Once your video is edited and encoded, the final steps are rendering, uploading, and making sure your video can be found. This section covers the full publishing process from export to discoverability.
Rendering and Encoding
Rendering is the process of mixing all the tracks on your timeline — video, audio, graphics, and effects — into a single finished file. A raw render produces an enormous file, so the rendered output is then compressed into a smaller, shareable format through a process called encoding.
For best quality, encode once at the end of your project. Avoid re-encoding individual clips before importing them into your editor, as each encoding pass reduces quality.
File Formats and Codecs
Recording devices save video in various file formats. The two most common are .mov (used by Apple devices and some DSLRs) and .mp4 (a cross-industry standard used widely in social media). We recommend saving your final output as .mp4, even on a Mac.
The codec determines how the video data is compressed. For streaming services and social media, use the H.264 codec — it is compatible with mobile devices of every type and is the standard for YouTube and other platforms.
Recommended Export Settings
| Option | Setting |
|---|---|
| File type | .mp4 |
| Audio codec | AAC-LC |
| Video codec | H.264 |
| Video resolution (HD) | 1440p or 1080p |
| Frame rate | Match your recording frame rate. If unsure, use 23.97 fps. |
Adobe Premiere Elements applies these settings automatically in Quick Export mode and when exporting directly to YouTube.
Output Quality and File Size
For YouTube, always encode at high quality and let the platform adjust streaming quality based on the viewer's connection. YouTube automatically scales output to match available bandwidth.
If you need to share a video file directly rather than via YouTube, you may want to create a smaller version. Reducing resolution (for example, 480p at 12 frames per second) will significantly reduce file size but will also reduce quality. Experiment to find an acceptable balance. Adjusting audio quality settings has minimal impact on file size for videos longer than a few minutes.
Exporting in Premiere Elements
Before exporting, confirm the Work Area markers — the two gray elongated hexagons on the timeline — are aligned with the very beginning and end of your final clip. If the end marker extends past your last clip, blank space will be included in the export.
Press the Enter key to render previews, then watch the full playback before exporting. Look for missed transitions, incorrect clip lengths, hidden text, unwanted sounds, or lower layers showing through. Note: audio sync on previews can occasionally appear off — if your original clips are in sync and you did not unlink audio from video, the final export will be correct.
To export, click Export and Share in the top right corner of Premiere Elements. Quick Export will work for most situations. The Devices tab offers more options, including a Custom setting for specific codec choices. The Online tab allows direct export to your personal YouTube channel.
Do not use the direct YouTube export option if you are submitting to UC ANR's main channel — that submission requires a separate file.
After exporting, play back the file in a separate video player to confirm it looks and sounds correct. The free VLC media player is recommended — it plays virtually any video format and opens quickly.
Uploading and Sharing
See the Uploading page for full instructions on sharing your video, posting to YouTube channels, accessibility requirements, and other online destinations.
Quality Assurance
Before publishing, review your video against a basic set of quality criteria. See the Quality Assurance page for the review process and checklists.
Discoverability
After investing significant time in producing a video, it is worth taking steps to make sure potential viewers can find it. Video files are not easily searchable on their own — search engines rely on the metadata attached to your video, including its title, description, keywords, hashtags, and transcript, to understand and surface your content. Think of it like a library catalog entry — without it, even an excellent video may never be found.
Prepare your metadata before uploading. New videos are prioritized in recommendations, so having complete metadata in place at the time of upload gives your video the best chance of early visibility.
This short UC ANR video covers the basic discoverability concepts you need to know:
Additional resources on search engine optimization and YouTube discoverability:
- YouTube SEO 101 — Search Engine Land
- How to get more views on YouTube
- SEO Tutorial for Beginners — Full Course (8+ hours)
- SEO Checklist
Following the basic guidelines in the UC ANR video above will represent a significant improvement over posting without any metadata preparation. By posting on one of UC ANR's main channels, your video also benefits from the channel's existing subscriber base.