nevrozel

Hi guys, good info here. I have been editing with FCP X for a while now, all footage is AVCHD from the Sony A7, 24p 24Mbits/s. I have a Mac Pro 2012 so for me there is no reason to optimise media on import, so I edit natively. I rarely apply any effects, just doing cuts, sountrack and titles most of the time, so the performance is great all around. I currently use FCP X sharing pane as follows: - Export File - Format: computer - Video Codec: h264 - Multi Pass This export settings output files with a bitrate of around 20-21Mbit/s so lower than the original 24Mbit/s. I also tried to export a Master File which automatically transcodes the native files into Pro Res and the resulting files are much larger with around 5-6 times the native bitrate of 24Mbit/s. The thing is how could the native AVCHD 24Mbit/s file have a 110Mbit/s after export, even though I have not transcoded it on import? (for some reason FCP X transcodes it into ProRes on export as master file). The quality could not be 5 time higher right? And it's not, it's identical to my eyes. So my question to you: how should I export, or how do you export the final output in order to preserve the initial quality of the AVCHD 24Mbit/s that I shoot with? I don't want inflated or lower bitrates on export. My output file is for archiving on external HDD, I make movies for myself with family and friends, so it's not meant for any sharing websites and should be the best quality, as close or a clone of the original in terms of quality. Maybe I lack some understanding of AVCHD bitrates and what I ask sound stupid. :) Thanks.