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Codecs, codecs, codecs!!!
Hey all,
I work for an advertising agency and I’m trying to figure out what my best option is for archiving and mastering all the videos I work on.
After finishing a video I need to…
1. Put it on an external server that can be accessed by the entire agency.
I often use these files for creating DVDs. Is ProRes a good solution for in-house “masters” that I can use in DVD studio and also create smaller versions (H.264) for clients, emailing, etc.?
2. Send it to an outside dubs house for laying to tape.
I have been sending uncompressed (no codec) for this purpose. However, file sizes can be huge for longer videos. Since I’m already creating ProRes versions (maybe…see above) is this acceptable for laying to tape?
Hope this all makes sense! Just trying to figure out the best way to have what I need, not have to make 28 different versions of the same video, and save as much space as possible. Ugh.
Thanks!!!
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2 Replies
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ProRes isn’t universally compatible. In order to play it back you either need to have FCP6+ installed or have the ProRes decoder loaded. The decoder is free so that’s a nice thing. It’s also for windows and mac, but anyone who wants to see the file will need to load the codec, which can be a hassle. It’s kind of a trade off.
I’d keep a ProRes master, then maybe have a Photo-JPEG copy too for everyone else to see.
-Russ
Russell Lasson
Universal Post
Ridgeline Digital Cinema Mastering
Salt Lake City, UT -
[James Whittington] “Since I’m already creating ProRes versions (maybe…see above) is this acceptable for laying to tape? “
I switched to a Prores workflow a few months ago and have delivered many shows shot either Digibeta or HDCam, captured and edited either ProRes / Prores HQ. Once done, I export a self contained QT of the final timeline complete with test signal and slate to be output back to the source tape format for network delivery.
All you need to do is make sure the facility that will be doing the output can work with the Prores QT.Colin McQuillan
Vancouver, B.C.
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