Dallas Kruse

Q: What is the proper Codec to use in FCP 7 with T3i footage?

I have a question regarding Codecs to use in FCP 7.

 

My footage comes from a Canon T3i or a Canon 5d.

 

I always encode/transcode my footage in Compressor before editing in FCP.

 

I have been using ProRes 422 but doing some quick reading on Apple Documents ... I'm thinking that ProRes 422 might not be the highest quality possible.

 

I want to have the BEST looking footage I can.

 

Can someone help with which Compressor Codec I should be encoding to?

 

thank you

Mac Pro, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.5), 24 Gigs RAM. PCIe 424 sound card

Posted on Jun 9, 2014 8:13 AM

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Q: What is the proper Codec to use in FCP 7 with T3i footage?

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  • by Dallas Kruse,

    Dallas Kruse Dallas Kruse Jun 9, 2014 8:26 AM in response to Dallas Kruse
    Level 2 (193 points)
    Audio
    Jun 9, 2014 8:26 AM in response to Dallas Kruse

    P.S.

     

    My footage is 1980x1020 and 24p.

  • by Shane Ross,

    Shane Ross Shane Ross Jun 9, 2014 10:25 AM in response to Dallas Kruse
    Level 8 (42,999 points)
    Jun 9, 2014 10:25 AM in response to Dallas Kruse

    ProRes 422 is fine. Yes, there are higher end ProRes codecs...HQ and 4444. But they won't garner any better results.  Your footage won't look any better if transcoded to ProREs HQ or 4444.  The biggest compression has already been done...when you shot and recorded as H.264.  Going to a higher ProRes format won't make it look any better than ProRes 422.

     

    Saying that, lots of people shoot with the Canon DSLRs to H.264, and it all looks fine. I'm just saying that nothing will improve on the quality...higher ProRes won't make it better. 

     

    There...I've said that a good half dozen times now....hee hee.

     

    Those formats...the higher end ones...are meant for higher end camera formats...ALEXA, RED, F5...the BIG guns.