settings for optimal audio on youtube?

[Shahin Izadi]

I've edited some footage (prores) in FCP with a single audio clip that is a .wav file.

My goal is to upload to Youtube with the absolute highest audio quality. I'm using Compressor to export in the h.264 codec.

What's the best procedure?

I've been using the following settings:

Format: AAC
Channels: Stereo (L,R)
Rate: 44.1
Quality: Best
Target Bit Rate: 128 kbps

I think I've tried this (or something close to it) once before, and while it sounded good in youtube's "HD" setting, it sounded bad (distorted) in SD. I'll run some tests, but was wondering if anyone can recommend a better method of getting the best audio?

Should I increase the target bit rate? Should I convert the .wav file to .aiff in FCP? Should I output to something other than AAC?

[Robert Lane]

The audio settings you're using are just fine, increasing the quality won't end up with a better result online as YT and all the other web-based content aggregators will end up compressing your file again anyway.

What's more important is how good the original audio was recorded and, how well sound-processing was used either during the recording (wet) or post-processing such as compressor/limiting/EQ. If the original sound isn't that great then the best settings in Compressor won't matter.

Just remember: Mud in, murky stuff out.