Step by step Apple ProRes 422 PROXY workflow, please.

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Level 1

32 points

Step by step Apple ProRes 422 PROXY workflow, please.

Anyone could help me find a complete video or not, "Step by step Apple ProRes 422 PROXY workflow", please. I can´t find any.
I´ve never used Apple ProRes 422 PROXY and I´ve all the doubts on how to use it, final quality, etc, etc.

My original files are from a Canon 5DMII (H.264) and I usually transcode to Apple ProRes HQ with the EOS1-plug-in. The renderings are too long...during my editing ,-( Too long and my machine stops with the heat after several hours.
(I´ve my settings ok, between my files and my project, etc).

Is Apple ProRes 422 PROXY, a possible solution, at least during the editing process? Good quality and less time rendering?
What about final output? Can I have 1080p/24 pristine as I´ve now?

I´m editing with a MacBook Pro 15"/2.33 Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo/4GB SDRAM.
Thanks very very much. I´m a bit desperate 8~S

MacBook Pro 15"/2.33 Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo/4GB SDRAM, Mac OS X (10.6.4), Eizo CG241W+X-Rite Eye-One Display 2

Posted on Jul 23, 2010 4:23 AM

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Answer 1

Tom Wolsky

Level 10

150,986 points

Jul 23, 2010 5:36 AM in response to ateliercunha

Do not use ProRes HQ. It's completely unnecessary for this media, a waste of drive space and your time. Use ProRes or even ProRes LT.

If you use Proxy for ingest you'll have to batch ingest to higher resolution for output.

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Answer 2

ateliercunha Author

Level 1

32 points

Jul 23, 2010 6:26 AM in response to Tom Wolsky

ProRes flavours:
"The Apple ProRes format comes in five versions: Apple ProRes 4444, Apple ProRes 422 (HQ), Apple ProRes 422, Apple ProRes 422 (LT), and Apple ProRes 422 (Proxy)."
from http://documentation.apple.com/en/finalcutpro/professionalformatsandworkflows/in dex.html#chapter=10%26section=2
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------

Tom, you mean, Apple ProRes 422 or Apple ProRes 422 (LT).
Why? Because this specs?
(according to Apple)
"Apple ProRes 422
The Apple ProRes 422 codec provides the following:
Target data rate of approximately 145 Mbps (1920 x 1080 at 60i)
Higher quality than Apple ProRes 422 (LT)

Apple ProRes 422 (LT)
The Apple ProRes 422 (LT) codec provides the following:
Roughly 70 percent of the data rate of Apple ProRes 422 (thus, smaller file sizes than Apple ProRes 422)
Higher quality than Apple ProRes 422 (Proxy)"

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Are enough (Mbps, colorspace, etc) to handle with files from 5DMII (1080p/24 my settings) without a big waste of resources; space, time, etc? In this the point to consider?
---

"If you use Proxy for ingest you'll have to batch ingest to higher resolution for output." - Tom.
I´m sorry but I know nothing about the use of Proxy files, so I don´t understand what you mean. That´s why I asked for an explanation step by step... ,-(

Additional question: is it possible (at all) to change the projects I´ve (several); all with Apple ProRes HQ to another ProRes version? Will I loose what? Effects, filters, renderings?
Thx.

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Answer 3

David S.

Level 7

20,630 points

Jul 23, 2010 8:27 AM in response to ateliercunha

The simple answer is that converting h.264 to ProRes HQ will not improve the quality of the footage. It will add unnecessary file size without improving the quality of the h.264 footage.

So why go that route as Tom indicates.

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Answer 4

ateliercunha Author

Level 1

32 points

Jul 23, 2010 8:38 AM in response to David S.

So one question:
1. what´s de ProRes version I should use, that keeps the same quality (editable) as my H.264 original footage?
Thx.

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Answer 5

David S.

Level 7

20,630 points

Jul 23, 2010 8:51 AM in response to ateliercunha

Pro Res LT.

Probably the best transcoding option for h.264

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Answer 6

ateliercunha Author

Level 1

32 points

Jul 23, 2010 8:52 AM in response to David S.

No advantage on using Apple PreRes Proxy?

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Answer 7

Tom Wolsky

Level 10

150,986 points

Jul 23, 2010 9:14 AM in response to ateliercunha

A Proxy file is usually too low a data rate for good quality. It will look fine while you're editing, but will fall apart or show softening and/or artifacting when you render or composite. Proxy files are used as an interim stage. You edit using Proxies then batch reingest at high resolution to replace the proxy files. This work flow is normally used for film resolution media or for high resolution video formats like uncompressed HD. For your media there is little point as the saving in space between LT and proxy is not so great that it's worth the time and effort to reingest and conform your edited sequence.

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Answer 8

ateliercunha Author

Level 1

32 points

Jul 23, 2010 9:16 AM in response to David S.

And this...please:
Additional question: is it possible (at all) to change the projects I´ve (several); all with Apple ProRes HQ to another ProRes version? Will I loose what? Effects, filters, renderings?
Thx.

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Answer 9

Tom Wolsky

Level 10

150,986 points

Jul 23, 2010 9:34 AM in response to ateliercunha

It's possible but really not worth the effort and possible chance of something screwing up. If you're short of drive space, buy more drives. ProRes and ProRes LT do not need as high performance drives as HQ.

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Answer 10

dredcomm

Level 2

360 points

Jul 23, 2010 9:37 AM in response to ateliercunha

You can use the Media Manager to make a copy of your project with media transcoded to a different codec.

http://documentation.apple.com/en/finalcutpro/usermanual/index.html#chapter=94%2 6section=2%26tasks=true

ProRes (LT) or standard ProRes would be best.

~D

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Answer 11

ateliercunha Author

Level 1

32 points

Jul 23, 2010 9:51 AM in response to dredcomm

Yes; my drives are full and the rendering times are so long.
If I could recover space on disk using a lighter ProRes and time editing with the same codec, would be very very good.

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