Bit rate for youtube

[TOmeish]

I've noticed when I finish editing a video and export to YT some times the video doesn't seem as sharp as others. I read that if the file size is too big YT will reduce the quality ( by lowering bit rate?)- recommended is 8MBps for HD shooting 30fps.
I use a Canon XA20 and shoot in Mp4 1920x1080p 30p. In the export menu of B4W does anyone know the approx bit rates for ; Low, Medium, High, and Max in the quality drop down menu. For 'Mode' I usually use MP4 but have recently noticed (before I export to YT) that H.264(TS) seems a little clearer although the file size is slightly larger. As mentioned before I shoot all videos in 1920x1080p, 16:9, 30p. What would be the best 'Mode' and 'Quality' settings for a really sharp video on YT? TIA

[LouBruno]

First, I recommend to stay away from any M2T files.

Yes.. .264 is sharper. It is lossless, meaning no or little compression.

AVI at Max works as well and Jorge uses this upload for his You Tubes. My understanding that AVI is actually a wrapper with MP4 within.

The bottom line is we are at the mercy of compression offered by You Tube, Vimeo etc.

[TOmeish]

Thanks Lou. I'm surprised Jorge uses .avi files for YT because that's one of the big no, no's they say not to use. I might be wrong but thought avi was not compressed meaning it would be a large file size and if uploaded to YT would be downsized.
Like I mentioned in first post would you know what bitrate numbers are in 'Quality' mode for low, medium, high and max? I don't remember where i saw it but I think 'high' was around 15MBps and 'medium' was between 8-11MBps, but I could be wrong. There is a free video tool called "HandBrake" that supposedly allows you to upload High def video to YT without hardly any quality loss esp. sharpness. Have you ever heard of this freeware converter?
Thanks

[JBrooks]

I too use .AVI at MAX quality for You Tube uploads.......works great.