• Compression Techniques

  Best Choice of Codec

  Posted by Andrew Hamilton on April 7, 2011 at 7:23 pm

  Hey Guys

  I’ll be participating in a film challenge this weekend and unfortunately I’m having a little bit of a codec run around. These are the options they’ve given us for final delivery:

  ProRes HQ/422/LT
  .H264
  HDV
  XDCAM EX
  DVCPRO HD
  DV
  DVCPRO50

  Unfortunately I do no use a mac or I’d definitely go ProResHQ, and I know that they are planning on re encoding them so H264 is already a no no. Now, the other codecs I am not familiar enough with to make a decision on. Now, I’m here. Which codec should I go to for the best result?

  Jeff Greenberg replied 15 years, 1 month ago 3 Members · 5 Replies
• 5 Replies

• 

  Craig Seeman

  April 7, 2011 at 8:18 pm

  If you can afford Episode Engine you can encode to ProRes on Windows.

  Assuming you want to be in HD, I think DVCPRO HD might be best for your circumstance. XDCAM EX might actually be more efficient relative to quality (some might debate that) but you’d have to have the codec to deliver it and there’s some potential bumps in the road for delivery.

  Believe it or not H.264 can work at extremely high data rates. Some are beginning to accept it as an intermediate for broadcast.
• 

  Jeff Greenberg

  April 7, 2011 at 10:21 pm

  If you’re working at HD? I’d probably choose DVCPro HD – it’s a CBR Codec (the encode should be fast) and it’s the beefiest out of those choices.

  I’d run a test to see how ‘long’ it’ll really take.

  Best,

  Jeff G

  Apple Master Trainer | Avid Cert. Instructor DS/MC | Adobe Cert. Instructor
  ————
  You should follow me (filmgeek) on twitter. I promise to be nice.
  Come See me speak at NAB!
  Compressor Essentials from Lynda.com
  (older but still good) Marquee, Media Composer (3.5) and Basic/Advanced Color DVDs (1.0) from Vasst.com
  Contact me through my Website
• 

  Andrew Hamilton

  April 8, 2011 at 4:55 pm

  Hey guys.

  Thank you so much for the clarity. You’ve helped me out a lot. I’ll be testing out the dvcpro hd codec today to see what I’m dealing with for render times. You guys have really been a huge help and have saved me a huge amount of trouble for this weekend.

  Craig – I agree, as a delivery format I think h264 is amazing. I can certainly believe that its used within broadcast today. Thank you for the quick response man.
• 

  Andrew Hamilton

  April 9, 2011 at 12:54 am

  sorry guys, one last quick question.

  i’ll be working with a dslr on a windows based pc. i wanted to know what the best method would be to prepare the files for editing (software or otherwise)
• 

  Jeff Greenberg

  April 9, 2011 at 4:09 pm

  Editing on what?

  Premiere Pro? Handles DSLR.
  Avid? Handles DSLR?
  Vegas? Yeah, you get the point.

  Basically, it’ll work out of the box – except that it’ll work hard. Want a decent codec to transcode it to? Cineform – but you’ll pay them for it.

  Best,

  Jeff G

  Apple Master Trainer | Avid Cert. Instructor DS/MC | Adobe Cert. Instructor
  ————
  You should follow me (filmgeek) on twitter. I promise to be nice.
  Come See me speak at NAB!
  Compressor Essentials from Lynda.com
  (older but still good) Marquee, Media Composer (3.5) and Basic/Advanced Color DVDs (1.0) from Vasst.com
  Contact me through my Website

Reply to this Discussion! Login or Sign Up