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Is Apple ProRes 422 the best choice for a HD film?
Hello everybody!
I’ve been going through several forums regarding what is the best output module for a film that will be screened on festivals, so it will be viewed in a huge size screen and it might be broadcasted on TV.
I was told that AppleProRes 422 is my best choice. I am exporting the QT in After Effects into Final Cut for editing, and in FC I am going to set it up as AppleProRes422, but I was told that AppleProRes422(HQ)is overkill.
The film is 2K size, why is it an overkill then? I assume there will not be a difference on image quality then?I really need to make sure what is the best setting to project a 2K film in high definition on theatrical screenings…
thank you all! -
14 Replies
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The only difference you might see is in fast moving shots (fastish pans, or sporting scenes, chase scenes). Use HQ for those sorts of projects.
Other than less noise in fast movement, you’d not see a difference between HQ and plain old 422. LT is even appropriate for many jobs. it’s still a broadcast quality codec.
Jerry
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HQ is overkill for anything under 2K. You are working with 2K…so it is perfect.
Shane
Little Frog Post
Read my blog, Little Frog in High Def -
thanks Shane!
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[Shane Ross] “HQ is overkill for anything under 2K. You are working with 2K..”
Shane,
You can can consider that a codec “overkill” for what ever reason, but never because the frame size.
If Prores HQ is the optimal option for capturing DigiBeta, why should be “overkill” for 720 or 1080?
rafael -
HQ is meant for 10 bit source formats. Digibeta…well, isn’t, but I consider it so. Or is it? Sorry, haven’t dealt with SD in a while.
ANYWAY…I use ProRes 422 for 720 or 1080 8-bit formats…like AVCHD, DVCPRO HD, H.264 from DSLR, HDV, XDCAM. But 10 bit formats, like AVCIntra, RED, Alexa, HDCAM SR…I use HQ. I assume that 2K is a 100bit format…I’m not aware of a 2K 8-bit format. NOt that it might not exist, but I don’t know of one. I assume it is 10-bit, so HQ is fine.
Shane
Little Frog Post
Read my blog, Little Frog in High Def -
You see Shane, that sounds different.
Considering ProresHQ for converting 10b source is acceptable. Probably there is nothing to win using it instead of PR422.
But saying that “should be used only for 2K” means that shouldn’t be used to convert smaller 10b formats like DigiBeta (yes is 10b compressed) or the PANASONIC AVC-Intra (1080/720).[Shane Ross] ” I assume that 2K is a 100bit format…I’m not aware of a 2K 8-bit format.”
The new JVC records Quad-4K with AVCHD (8b/420). Sure will come more big size formats recording very compressed 8b.
rafael -
Digibeta 10bit compressed????? It was 8 bit lossless for all the years I used it, the only 10bit part was the SDI connections.
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[Andrew Rendell] “Digibeta 10bit compressed????? It was 8 bit lossless for all the years I used it, the only 10bit part was the SDI connections.”
So, up to the SONY papers you have been all those years managing 10b compressed stuff thinking that was 8b.
Look in page 31 . VTR Section > General > Quantization : 10b/sample
https://www.creativevideo.co.uk/pdf/sony_dvw_camcorders.pdfMore info here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BetacamI’ve never used it (that was for millionaires), but I know that Apple released the 10b Uncompressed codec to deal with this format.
rafael -
Hi Esther,
What nobody has asked is what your original shooting format was. Or is this all animation from After Effects?
For a 2K festival projection there’s definitely plenty of cause to be using (at least) ProRes422 HQ, but then there’s nothing to be gained if this was shot on a little DSLR camera for instance – it’s horses for courses. You’re working at 2K so I’m guessing it’s either all animation, or shot on either Alexa or Red. In any of those cases, ProRes 422 HQ or ProRes 4444 are appropriate mastering formats. In terms of delivering to festivals, you need to check with them what they want. Some of the bigger ones will want a DCP, some may even want 35mm. Most will probably request HDCAM.
Alex Elkins
Twitter: @postbluetv
http://www.postblue.tv
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Just to correct a bit of misinformation, ProRes422 and ProRes422(HQ) are both 10bit codecs.
Warren Eig
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