Intermediate Codec vs. ProRes

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Level 5

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Intermediate Codec vs. ProRes

Just out of interest, what is the difference (or differences) between the Apple Intermediate Codec that FCE converts to and the ProRes of FCP?

Macbook Aluminum 13''/2.4 ghz/2GB RAM/250GB Hard Drive, Mac OS X (10.5.6)

Posted on Feb 17, 2009 3:14 PM

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Answer 1

Tom Wolsky

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Feb 17, 2009 3:20 PM in response to skalicki

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2704?viewlocale=en_US

http://images.apple.com/finalcutstudio/resources/whitepapers/L342568A_ProResWP.pdf

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Answer 2

skalicki Author

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Feb 17, 2009 3:34 PM in response to Tom Wolsky

So, as I understand it, ProRes allows you to edit natively in the format used, whereas Intermediate Codec is less processor intensive, but takes up way more space and is editing in a different format than originally captured.

Thanks Tom!

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Answer 3

Tom Wolsky

Level 10

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Feb 17, 2009 3:52 PM in response to skalicki

Not at all. ProRes is a separate codec and not native to any camera. When you capture with ProRes material is converted into the codec, just as when you capture with AIC. ProRes takes substantially more space than AIC.

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Answer 4

skalicki Author

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Feb 17, 2009 3:55 PM in response to Tom Wolsky

So does converting into ProRes give you higher quality? What is the advantage of converting to this instead of AIC?

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Answer 5

Tom Wolsky

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Feb 17, 2009 4:11 PM in response to skalicki

Yes, ProRes is a more advanced codec and is higher quality, especially for effects and animation. It's also has more variable bit rates and can be used for anything from standard definition through all the HD sizes.

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Answer 6

skalicki Author

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Feb 17, 2009 4:15 PM in response to Tom Wolsky

Thanks for your explanation, Tom.

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Answer 7

Apr 30, 2009 9:35 AM in response to Tom Wolsky

On that subject and adding AVCHD to the mix, If AVCHD is 8bit 4.2.0 color sampling, why would I wont to choose ProRes over AIC as ProRes is 4.2.2 color and AIC is 4.2.0. It would seem the logical codec to transfer AVCHD to be AIC.
Your thoughts.

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Answer 8

Tom Wolsky

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Apr 30, 2009 9:36 AM in response to Jim Rough

ProRes is not available for production with FCE, which only edits HD using the Apple Intermediate Codec.

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Answer 9

Apr 30, 2009 9:59 AM in response to Tom Wolsky

Thanks but that didn't answer the question, if one had both options which codec makes more sence given that AVCHD is 8 bit 4.2.0 color what benift would it serve to use ProRes, it's not like it can upsample to color sample.

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Answer 10

Tom Wolsky

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Apr 30, 2009 10:13 AM in response to Jim Rough

The advantage of upsampling is that any further work you do, any titles, effects, transitions, will not be effect by the reduced color sample specification of AVCHD. This will also enhance your ability to recompress the media into other formats. For FCE users this is all moot as the codec cannot be used in the application.

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Answer 11

Apr 30, 2009 10:50 AM in response to Tom Wolsky

Thank you Tom, I think I will stay with ProRes 422 to transcode my AVCHD footage. I noticed that the clips are capping out at 17Mbps when the original image was captured 24Mbps, do you knopw of any way to fix that or is the the max FCP and handle on Mbps.

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Answer 12

Tom Wolsky

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Apr 30, 2009 11:01 AM in response to Jim Rough

Are you using Final Cut Pro or Final Cut Express? This is the Express forum. Are you sure about those numbers? Both Mbps?

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Answer 13

Apr 30, 2009 11:40 AM in response to Tom Wolsky

Sorry about that new to this and I was looking at threads that matched my needs. But yes I'm sure on that, using the analyze clip tool 17plus Mbps at medium is all I can get when I transcode in FCP.

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Answer 14

Tom Wolsky

Level 10

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Apr 30, 2009 11:56 AM in response to Jim Rough

Where are you reading these numbers? My material is 14MBps. Big B not small b. The QT player says it's 124.68mbps, about 12.4MBps for video without the audio.

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Answer 15

Apr 30, 2009 12:03 PM in response to Tom Wolsky

Right, but my AVCHD footage was captured at 24, my transcoded ProRess 422 is not 24, it's a little over 17. So It's brings me back to the oringinal post, why use ProRes if AIC is smaller, transcoding caps out at 17 and the color space for AVCHD is in 4:2:0, I'm just having problem see the benifit of ProRes for AVCHD transcoding.

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