ProRes or DV

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Level 3

571 points

ProRes or DV

I've been given rushes that are 1920x1080 25P, and the client has requested the final edit to go on a SD DVD.

Rather than working with the 1920x1080 rushes, I decided to downscaled them to 720x576 using the Apple ProRes 422 codec.

For some reason my iMac (iMac 2.16 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo) still struggles when I try scrub through the footage on the timeline.

I'm thinking should I instead just transcode them to the DV codec. Will there be a noticeable difference in image quality if I do this?

What if I upgrade to FCP 7 and use the ProRess 422 LT codec instead, would that be a better option?

iMac 2.16 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, Mac OS X (10.5.8), 4 GB 677 MHz DDR2 SDRAM

Posted on Mar 16, 2010 3:53 PM

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Answer 1

Zak Ray

Level 4

3,469 points

Mar 16, 2010 4:19 PM in response to blimpmedia

There is definitely a quality boost with ProRes, at least in my own experiments. An iMac shouldn't have that much trouble playing it back. What speed is your external hard drive?

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Answer 2

blimpmedia Author

Level 3

571 points

Mar 16, 2010 4:31 PM in response to Zak Ray

I'm using a 1TB MyBook WD Drive which is connected via USB 2.0

I've also tried the same files on my Taurus Raid drive (connected via firewire 400) but the same thing happens.

Taurus drive specs: http://www.streetwise.com.au/macpower-macpower-taurus-raid-raid-01jbod-fw800fw40 0usb20esata-hard-drive-enclosure-p-7396.html

So I'm not sure if it's my iMac speed or the drive?

iMac specs: iMac 2.16 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo - 4 GB 677 MHz DDR2 SDRAM

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Answer 3

Zak Ray

Level 4

3,469 points

Mar 16, 2010 4:37 PM in response to blimpmedia

Definitely the drive. USB2 is far from capable of handling ProRes. Even FW400 can stumble-- I'd recommend 800 at least.

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Answer 4

blimpmedia Author

Level 3

571 points

Mar 16, 2010 4:40 PM in response to Zak Ray

Zak,

What if I upgrade to FCP 7 and use ProRes LT, will that solve my problem?

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Answer 5

Zak Ray

Level 4

3,469 points

Mar 16, 2010 4:45 PM in response to blimpmedia

It will help, but I can't guarantee it will solve it completely. It's also possible (though unlikely) that the issue is something else entirely, in which case that would be $1000 for something you didn't need to buy.

And either way, a $90 drive enclosure is cheaper than $1000 FCS3.

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Answer 6

blimpmedia Author

Level 3

571 points

Mar 16, 2010 5:02 PM in response to Zak Ray

either way, a $90 drive enclosure is cheaper than $1000 FCS3.

I'm not sure I understand what you mean by a $90 drive enclosure?

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Answer 7

Zak Ray

Level 4

3,469 points

Mar 16, 2010 5:08 PM in response to blimpmedia

You have a perfectly decent hard drive (I'm assuming your drive is SATA 7200RPM or above-- if not, then that there is part of the problem), hindered by a slow enclosure. If you buy a FW800/eSATA enclosure, you can transplant your current drive into the new enclosure, saving you from buying a new external.

I'd take a look at these:
http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Other%20World%20Computing/MEFW924AL1K/

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Answer 8

ScottieB

Level 3

505 points

Mar 16, 2010 5:10 PM in response to blimpmedia

An upgrade to FCS3 is not $1000, it is about $300 (a new license is $1000).

The enclosure he talks about means you could get a case that has firewire ports and put a hard drive in it - build your own external drive. Not sure what ports your iMac has though...

But all that said, with your system DV is probably the way to go. You will take a small hit in quality but you'll be able to work smoothly without buying anything else. Just be careful of your field order!

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Answer 9

blimpmedia Author

Level 3

571 points

Mar 16, 2010 5:29 PM in response to ScottieB

The enclosure he talks about means you could get a case that has firewire ports and put a hard drive in it - build your own external drive. Not sure what ports your iMac has though...

Totally understand now, unfortunately my iMac only has x2 firewire 400 ports and upgrading my machine isn't an option at this stage 😟

I was kind of hoping if I upgraded to FCS3, I might be able to get around it by transcoding to ProRes LT.

I guess I'll have to settle on DV for now and maybe take my drive into an Apple store that has FCS 3 installed and do some further testing before I purchase the upgrade.

Any thoughts.....?

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Answer 10

Zak Ray

Level 4

3,469 points

Mar 16, 2010 5:36 PM in response to blimpmedia

Testing would be a good idea if they had your model of iMac at the Apple Store, but unfortunately the desk models tend to be only the latest and greatest. Any tests you might run would be inaccurate because you're using a machine faster than yours.

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Answer 11

blimpmedia Author

Level 3

571 points

Mar 16, 2010 5:51 PM in response to Zak Ray

hmmm... good point Zak

Ok so my only option at this stage is to take a slight hit (in quality) and convert to DV for a smoother edit, or upgrade to FCS3 and hope re-encoding the rushes to ProRes LT works.

I really have no choice but to upgrade very soon, I'm starting find my upcoming edits are mostly 1920x1080 (which will have to be transcoded to Apple ProRes 422) and my iMac is not going to be able to handle it.

I was kind of hoping that if I upgraded to FCS3 and transcoded to ProRes LT, i'd save myself from having to buy a new machine.

Any other advise?

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Answer 12

Mar 16, 2010 6:14 PM in response to blimpmedia

Blimpmedia,

I just got the latest iMac with 3.06 Core 2 duo. I'm in a similar transition between older machines and this one. I have found that this iMac works beautifully for the Apple ProRes, and that the external drive with the 800 firewire is crucial to making that happen with speed.

I started out with a USB 2, and this substantially slowed down render time.

I think that once you've made the upgrade it won't be one you regret. The price tag was totally worth it, for me.

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Answer 13

blimpmedia Author

Level 3

571 points

Mar 16, 2010 6:38 PM in response to AppleSauce84

AppleSauce84,

Interesting....

Now I'm wondering if my iMac had a firewire 800 port, would it handle ProRes...? even though it's only a 2.16 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo

I wonder....!

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