Prores LT vs Prores (standard)

[Rob Gutermuth]

my usual sequence settings are for HDV, because 2 of the 3 or 4 cameras that I shoot with used that, but now I can capture to Prores via SDI, so I want an HD sequence setting that will match that I guess… since now I’d have 3 out of 4 cameras in a shoot that would be 1920×1080…. and then I guess have the other HDV footage rendered on that timeline to 1920×1080 from 1440×1080, right? Im just wondering about the quality, but yes, I know you only had 1/2 the story…

Simple editing, no compositing… just some brief text at end and beginning… I will just use the 3 way color corrector to match the 3 cameras color/contrast and brightness wise… so, some minor color correction.

if Im most concerned with a good quality MPEG2 (Im using episode to do the MPEG2 for DVD) – will I see any difference between exporting final sequence to Prores LT, or should I stay with the standard prores?

I have to export it this way, and not use “current settings” because for some reason, on this machine, the audio drifts out of sync over time – but if I have it export to anything else, it’s ok.

Also, would it be better to export to Prores NTSC 16×9 for import into Episode, or should I give episode my full HD file, and have it do the downconversion?

I know a lot of this is trial and error, and “see what looks better” – but I was really just going for a smaller file size vs any quality difference, and based on not re-encoding the codec 15 times…

off topic – what is the best color grader to use past the 3 way color correction? would that be the davinci product?

thanks for all the help

Rob Gutermuth
Media Creations

[Rob Gutermuth]

This really doesn’t answer my original question… “get more storage” really?

Like saying… how can I make my car more fuel efficient? – Buy a different car….

I find it hard to believe that people aren’t using LT for HD material – 4K? maybe not, but for 1080i footage? Im sure it’s being used…

So, I will re-ask the question…

is there a noticeable difference between Prores LT and Prores422 if Im not looking to re-compress the video more than once? if so, great, I will take the hit on larger file sizes (I have 15TB’s btw) but I have 12 projects that all require about 750gb each and they are all there at once.

The way I understand it, is the more you re-compress, the higher codec you need to start with? but are there other factors if the footage to start with is 1080i 59.94

Has anyone uprezzed 1440x1080i HDV footage to 1920×1080 Square upper prores, and was happier with the results than if they just stayed in 1440×1080?

Thanks

Rob Gutermuth
Media Creations