Quick Tip 02 — My Export Settings for Social Media

How I export my videos from DaVinci Resolve

You can spend a lot of time worrying about codecs, bitrates, file sizes and compression when exporting for social media.

For me, the process is much simpler.

After experimenting with different settings, I’ve found a combination in DaVinci Resolve that consistently gives me great results after uploading to Instagram.

These are the settings I currently use for most of my work.

My Export Settings

• Format: QuickTime

• Codec: H.265

• Encoder: Auto

• Hardware Acceleration: On

• Resolution: 3840 × 2160 Ultra HD*

• Frame Rate: Same as Timeline

• Bitrate: 30,000 Kb/s

• Encoding Profile: Main10

• Key Frames: Automatic

• Frame Reordering: On

• Data Levels: Auto

• Colour Space Tag: Same as Project

• Gamma Tag: Same as Project

• Force Sizing to Highest Quality: On

  
  

*The resolution and aspect ratio change depending on the type of content I'm creating.

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Why I Use H.265

I currently export using H.265 (HEVC).

H.265 is an efficient codec that can retain excellent image quality without creating files as large as less compressed formats such as ProRes.

Since my original footage is usually captured at high quality, I want the final export to preserve as much of that detail as reasonably possible before the social platform applies its own compression.

For my workflow, H.265 gives me a good balance between quality and file size.

Resolution

For landscape content, I can export at:

3840 × 2160 - 4K Ultra HD

For social media, the resolution and aspect ratio depend on where I'm posting the video.

Vertical / Reels: 9:16

Landscape: 16:9

Square: 1:1

I prefer setting up the timeline for the intended format from the beginning rather than trying to completely reframe the video during export.

Frame Rate — Match the Timeline

For frame rate, I use: Timeline Frame Rate

So if I've edited a project on a 24fps timeline, I export at 24fps.

If I'm working with a 25fps timeline, the final export remains 25fps.

I prefer keeping the export consistent with the timeline instead of converting everything to a different frame rate at the very end.

Bitrate — 30,000 Kb/s

For quality, I currently use:

Restrict to: 30,000 Kb/s

That's equivalent to approximately 30 Mbps.

Bitrate essentially determines how much video data is available per second. Generally, a higher bitrate allows more information to be retained, but also creates a larger file.

I've found 30 Mbps gives me a good balance for my work, particularly when exporting detailed footage that I don't want to unnecessarily compress before uploading.

What About File Size?

I don't personally aim for a strict file-size limit.

Depending on the length of the video, my exports can easily exceed 50 MB, and I've still had excellent results after uploading them to Instagram.

So rather than trying to force every video below a particular file size, I focus on creating a clean, high-quality export and letting the platform handle its own delivery compression.

Why Main10?

My H.265 exports use the Main10 encoding profile.

Main10 supports 10-bit video, which allows for greater colour precision than an 8-bit workflow.

For footage with gradients, skies, shadows and carefully graded colours, maintaining that additional colour information through the export can be useful before the video reaches the social platform.

Data Levels

I leave:

Data Levels → Auto

DaVinci Resolve then handles the appropriate output levels based on the project and export configuration.

Unless I have a specific reason to override it, I prefer leaving this on Auto rather than manually forcing Full or Video levels.

Colour Space & Gamma Tags

My current settings are:

• Colour Space Tag: Same as Project

• Gamma Tag: Same as Project

This keeps the export metadata consistent with the colour-management settings of the project I'm working in.

Because different projects can have different colour workflows, I prefer keeping these tied to the project rather than forcing one tag across every export.

Highest Quality Sizing

I also enable:

Force sizing to highest quality

This is particularly useful when footage has been resized, reframed or otherwise scaled within the timeline.

I'd rather prioritise final image quality during export, even if rendering takes slightly longer.

A Few Other Settings

I leave Key Frames on Automatic and keep Frame Reordering enabled.

I also have hardware acceleration enabled when available, allowing my Mac to help speed up H.265 encoding.

For me, these are mostly settings I can leave alone once the export preset is configured.

These aren't necessarily the only settings that work, they're simply the settings I've found work consistently for my footage, my edits and the way I publish my content.

A Final Note

Thanks for taking the time to read Quick Tip 02, I really appreciate it.

Have a question about these settings, use something different yourself, or have an idea for a future Quick Tip? Leave a comment below, I’d love to hear your thoughts and experiences.

You can also find me on Instagram for more of my photography and filmmaking.

Until next time,

Hassan