H.264 Or ProRes LT?

B

BMWaller

New member
Hello,

I have just finished shooting a documentary and the bulk of the footage is on a t2i. I have spent a few days uploading the original files to the computer, then using compressor to turn those files into a ProRes LT file. I am wondering, do I even need the original files at this point, or are the transcoded files a lower quality than the h.264?

I am trying to conserve space on my hard drive, and if I can delete the original files that will open it up considerably.

Thanks!
Ben
 
I should probably clarify:

1) I am going to convert the final sequence into the highest quality format for DVD once it is done, but that is a few months away.

2) I transcoded to LT thinking I'd save the h.264 for when I mastered the footage, now I'm thinking the LT is a nicer picture, am I wrong? I'd like at some point to show this on the big screen...
 
BMWaller said:
Hello,

delete the original files


Ben
Click to expand...

You don't want to do that.

Your original files are far better that your converted files. I tested every transcode conversion I could find and none are as good as the original. They may look good, and look close to the original, but are not the same, just a degraded copy. Your new conversion most likely has color correction which is why it looks better. The original files have more information on them so if you plan a big screen version you may need that information later.

Get another 2 HDs and save a duplicate copy on each.
A 1 TB HD is under $100, a small price to pay for your footage, time and effort. If you decide later you don't want to save the files you can use the HDs for something else. Nothing to loose.

Over the last year computers have become much better handling H-264 files. I use an i7 and don't transcode anything. I'm using CS4 and when I install CS5 it will be even easier.
 
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I usually keep them. For the duration of the project I keep the originals and the version used for editing (pro-res). After I'm done with the project I make 1 or 2 archivable uncompressed versions of the final video. Then I delete the pro-res versions (can always recreate them from the h.264 originals), any render files & cache, and then archive the entire project on a separate HD.

I however don't agree with this statement... "Your original files are far better that your converted files.". I wouldn't say "far better". True there will be some degradation when you transcode any file. But the difference between the h.264 and it's pro-res equivanlt is fairly negligible. I can't comment on the PC equivalent because I have always used Pro-res. Would be interested though in hearing what exactly Rockmore was finding as degraded. all my highlights and and blacks have always come through perfectly.. the only thing pro-res will give headaches with is gama shift (and probably the reason you think it looks better..) which is easily correctable if you don't want it.
 
Thanks, I will keep the originals and edit offline. I guess the followup question is then: does apple color work with h.264 or do I have to color in prores?
 
do all your edits in FCP and Color in pro-res. Apple developed that codec specifically to work best with its products. H.264 will bog everything down. My workflow is that I convert everything to Pro-Res(LT) and then edit in FCP the do a send to Color. do any color grading and re-render.. send back to Final Cut. it will keep everything in Pro-res.
 
Any studio editor or colorist will recommend an intermediate. h.264 is not meant as an editing codec. I agree with keeping original source files around if needed especially if you need to dump intermediate files once your edit is done to conserve space, however one recommendation is looking at Zacuto's recent DSLR shootout vids, especially when they get to post. Lots of good reason to go to a strong intermediate as opposed to editing native.
 
Guys, at the cost of hard drive space these days, throw out nothing.

Get one of those docks from MacSales that let you hot-swap raw hard drives. They're like $40, and they allow you to use cheap hard drives for archive & backup.

Here's a link to see what I mean. I use one and they're great.

Same site has 1TB drives starting around $70. If there's the slightest chance you'll need something down the road, save it.
 
h264 is not an editing codec and you would want to get rid of it in any form of serious work. If you really use "quality loss" as an argument using Prores you pretty much missed the whole point (or rather, use of software in a non-optimal way).

...and no, I would not delete the source material, why would you do that? External HDD's are pretty much free these days. Get a 1TB external and drag all the stuff you don't "need" there, it's pretty risky having all your stuff on a single internal drive anway.
 
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