Apple Compressor darkening footage. Reason?

A

AdamT

Active member
Using Apple's Compressor to convert 5D MKII 1920x1080 30fps clips to 24p in the ProRes LT codec. For some reason the ProRes clips have darkened up quite a bit, not sure why but it's a bit annoying. The "auto gamma" is turned off. I can't figure out why they are getting darker. Any ideas? Anyone run into a similar situation?
 
Yes, compressor or quicktime both have the issue. The h.264 codes normally lightens the footage, but I've run into issues with compressor simply darkening footage. You'll need to use the gamma control functions to bypass compressor until you're happy with the export. It has to do with the fact that macs have a different gamma than TV's or PC computers, and it tries to compensate. I think the difference is 1.8->2.2.

I had to deal with this a while ago, it's basically quicktimes major flaw.
 
In Compressor I turned on the Auto Gamma and it doesn't darken it so bad, but it's still darker than the source H264. So you're saying to compensate in FCP with the Gamma filter then?
 
prores always shifts the gamma when encoded. i assume youre going to color correct though so it can be fixed. its just one of the things to consider when using prores.
 
Yep will be color grading. Just wasn't expecting the shift in gamma, now it's one other thing to worry about...
 
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