The best way to compress video

Hi everyone. Here is my question:

I've edited some music videos in Final Cut Express HD, (the original content was from a DV camera), and I want to upload them to Youtube.
I've exported one of the edited videos (from FCE), using Quicktime with conversion. I've tried with different types of conversion, but always the quality of the exported file, is poor. At the same time, the video turns wider.
I also have compressed the video in imovie, with similar results.
The size of the edited video (Final cut) is almost one Gig, and the size of the converted file, is less than 50 Mg.

I also have exported the video with no compression, using Quicktime (no conversion). Then, when I open it in Final Cut, it appears fine, but when I open the same video in Quicktime, it appears wider.

I'll appreciate any help. Thanks in advance

In order to get better quality when doing compressions from Final Cut, iMovie (the advanced share settings) or quicktime pro, you should increase the Bitrate in the compression settings. That determines basically how much data is stored. There are also preset options in most cases, the CD-ROM option in iMovie should be sufficent quality for YouTube.

First, are you talking about uploading to utube.com or YouTube.com? There is a difference.

I have to assume you are using menu items File --> "Export". You'll want to choose "Movie to QuickTime Movie" I think and set the video to use H.264 and use the best of the settings. Frame rate should be the native DV framerate. I think you'll want to export to a size of 640x480 to set the aspect ratio properly.

See this LAFCPUG link for more tips.