Resolve 10 bit export to avoid banding.

[Prateek Srivastava]

Hey folks.

I was wondering  if there is any way I could export my rec709 non HDR timeline in 10 bit for youtube just too avoid banding?

I heard that youtube supports 10 bit footage ,so it would be a lot better if I could render in 10 bit for youtube purpose

[Mazze]

You can, but in 99% Youtube will convert it to an 8 bit h264 again and stream that, instead of your 10 bit source.
Mainly because browsers to my knowledge are not able to decode 10 bit h264.
Next, most monitors that Youtube is being watched on are 8 bit panels anyways.
However, many of them have good dithering functionality, taking care of any banding.
Given that, you can just export as 8 bit right from the start.

[Prateek Srivastava]

1 hour ago, Mazze said:

You can, but in 99% Youtube will convert it to an 8 bit h264 again and stream that, instead of your 10 bit source.
Mainly because browsers to my knowledge are not able to decode 10 bit h264.
Next, most monitors that Youtube is being watched on are 8 bit panels anyways.
However, many of them have good dithering functionality, taking care of any banding.
Given that, you can just export as 8 bit right from the start.

Yeah  I understand this. 

But I wanted to know how to export in 10 bit, there's no such option in h.264/5 to render in 10bit.

Could you please elaborate the process? 

[Stef Colosi]

Don't think H264 supports 10-bit, but in H265 change the profile from Main to  Main 10. But as suggested unless you are doing an HDR file, youtube will transcode that 10-bit H265 into 8-bit Vp9 and H264.

Edited June 17, 2020 by Stef Colosi

[Mazze]

H264 does support 10 bit (in normal MP4s, but also in MXF - XAVC, XF-AVC and AVC-I are basically 10 bit H264 flavors).

However, not all players can decode it. Also not sure whether Resolve allows to render 10 bit h264.

In any case - as Stef mentioned, it might be a moot point anyways, since Youtube will convert it back to 8 bit.

[Prateek Srivastava]

On 6/17/2020 at 9:10 PM, Mazze said:

H264 does support 10 bit (in normal MP4s, but also in MXF - XAVC, XF-AVC and AVC-I are basically 10 bit H264 flavors).

However, not all players can decode it. Also not sure whether Resolve allows to render 10 bit h264.

In any case - as Stef mentioned, it might be a moot point anyways, since Youtube will convert it back to 8 bit.

Okay got it!,but it would sill be viable for vimeo though?

[Mazze]

Don't believe so.

[Stef Colosi]

I think Vimeo does take 10 bit, it definitely does on hdr

[Clément Bouchet]

Are you tried to add monochromatic noise on your plates? It will help a lot for 8 bits renders. We do that all the time at my workplace.

 

[Prateek Srivastava]

 

On 6/23/2020 at 9:35 AM, Clément Bouchet said:

Are you tried to add monochromatic noise on your plates? It will help a lot for 8 bits renders. We do that all the time at my workplace.

 

You mean Grain?

If it is then yes I do!

[Prateek Srivastava]

I rendered in h.265 main 10 and it got a decent image on Vimeo but unfortunately for youtube it still sucks.

Here are the videos for your reference -

Vimeo - 

Youtube -