prores vs dvcpro

[Graeme Nattress]

Lots of differences:

DVCProHD – ProRes
1280×1080 1920×1080
960×720 1280×720
8bit 10bit
4:2:2 * 4:2:2
Camera Codec Intermediate codec
I-Frame Only I-Frame Only
Constant bit rate ** Variable Bit Rate
100mb/s 145 – 220 mb/s (target)

* – Although DVCproHD is 4:2:2, it is so at a reduced resolution, giving it only 640 chroma pixels across the image, compared to 960 in ProRes (in 1080).

** – Although DVCproHD has a constant bit rate, the bit rate can be lower when not recording to tape as duplicate frames are not recorded in some modes. When recording 720p24, the effective bit rate drops to 40mb/s. I’ve not explored ProRes enough to know what it’s bitrates drop to with lower frame rates.

– http://www.nattress.com – Film Effects and Standards Conversion for FCP

[Walter Biscardi]

[libovh] “and whether either will still require an upres to full uncompressed HD later on in the process…”

I’ve delivered over 50 or 60 HD Broadcast Masters fully posted and mastered in the DVCPro HD format.

We’re going to look at ProRes as an alternative as we move forward, but DVCPro HD is certainly clean enough for broadcast delivery.

Walter Biscardi, Jr.
https://www.biscardicreative.com
HD Editorial & Animation for Broadcast and independent productions.

All Things Apple Podcast! https://cowcast.creativecow.net/all_things_apple/index.html

Read my blog! https://blogs.creativecow.net/WalterBiscardi

[Rafael Amador]

Can be used Prores for SD?
It will inherit the “10b Unc” bug?
Cheers,
rafael

[Gary Morris mcbeath]

I agree with you Walter: DVCProHD is great for many uses. I’ve found shooting a picture with a relatively low amount of detail, it is nearly indistinguishable from my HDCAM master.

But shooting an outdoors scene with lots of detail, for example a downshot of a wheat field with a combine: everything in the picture will be noticably softer, I assume the result of the lower horizontal rez as well as the 100 Mbit compression. I can even see the difference on my 14″ monitor, let alone the 24″.

For now, I’m going with uncompressed, since my G-5 dual 2.7 just isn’t up to the task of ProRez.

Gary
SaltAire Cinema Productions

[Oliver Peters]

Until we see what the AJA ioHD will permit, ProRes422 pretty much requires a Mac Pro for capturing without dropping frames. Not sure about an MBP. You can do DVCProHD and uncompressed on the G5s just fine.

Sincerely,
Oliver

Oliver Peters Post Production Services, LLC
Orlando, FL
http://www.oliverpeters.com

[Walter Biscardi]

[Oliver Peters] “Until we see what the AJA ioHD will permit, ProRes422 pretty much requires a Mac Pro for capturing without dropping frames.”

The Io HD will allow any Mac that can run FCP 6 to encode / decode to ProRes as it does all of this via the on-board hardware. This is what was being shown at NAB and the major selling point of this box.

Walter Biscardi, Jr.
https://www.biscardicreative.com
HD Editorial & Animation for Broadcast and independent productions.

All Things Apple Podcast! https://cowcast.creativecow.net/all_things_apple/index.html

Read my blog! https://blogs.creativecow.net/WalterBiscardi

[Chris Poisson]

As an “older” G5 user (2gig dual) and with no plan to get a new Mac for the next few months at least, I have read about and implimented a practical approach to this whole Prores thing, at least in the short term.

No, I can’t capture it with my Kona LH. My capture needs are: from Beta SP via component, (pro res might actually work there, haven’t tried it yet) DVcam via component or Firewire, and HDV via component or Firewire. For the latter, there are a boatload of posts on this of late, and with all the opinions I still trust Graeme’s advice, work in native HDV, change the compressor to Prores when you’re done (or whatever) and render, deliver on tape or whatever. So all that’s missing right now with Prores is capture capability, but with the Media Manager, Compressor etc, if you want to work with Prores, you can convert it, and get on with it.

I’m not gonna slam Apple because we need to spend more to move forward, progress has ALWAYS cost money.

[Howard Libov]

just to get this particular thread back on, well, thread… my question has to do with hdcam originated material, not hdv, so the issue i’m keen on knowing about is dvcpro vs. prores… hdv is not an option for finishing my hdcam film.

thanks
howard

[Oliver Peters]

Walter,

I have specifically been told by AJA that until the product ships, the only qualified machines are MP and MBP. They are currently still in testing, so until that’s done, they is no guarantee of anything else.

Sincerely,
Oliver

Oliver Peters Post Production Services, LLC
Orlando, FL
http://www.oliverpeters.com

[Mark Maness]

[Chris Poisson] “I’m not gonna slam Apple because we need to spend more to move forward, progress has ALWAYS cost money.”

Thank you, Chris! There’s been alot of people slamming Apple because their older systems did handle FCS2 very well. Apple has to look toward the future and can’t look at making software that works on all older systems.

FCS2 will run on any G5 system, even some of the later G4s according to Apple’s website so I don’t get all of the complaining.

The idea that Apple is trying to convey is that everyone who wants the latest and greatest needs to purchase all of it. I knew last summer that FCS2 was going to be something big and take the latest computer to run it effecienly, so I bought one then. The idea here is to spread out your purchases and keep up to date as best as possible.

_______________________________

Wayne Carey
Schazam Productions
http://www.schazamproductions.com
https://blogs.creativecow.net/waynecarey