After Effects export settings, per platform.

What After Effects lets you set

Bitrate control

Yes, in Mbps

2-pass encoding

Yes

Profile / level

Both

Keyframe interval

Yes, in frames

HEVC (H.265)

Yes

HDR export

Yes

Frame rate

Choose on export

Official export help Release notesLabels checked 2026-10-25

The export, step by step (example: YouTube, 1080p, 30 fps)

1. 1Set the composition to 1920 x 1080 at 30 fps (Composition > Composition Settings).
2. 2With the composition selected choose Composition > Add to Adobe Media Encoder Queue.
3. 3In Media Encoder click the blue Format link of the job and set Format to H.264.
4. 4Click Output Name to set the file name and folder (.mp4).
5. 5Video tab: Frame Size 1920 x 1080, Frame Rate 30, Profile High, Level 4.0.
6. 6Bitrate Settings: Bitrate Encoding VBR, 2 pass, Target Bitrate 8 Mbps, Maximum Bitrate 12 Mbps.
7. 7Advanced Settings: tick Key Frame Distance and enter 15 frames.
8. 8Audio tab: AAC, Sample Rate 48000 Hz, Bitrate 384 kbps. Click OK, then Start Queue.

For HDR

• Turn on project colour management with an HDR working space (Rec. 2100 PQ or HLG).
• In Media Encoder pick HEVC (H.265) with a Main10 profile and an HDR preset.

After Effects pitfalls

• The native H.264 output in the Render Queue (Composition > Add to Render Queue) is quick, but Media Encoder is the route for 2-pass, keyframe distance and HEVC.
• Render Queue H.264 presets set Profile and Level from the comp size automatically.
• Motion graphics with fine detail need more bitrate than camera footage: do not go below the target shown.

Shinel Studios

Rather send the footage and get upload-ready edits back?

Our editors cut, caption, colour and export to each platform's spec, with 2 revision rounds. Shorts come back in 48-72 hours, long videos in 5-10 days.