Desktop editor · Windows, macOS, Linux
Shotcut export settings, per platform.
Where every export setting lives in Shotcut, what it can and cannot control, and a guide for each platform.
What Shotcut 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)
- 1Settings > Video Mode: pick 1920 x 1080 at 30 fps (or Custom > Add to make it).
- 2Open the Export panel and choose the stock preset YouTube (H.264/AAC MP4), then click Advanced.
- 3Video tab: Resolution 1920 x 1080, Frames/sec 30, Scan mode Progressive.
- 4Codec tab: Codec libx264. Rate control Average Bitrate + Dual pass, Bitrate 8M.
- 5Codec tab: GOP 15 frames, B frames 2. Tick Dual pass if you chose Average Bitrate.
- 6Audio tab: 2 (stereo), 48000 Hz, aac, 384k.
- 7Click Export Video/Audio, name the file and save. Progress shows in the Jobs panel.
For HDR
- Settings > Processing Mode: Native 10-bit CPU (or Linear 10-bit).
- Video Mode > Custom: set Dynamic range to PQ HDR or HLG HDR.
- Export with the ten_bit preset HEVC Main 10 Profile (libx265); add HDR metadata with the HDR button on the Codec tab.
Shotcut pitfalls
- Rate control, bitrate and GOP live on the Codec tab, not the Video tab.
- The stock YouTube preset uses quality-based VBR with a GOP of 15 frames; change it if a platform wants 2-second keyframes.
- HDR10 metadata is written only by libx265 and SVT-AV1, not by hardware encoders.
- Untick Use preview scaling before the final export.
Shotcut export settings by platform
Frequently asked questions
What are the best Shotcut export settings?
For a 1080p upload: H.264 High profile, your recorded frame rate, 8-12 Mbps (higher for 4K), AAC audio at 48 kHz, MP4. The exact numbers depend on the platform; pick one below.
Can Shotcut set a bitrate?
Yes. It also offers 2-pass encoding.
Can Shotcut export HDR?
Yes. Settings > Processing Mode: Native 10-bit CPU (or Linear 10-bit).
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.