FCP X: Problems Uploading to YouTube

Posted on May 5, 2013 by Larry

Recently, I’ve had a lot of emails from editors with problems uploading (Sharing) files to YouTube directly from Final Cut Pro X.

So, I did some checking and discovered that the problems were caused by Google.

In early April, Google changed the APIs that control uploading to YouTube. These changes broke all automated upload systems – meaning uploads originating anywhere except a Browser – including Final Cut Pro X.

Then, on April 19, Google changed these APIs back to their original settings. This meant that YouTube exporting works again inside FCP X.

Hopefully, Google will leave things alone for a while.

On a related note, I’m getting periodic reports of problems with Vimeo uploading and DVD burning. These settings have not changed in FCP X 10.0.8, so they should still work.

However, my general preference and recommendation is to handle Sharing in three steps:

Export a Master File ( File > Share > Master file). This provides the fastest export with the highest quality.
Review that master file to make sure it looks and plays OK.
Compress, or transfer, that master file as needed using Compressor.

Yes, this process takes a couple of extra steps, but I have found the results to be consistently higher quality and most reliable. It is also the fastest way to export.

BIG NOTE: As FCP X shares (exports) a file, it creates a file name with the word “TEMP” at the end. This means that the export is continuing and, for some projects, that export can take a long time as FCP both renders and exports a project. Do not do anything with a file that has TEMP at the end of the file name. Wait until the export is complete, and the word TEMP disappears before moving, renaming, or compressing the exported file.

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26 Responses to FCP X: Problems Uploading to YouTube

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sarah li says:

September 5, 2014 at 8:18 am

hi. I have been uploading fine from FCPX to youtube however since JULY I cannot upload AT ALL.

I’ve googled multiple forums and followed their suggestions IE LOGIN details, rendering selections and changing to smaller quality of the file but NOTHING works!

What else can I do? My FCPX is up to date. cant think what is wrong.
LarryJ says:

September 5, 2014 at 9:35 am

Sarah:

Hmmm… I have not heard of this problem from anyone else, which makes me think there’s a specific problem with your system. My suggestion is to call Apple Support.

Larry
Melzy2tall says:

October 15, 2014 at 11:18 am

HI, I am using FCP X, and I’m trying to share a new client’s video to their YouTube channel, but I keep getting the No YouTube Account LInked error when I enter their correct email and password (I know it is correct because when I log in to YouTube separately form FCP X I get right in).
I have checked other forums and they all say to go into the setting on the YouTube account to change the Third Party App access, but that panel is not available anymore inside YouTube with Google’s latest changes. Any advice for me?
I would rather not dump them down as master files and do it manually, as i will have about 20 pieces to upload, and I do not need .mov files takin up space on my external drive, plus it adds a step.

Help!
LarryJ says:

October 15, 2014 at 11:38 am

Melzy2tall:

Hmmm… I don’t have a suggestion here, as I don’t go direct to YouTube out of FCP X.

My suggestion is to contact Apple Support and let us know what you find out.

Larry
Tangier Clarke says:

February 8, 2016 at 8:54 pm

I noticed that I had the problem too, but then noticed that if the Description field was empty it didn’t work. If I put something in the description field, it worked.
Tamara says:

May 8, 2016 at 7:11 pm

Hi,
When I review my finished work in FCP it looks great. Once uploaded onto Youtube it flickers at the beginning for some reason. I’m not sure if it’s because I exported it as H264. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
Larry says:

May 8, 2016 at 10:16 pm

Tamara:

Generally, flickering will be caused either by a compression bit rate that is too low – in which case the flickering will occur during the entire movie – or a slow Internet connection – where the flickering represents initial buffering of your movie.

In the case of option 1, increasing compression bit rate will help. In the case of option 2, there’s nothing you can do to reduce it.

Larry
Richard DePaulo Jr. says:

July 21, 2016 at 11:35 am

When I export from FNCPX. Then in Safarie login to You Tube, and use the You Tube websites upload file command once uploaded I do not get the chapter marks passed through so as to be used as thumbnail inner menu?

Is there a way to pass the chapter markers into you tube to create a jump to menu chapter menu with my FNCPX chapter markers ? How ?
Larry says:

July 21, 2016 at 1:56 pm

Richard:

To the best of my knowledge, YouTube does not support QuickTime chapter markers.

Larry
Breno says:

November 30, 2016 at 5:33 pm

My FCP keeps sending messages of failed share and nothing else, no specification or anything. I haven’t found anywhere ways to solve this. Can you help?