ProRes is a codec, which means it is indeed getting compressed. Apple markets it as "uncompressed quality at compressed data rates"; many can't tell the difference, even after multiple generations of encoding. In your case, it's pretty much a moot point, since FW800 can't handle uncompressed-- you'll have to transcode to ProRes (which you can do after receiving the uncompressed footage, yes).
What would I use to transcode uncompressed to ProRes?
I'd be receiving all the footage as files on the Lacie drive & working with them on the Macbook - can I use QT Pro or FCP to transcode everything to ProRes?
Assign a ProRes setting to the clips, then submit the batch. It's not too difficult to get a feel for. There are basic tutorials on Apple's FCS2 site if you need help.
If you are dealing with already captured files, sourcing the files on the timeline directly through FW800 will work just fine as long as you don't have too many streams playing back on the timeline simultaneously. I just finished a project with uncompressed video, with all the clips on an external FW400 (USB2) drive. I was able to play back the timeline without too much trouble. Fast forwarding was a bit choppy, but definitely workable if local space is at a premium.
Just make sure your renders are all on the local drive, otherwise the i/o to the external will be brutal!
You can always copy the source files to the internal drive if the FF stutter gets too irritating...
If you think you need to transcode, use Compressor to batch all the files over night. You can also use QT, but you can't batch process.
Wait, are we talking uncompressed SD or uncompressed HD? I had assumed it was the latter in regards to the OP.
P.S. FW400 is not USB2-- their transfer rates may be similar, but the way they send information is very different. USB is not suitable for video editing.
P.P.S. You should not be using your system drive for scratch files, be it capture scratch or render files.
Zak, for the project I was working on, it was uncompressed SD, which is what (possibly wrongly so) is what I assumed inte was talking about. Since inte says he will be editing on a Macbook / Macbook Pro, I just assumed the files would be SD, although, using Apple ProRes HQ, you could, theoretically, edit in HD... although, I would think it would not be an enjoyable experience.
When I mentioned FW400 (USB2), it was not my intent to infer they are the same, just that the enclosure I used had both ports. Even so, I did not have any trouble editing through either port, as depending on the comp, I had to use both USB and FW (at SD resolution, not HD). I only suggested using the system drive only as a last resort if inte had problems sourcing from an external, as that would be his only other option.
Barring a SATA II port, or moving the files to the local drive, inte does not have many options.
Data transfer rates for SD Uncompressed 10-bit is nominally about 26.7 MB/second. FW800 is 40-50 MB/second, so editing a single track should not a big problem. SD ProRes 422 HQ is 8.0 MB/second, so a bit better through put. Even at HD, ProRes 422 HQ is 27.5 MB/second, so still not problem, even though sourcing a couple tracks on the timeline may be a bit stuttery.
At HD, uncompressed 10-bit can easily surpass 100 MB/second (HDCAM 1080 60 fps is 237 MB/second), editing anything without Fiber channel would be "challenging" to say the least.
Anyway, you are right, without specifics on the files formats and resolutions, making suggestions on how and what the use for enclosures and codecs is spinning our wheels.
