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ProRes Question. Varicam Footage
I just shot a short with the Varicam. We’ve already captured the footage via firewire to the DVC-PRO HD codec. All the media is now living on a firewire hard drive and the short is 90% finished.
I’m looking for ways to make the footage look better before delivery. I guess on “online” before festival delivery. We’d like to use “color” for our grading and get the most out of our footage.
My question is… do I have to re-capture all of the footage using the ProRes 4:2:2 Codec in order get the quality it should deliver? Or can I take the footage that’s already been captured via firewire and put it into a ProRes timeline.
Also, if we use the ProRes 4:2:2 codec (or uncompressed) how much better will the footage look? I know that’s a totally subjective question and there are many variables… I’m just trying to get a ballpark idea. Is it worth it. Can you really see a difference… or is it very subtle and more beneficial for special effects.
The footage will be projected digitally. 720P.
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6 Replies
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[Michael Pierre] “My question is… do I have to re-capture all of the footage using the ProRes 4:2:2 Codec in order get the quality it should deliver? Or can I take the footage that’s already been captured via firewire and put it into a ProRes timeline.”
Color has the ability to convert the content to prores on render, direct from the DVCPROHD content as acquired. So let color do the work on output.
gary adcock
Studio37
HD & Film Consultation
Post and Production Workflows -
Will converting DVCPRO HD to PRO RES increase the quality of the footage? No. Not at all. The footage was compressed as DVCPRO HD in the camera to tape or to P2. And if you injested natively, that is the best you are gonna get. WHICH IS PRETTY DARN GOOD, BTW!
BUT, DVCPRO HD is an 8-bit codec…ProRes 422 is a 10-bit codec. What does that mean? That means that when you add filters or color correct a 10-bit codec, the quality will be better than that of an 8-bit codec. Less “stepping” artifacts…and the color space is better. It will look better.
Shane
Littlefrog Post
http://www.lfhd.net -
So in other words i have to recapture the footage at ProRes 422 ten bit codec in order to do get the best possible image?
Also, I’m confused… what’s the difference between ProRes 4:2:2 and regular uncompressed 10bit DVC-PRO HD. (Other than ProRes takes up less room?
Which is better quality?
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[Michael Pierre] “So in other words i have to recapture the footage at ProRes 422 ten bit codec in order to do get the best possible image?”
Or transcode into ProRes 422. Dropping your footage into a ProRes timeline and rendering will take care of that. But again, IT WILL NOT INCREASE THE QUALITY OF YOUR IMAGE. It will reduce the amount of artifacting that will occur when you add filters and color correct. 10-bit is better for this than 8-bit…less artifacting.
[Michael Pierre] “what’s the difference between ProRes 4:2:2 and regular uncompressed 10bit DVC-PRO HD. (Other than ProRes takes up less room? Which is better quality?”
There is NO SUCH THING as uncompressed 10-bit DVCPRO HD. DVCPRO HD is an 8-bit codec and is highly compressed. What is the difference between PRORes 422 and UNCOMPRESSED 10-BIT HD? File size. The requirements for playing back ProRes are FAR LESS than those required for UC 10-bit. And again, ProRes is a 10-bit codec, DVCPRO HD is an 8-bit codec. BETTER for color correction…better color space.
Shane
Littlefrog Post
http://www.lfhd.net -
[Shane Ross] “Or transcode into ProRes 422. Dropping your footage into a ProRes timeline and rendering will take care of that. But again, IT WILL NOT INCREASE THE QUALITY OF YOUR IMAGE. It will reduce the amount of artifacting that will occur when you add filters and color correct. 10-bit is better for this than 8-bit…less artifacting.”
NAH
go back to my original comments, since you have this in DVCPROHD, and you want to work in COLOR – send the DVCPROHD content direct to Color then let COLOR do the conversion to 10 bit ProRes for you… No need to recapture- use the content as is- COLOR will render out to ProRes.
gary adcock
Studio37
HD & Film Consultation
Post and Production Workflows -
thanks guys.
Will try sending to color and grading.
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