Now with You Tube offering High Def, what would be the best workflow , assuming we start with an H.264 at 1240x720.
what would be your step by srep guide for optimal You Tube HD experience?

Robert,

Check out my settings below. I'm using Adobe Premiere CS3 (PC) and I'm sure the basic settings can be applied to almost any NLEs.

1. Shoot your video at 720 or 1080.
2. Capture in HD (of course, don't downcovert to SD)
3. Edit in HD
4. Export to 1280x720, H.264 codec(a), 5Mbps, compressed audio(b).

Notes: (a) use QuickTime or MainConcept's H.264, (b) Apple Lossless, AAC, or MP3 works.

See the video: YouTube - Export HD Quality 1280x720 Widescreen Settings for YouTube HD (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-zzGQqGFhc)

Adobe Premiere Pro CS3 Export Settings
(Use (Adobe Media Encoder" not "Export Movie")

Format: QuickTime
Range: ~
Preset: YouTube HD (this is the name of MY preset)

Summary: 1280x720, 29.97 [fps], Progressive, 24-bit - Color
Apple Lossless, 32 kHz, Stereo
Alternates: 0

Video Codec: H.264
Quality: 100
Frame Width [pixels]: 1,280
Frame Height [pixes]: 720
Frame Rate [fps]: 29.97
Field Order: Non (Progressive)
Pixel Aspect Ratio: Square Pixels (1.0)

Set Bitrate [kbps]: 5,000 kbps

Uncheck everything else in Filters, Alternates, and Others

thanks, I will try that. I am using FCE 3.5