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Video formats and compression.
I’m currently working with m2ts files (filmed with Sony Handycam) in Adobe Premiere Pro CC and After Effects CC. It was suggested to me that before I import the files, I should convert them to an uncompressed QuickTime format for ultimately better results.
Question 1: I think I understand this is because there’s simply less loss of quality during the final rendering / encoding process, as opposed to file degradation upon import into Premiere. My understanding of Premiere’s ability to work natively with m2ts means that it makes no changes to the quality of the file on import. Is that an accurate summary? I understand lossy vs. lossless in audio, but I’m not quite grokking whether there’s a parallel in this particular video workflow. (And if it is accurate, surely I can just do the conversion inside Premiere vs. buying a utility? That’s probably what confuses me.)
Question 2: Does it make enough of a difference to bother with the extra step when encoding for standard YouTube / web quality HD? (IE: For a weekly vlog vs. in a client scenario where I would be more concerned about perfection, even if not detectable.) I ran a few tests using the trial version of a 3rd party utility, but I don’t really trust the results when I’m not sure I understand the reason for doing this to begin with.
I’ve done a fair amount of Googling and haven’t come up with anything definitive regarding this workflow specific to Premiere. I’m not adverse to reading, if someone simply has a good link. Thanks. Hopefully I’m not speaking complete jibberish.
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2 Replies
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1. Native import has no bearing on quality as no additional rendering is done. There are workflows that allow you to pre-render your timeline and then use those pre-renders as the basis for your export; this type of workflow may lend to generation loss and isn’t recommended unless you’re doing something like a client preview or using a smart rendered codec like ProRes or Avid DNxHD.
2. Not sure I understand this. As the quality isn’t affected by native importing, unless you are having editing performance issues there is no reason to convert footage be it uncompressed or otherwise.
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I am careful not to use preview renders when doing the final export for publication, so it sounds like I’m good to go without this extra step. I’ll go back and make sure I understand what my friend was trying to tell me. It could be that I completely misunderstood his intentions or didn’t explain my workflow accurately to him.
Thanks for the reply!
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