workflow quality questions

R

ronin99

Active member
We used the HMC150 at 720p24, and edited the footage in FCP6 under Pro Res HQ 422.

Now that the editing has finished, I would like to export it at the highest quality to archive it and to transfer to HDCAM for exhibition.

My question is what codec do I export as? If I use animation, the file will blow up to over 100gb, if I use Pro Res HQ 422 it will lose quality. Is there another option? However, if exporting to animation codec is THE way it is done, I'll do that.

Finally, if the original footage is 4:2:0 is there any point in exporting at 4:2:2, will any quality be gained?

Thanks
 
Last edited:
Then you should ask them what they prefer. I'd recommend lossless codecs, but if you're doing it through a house I don't know what they'd be able to use. If they have FCP on the computer hooked up to the deck it might be best not to export it at all. But that's something they should weigh in on.
 
If you edit in the pro res HQ sequence, how will you lose quality by exporting it to the same codec?

You cannot uprez the footage by exporting it to something else.
 
I believe because it is a lossy codec. Once you add your effects, color correction, etc and export, the footage gets compressed again and takes a quality hit, however minimal it may be.
 
Stick with ProRes, we ran tests a few years back with the codec and discovered we could go 10 generations with ProRes. If you have a lot of computer generated graphics in your show you could consider making a copy of your sequence and changing the settings of the copy to ProRes HQ. But if your not seeing any issues with your graphics right now, going to HQ is an unnecessary step. ProRes HQ has less compression than HDcam.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top