MTS -> ProRes LT or HQ?

DanDOF

DanDOF

Well-known member
Is ProRes LT decent enough for web only content? It is, right?

I just bought a GH1 (waiting to arrive) and am trying to figure out the workflow for my PPC G5 PowerMac and limited remaining space on my 1TB external.

I'm thinking of using Toast 10 to convert the MTS to ProRes LT. I will only be using the 720p60p AVCHD files.

EDIT: Oops, Mods pls move this to the Workflow thread section
 
ProRes LT is perfect for all GH1 work, web or otherwise. It is an 18Mbps codec and although that doesn't necessarily mean lossless from the GH1's 17Mbps it seems to, I have looked at it closeup, wide, medium, etc, vs HQ and there is no difference. I did notice a difference between ProRes and AIC...pretty obvious once you zoom in.

http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?t=180720
 
It's mainly smaller which I suppose would make it faster. I don't really have a clear way to judge if it was faster or not because I went from editing ProRes in Final Cut 6 on 10.5 to editing LT in FC 7 on 10.6....but yeah it does seem faster.
 
I noticed quite a big jump in FCP 7 all round really. Maybe it's to do with using Grand Central on Snow Leopard to make better use of multi core processors.

Anyway, the space saved by LT is a benefit in itself. Thanks for the heads up.
 
well I've done some conversion tests with mts files i found on here (since I don't have my GH1 yet).

I found that for my needs (home movies on vimeo or dvd, really that's it - who am i kidding) I get great playback on my Powermac G5 Dual 1.8ghz in quicktime and rendered playback in motion if I use Toast to convert the 720p60 mts files to 480p60 ProRes LT or HQ.

I actually found that Toast 10 does a fine job of converting frame rates from 59.94 to 23.98 during my initial prores conversion (if I don't want slow mo). For slow mo I am using Cinema Tools batch conform.

I'll post a small clip later tonight maybe.
 
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http://vimeo.com/6956210

Here is my video of someone else's 720p60 AVCHD clip converted using Toast 10 to 480p24 ProRes as well as 480p60 ProRes (to be conformed in Cinema Tools to 480p24).

Ignore the ugly, heavy color "correction" by Looks (Blockbuster). I need to learn some subtlety with Looks.

It didn't take too long for Toast to do each conversion in the batch (1.5-3mins for a 30sec clip), althought ProRes did result in 5x larger file sizes.

How does this conversion time compare to Voltaic HD (my only other option for MTS conversion on PPC Macs)?
 
Yeah, using Looks properly usually should mean subetly unless going for an allout look but even then you should build it yourself, that's why I really don't understand the light version of looks where you get no control.
 
I just installed the FCP7 and have converted mts files into ProRes LT. (I used to do the ProRes 422 HQ but the files are way too big.)

The LT files in QuickTime or in the FCP log and transfer window play fine. But when I drop them into the timeline, the FCP viewer and canvas do not have the video. Sound is OK.

What is sequence setting you guys use? Or, do I have to convert in Quicktime first and import into FCP? That does not sound right.
 
This is after you make a new sequence, drop in, and say yes change sequence settings?

Ok it's probably just something in Final cut you hit by accident.

Above the canvas window where there is that little drop down guy where you set "show image + wireframe" and "show guides" etc, make sure that "show image" is selected.
 
It turns out to be a known problem with FCP7 upgrade. There are quite a few online discussions on the so called "white screen of death" problem on the viewer and canvas. After I made sure these windows settings are correct (image, rgb and so on), it still did not work. Restarting the system did not solve the problem, either.

Some suggested to run the display preference and let the system detect the monitor after closing the FCP. I did that and went back to FCP and, guess what, it works without any problem! Yeah...
 
I have had a white screen issue with my Macbook which is running with underspeced graphics hardware (had to modify the system requirements plist on install and on all the apps for it to run.)
 
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