setting | Value |
| Use Maximum Render Quality | Checked |
| Use Frame Blending | Unchecked |
| Use Previews | Unchecked |
| Import into project | Unchecked |
Before exporting, review the Estimated File Size to ensure you have the upload storage space available on Vimeo.
Once the export completes, watch the playback to check the audio and video quality before proceeding with the upload.