ProRes 422 huge file size increase

[Jerry Hofmann]

That sounds about right. Here’s a read on it all: https://images.apple.com/finalcutstudio/docs/Apple_ProRes_White_Paper_July_2009.pdf

Jerry

Apple Certified Trainer, Producer, Writer, Director Editor, Gun for Hire and other things. I ski. My Blog: https://blogs.creativecow.net/Jerry-Hofmann

Current DVD:
https://store.creativecow.net/p/81/jerry_hofmanns_final_cut_system_setup

8-Core 3.0 Intel Mac Pro, Dual 2 gig G5, AJA Kona SD, AJA Kona 2, Huge Systems Array UL3D, AJA Io HD, 17″ MBP, Matrox MXO2 with MAX – Cinema Displays I have a 22″ that I paid 4k for still working. G4 with Kona SD card, and SCSI card.

[Paul Jay]

i-frame codecs are always bigger in size. All frames are there.
There’s less processor power needed for interpolation so it brings more stability, more streams, more realtime fx. Less heavy rendering. Rendering stuff in H264 or HDV is a nightmare 😛

[Arvid Utas]

OK… I just had a look through the white paper but I think I’m still confused..
I guess I assumed that applying the ProRes codec would either make the file size smaller or at most equal to the original file size, thinking that it was some kind of a compression. And that even though an increase in resolution from 720 to 1080 would increase the filesize it wouldnt be almost 6 times bigger.. It seems a bit pointless to me, because surely the image quality can’t get any better once it has been recorded?

Which part have I got mixed up?

Thanks for helping

[Jerry Hofmann]

Paul’s answer is correct. You need to understand that what you recorded was GOP structured media. Not every pixel of every frame is actually recorded in the media file, and FCP doesn’t support native H.264 files.

I’d stay 720, unless you’re mixing with native 1080 source material. Might try ProRes LT depending on the project’s intended delivery and contents. Smaller files will result. It’s broadcast quality video…

ProRes is far easier on a machine to deal with because every pixel of every frame is recorded in the file (all reconstructed from the GOP structured media at one time during the conversion process), so the computer doesn’t have to look at a pile of frames to understand what these partial frames actually contain. Renders can become very long… especially compressions destined for the web.

ProRes is 10 bit video so you work in 10 bit sequence settings. 4 times as much possible colors can be actually recorded in a 10 bit file. All computer generated images look better for sure. Like gradient images are way better. And it all renders faster because every pixel of every frame is actually contained in the file itself. I’d stay native 720 though. 720 ProRes is really nice to work with I think.

Even the 8 bit recording you’ve started with shooting with that camera gets described as a 10 bit recording. Better color space all round actually. 4:2:2 instead of 4:2:0…

Jerry

Apple Certified Trainer, Producer, Writer, Director Editor, Gun for Hire and other things. I ski. My Blog: https://blogs.creativecow.net/Jerry-Hofmann

Current DVD:
https://store.creativecow.net/p/81/jerry_hofmanns_final_cut_system_setup

8-Core 3.0 Intel Mac Pro, Dual 2 gig G5, AJA Kona SD, AJA Kona 2, Huge Systems Array UL3D, AJA Io HD, 17″ MBP, Matrox MXO2 with MAX – Cinema Displays I have a 22″ that I paid 4k for still working. G4 with Kona SD card, and SCSI card.

[Arvid Utas]

Alright, I get it now. yes its mixed with 1080 footage.
I can’t find 422 LT in Compressor, I guess that’s because I haven’t got the latest version (I have 3.05)..
Many thanks Jerry and Paul!

[Jerry Hofmann]

You need the latest version of Final Cut Studio to get the LT version of ProRes…

Jerry