Archival concern about ProRes

[Mark Raudonis]

Let me say it politely: Your archivist is wrong.

mark

[Shane Ross]

If you have Quicktime 7.6…you can play ProRes. PC, MAC…no FCP required.

Shane

GETTING ORGANIZED WITH FINAL CUT PRO DVD…don’t miss it.
Read my blog, Little Frog in High Def

[Eben Shapiro]

Hi Mark and Shane,

I have to confess, it’s not just the archivist. I have some concerns about leaving them in this codec too. I’m imagining fifty years from now where the unknowable is painted in by my fears. What if Apple drops support for ProRes in the distant future and neither Final Cut or Quicktime can play them?

Thank you,

Eben

[Zane Barker]

[Eben Shapiro] “What if Apple drops support for ProRes in the distant future and neither Final Cut or Quicktime can play them? “

Then my guess is that at that point you wont be able to use ANY codec available today. Yes things change, its part of life. So choose the best option available at the time and move forward, and right now that best option is ProRes. If at some point in the further it looks like support will be discontinued then convert to a newer codec at that time.

Because face it you cannot archive now in a codec of the future. You can only use the best option available currently and like I said that currently ProRes.

**Hindsight is always 1080p**

[Mark Raudonis]

Dude…

YOU won’t be around in fifty years either!

Any archivist will tell you that a true long
term plan REQUIRES media migration as
technology changes. Unless you go out
to film … and b & w color separations, there’s
no safe, tried and true method. Tape degrades.
Magnetic fields fade. Formats become obsolete.

That’s life.

Mark

[Zane Barker]

[Mark Raudonis] “Unless you go out to film”

In 50 years the only place you will be able to watch a movie on film will be in a museum.

**Hindsight is always 1080p**

[Mark Raudonis]

True, but we’re talking about archiving, not displaying.

mark

[Zane Barker]

[Mark Raudonis] “True, but we’re talking about archiving, not displaying”

Well if you cant display it then whats the point of archiving.

My point is even arcing to film is not going to ensure that you can use it in 50 years.

**Hindsight is always 1080p**

[Jeremy Garchow]

[Eben Shapiro] ” I’m imagining fifty years from now where the unknowable is painted in by my fears.”

It’s time for a vacation.

[Shane Ross]

Just as an FYI, the Library of Congress archives EVERYTHING onto film. Every video they want to archive is archived on film. And, they have literally EVERY kind of deck you can imagine there. Multiple decks, to ensure they can play this all back.

This was on an episode of Modern Marvels..

Shane

GETTING ORGANIZED WITH FINAL CUT PRO DVD…don’t miss it.
Read my blog, Little Frog in High Def