Need help understanding codecs

[matt bright]

I am trialing premier pro 2020, (my first day in fact.) I am struggling to come to terms with codecs. I am shooting .mov on Nikon DSLR. Once imported these won't scrub/preview properly, assuming the files are large and it is a rendering issue. What lossless format should I convert these to to retain the highest quality once the project is completed please? I have a little previous experience of using FCP7 and converting to ProRes with mpeg streamclip. Streamclip no longer works on Mac OS Catalina nor does FCP7.

[Stan Jones]

I would check with Mediainfo first to see what you have. 

https://mediaarea.net/en/MediaInfo/Download/Mac_OS

Stan

[John T Smith]

Codec tutorial https://community.adobe.com/t5/Premiere-Pro/Adobe-Premiere-Pro-Tutorials-Video-Codecs/td-p/4788943
Codec VS Format https://community.adobe.com/t5/Premiere-Pro/Video-Formats-Codecs/td-p/5378341

[salvo34]

I would google stuff too, as needed, to understand all things about codecs and wrappers, etc.

MOV is a wrapper. It can have H264, Prores, or DNxHD as 'codecs' within it. You probably have ( with nikon dslr SD card ) H264.

My personal solution, using Nikon D800, shooting full HD, is an Atomos Ninja connected via HDMI output of camera. I have windows so I record DNxHD. However, it also records Prores. I would stay with full HD and prores 4.2.2. 10 bit if you want real smooth editing. 

Using the atomos means also getting an SSD for it so you have to be able to afford it, know what your computer can handle the larger byte count files ( H264 is super highly compressed into small files, hence the SD card ).  Good luck.

[matt bright]

Thank you for the response. I am aware of Atomos, and how well it works, but at this stage I am not sure of the investment value, as I am a stills photographer who only occasionaly gets asked if I can shoot motion as is the case now. However the client has requested "everything at 11" otherwise I would be happy to shoot mp4.

[Peru Bob]

Try using proxies:
https://helpx.adobe.com/premiere-pro/how-to/proxy-media.html

[salvo34]

It's been so long since I shot motion with SD card in Nikon... I guess mp4 is the wrapper for H264 instead of mov ??  I got the nikon cause I also shot stills before getting into motion and have strobes and so on, and wanted the option for stills ( shoot raw then onto SD cards). But I haven't shot anything at all for ages (about 6 months ) and am retired so it's kinda moot point. At least I have the 'options' even if I don't get to use what stuff I have to work with.

If you really get into motion you're gonna need a tripod and fluid head at least, cause warp stabilizer ( hand held and trying to make it smooth via magic is not gonna work for pro work ).  That gets you into even more cost and so on.. so it's good you're looking into options etc. now.

I don't know what you mean " everything at 11 ??? "  what's that ?

[salvo34]

with regard to proxies... if your nikon is like mine, it is 8 bit 4.2.0 with a low bitrate compared to the 10 bit space and bitrate of atomos ( taking uncompressed signal from hdmi out to atomos). In other words, even though the color is the same ( 4.2.0) it gets put into a 10 bit space with higher bitrate. So everything you add to that edit will be slightly better in PPRO, when using effects, added source materials ( graphics, etc. ) and so on... your proxy may limit you to the same 4.2.0 space with low bitrate.

[matt bright]

Thank you all for your input. Proxies look to be the way forward for me. On reading the tutorial I was inadvertantly made aware of Adobe media encoder which has answered the short term problem I was having. for clarity, "Everything at 11" is a Spinal Tap reference.