FCP7 Converting ProRes 422 to h.264 using compressor….Why is it taking so long?

[David Eaks]

Thank you for taking the time Rafael, I appreciate your detailed reply. This is the type of technical info I was hoping for when I commented on Larry’s article, but I didn’t get it.

For reference, my advice was: Larry’s method BUT with Frame Controls (FC) on for producing the “best” quality (not necessarily meaning best possible in the world). I still argue that using Compressor to downscale HD Prores to SD Prores (with Frame Controls either on or off) produces a very nice downscale.

I just did a test encode with a custom preset which I made in Compressor when Larry released the article I linked. It follows his method precisely. I applied the setting to a Job with a random short clip of 1920x1080i Prores twice. One of them I left as is, the other I turned on FC resize/deinterlace set to better, not best. Submitted the Batch resulting in two versions of the same video.

With FC off, the encode took about 4 minutes

With FC on, it took about 40 minutes

Both look nearly identical when played side by side.

I also did a test with the same 1920×1080 clip in FCPX with the sequence settings changed to NTSC SD 720×480 Anamorphic. Then exported SD Prores Master File. It exported in 1:15.

Here is a comparison video, Youtube butchers the quality so I also included a screenshot of the QT 7 Player window at actual size. It shows what Larry’s “FC OFF” method looks like to me, here on my Mac.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HFx99VvhNTU&feature=youtu.be

With all technicalities, math and science aside, I must say that Larry’s method produces a very good resize to SD, when judged by looking at the results with my eyes. I think this SD Prores gives a great starting point for Compressor to compress and burn with Apple DVD Best Settings.

I DO NOT argue that this is higher quality than your suggestions. I DO argue that the statement “that’s a very poor workflow” gives the impression that the Larry’s method will produce a low quality, ugly to the eye video. It does not.

No matter what, I’m having fun with this and look forward to more.