Edit long prores render without re-encoding

[Morten]

We always use image sequences when rendering longer content from After Effects. This enables us to go in and re-render / overwrite parts of it, when doing revisions.

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[Ivan Myles]

Smart rendering is another option. You would render ProRes preview files, then enable “Use Previews” in the export panel.

To make quick fixes on your current project, import the ProRes file and insert it in a new sequence. Overlay the desired changes on another track (or splice out the old footage with the razor tool). If appropriate, replace the audio stream from the ProRes file with the original audio. Even though the ProRes file will be expanded and re-encoded, it should not take long when there are no effects to render. There should not be any noticeable degradation in quality with ProRes 422(HQ).

[David Edwards]

Thanks, It still does take around two hours for a piece this length. Nothing like the original 8 or whatever it was, but still more than I’d like for just a title swap…

I guess I incorrectly assumed there was some way to splice/merge segments just for simple edits.

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[Chris Gunningham]

Quicktime 7 will allow you to save without rencoding as you suggest, quite cumbersome but see here: https://tutorialgenius.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/joining-mp4-files-together-without-re.html

Chris Gunningham
Online/VFX Editor

[Ivan Myles]

[David Edwards] “I guess I incorrectly assumed there was some way to splice/merge segments just for simple edits.”

With smart rendering any untouched clips are copied instead of recompressed, if I understand correctly. It might not be the best option for you now because the preview files would need to be rendered.

[Kevin Monahan]

Hi,
Which version of Premiere Pro are you working with?

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Kevin

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[David Edwards]

CS6, I have CC but haven’t made the jump yet.

[David Edwards]

Thanks Ivan.

So in the case of image sequences, I use them when I plan to composite more or if someone asks for a sequence, but have never really used them as the default ‘lossless’ output. In that case what would be your preferred workflow to add audio, do you re-import the image sequence, layer audio and then recompress to delivery codec?

I guess even with an image sequence, this seems to me like the same issue as I’d have with any codec, the need to import, edit and re-render a timeline? (short of the “smart render” and “use previews”.)

[Ivan Myles]

[David Edwards] ” In that case what would be your preferred workflow to add audio, do you re-import the image sequence, layer audio and then recompress to delivery codec?”

Essentially, yes. Use ProRes instead of DPX if storage space is constrained. When the video is not being re-scaled I send jobs to the AME queue.

[David Edwards] “I guess even with an image sequence, this seems to me like the same issue as I’d have with any codec, the need to import, edit and re-render a timeline? (short of the “smart render” and “use previews”.)”

DPX is already expanded so you only have the encoding time. ProRes needs to be expanded and then compressed. Both options will still be faster than rendering and encoding together if you have more than one file to encode.

[David Edwards]

Hey thanks this has been super helpful. Better understanding already.