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PmPhotographic
Inspiring
November 10, 2011
Question

Windows alternative to Apple ProRes 422?

  • November 10, 2011
  • 7 replies
  • 157750 views

HI

I am running CS5.5 on a HP workstation, Win 7 Pro.  I understand that I cannot use the apple prores codec as I am not on a Mac.  However, I have a client who wants footage delivered as ProRes 422.  What would people suggest as the best output option on a PC to provide the same quality?

Many thanks

This topic has been closed for replies.

7 replies

Eberswalde
Eberswalde
Participating Frequently
June 21, 2014

Hello,

you actually can encode/decode ProRes on Windows:

DNxHD VC-3 ProRes Codecs Overview

Greetings from Germany

M
mairtor
Participant
December 24, 2014

I bought the Miraizon prores v1 codec from the site you mention and it produced terrible results. Serious macroblocking errors that were so bad I contacted support who told me they were working on a new version that would solve the problem. I waited for a number of weeks thinking they would fix the problem. They contacted me telling me I had to purchase the v2 version to solve the problem. Granted they offered me a percentage off the price, however I asked for a refund. They wasted my time so I recommend you stay clear of these guys. Bad code, bad support, bad business practice.

    J
    Jim Curtis
    Inspiring
    December 24, 2014

    Cineform is now included in Pr CC 2014 (8.1?  Maybe 8.0 as well. Can't remember.).

    It's a pretty nice cross-platform codec.  Supports alpha, too.

    A
    Anonymous
    June 21, 2014

    Hi,

    i want to export a timelapse sequence from quicktime in the original resolution of the single frames in professional quality. This would be 6000 x 4000. I know that it works with apple's prores 422 codec, but i'm working on windows and prores cannot encode there. Does anybody know an alternative codec for windows which can export in full resolution (not Full HD)? Thx guys!

    simon

    Ann Bens
    Community Expert
    Ann BensCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    June 21, 2014

    TIFF sequence?

    N
    newwikstromkaren
    Participant
    March 26, 2013

    You may also refer to this video tutorial on how to encode ProRes on Windows at How to Encode ProRes on Windows?

    This gudie helps to convert various videos to Apple ProRes  format especially convert video to ProRes 4444 like convert MXF to  ProRes 4444, convert H.264 to ProRes 4444, AVCHD to ProRes 4444, AVI to  ProRes 4444, MP4 to ProRes 4444, MOV to ProRes 4444 or convert to ProRes  4444 from other video including MKV, YouTube, FLV, WMV, MOD, WTV, RMVB, WebM, ASF, SWF, 3GP, and etc.

    G
    Guigozz
    Participant
    March 8, 2013

    Hi, i have developed a little plugin for AE to convert files to prores 422, you can read more about it and download it here> http://www.dubon.fr/conversion-prores422/

    it's free

      J
      Jim Curtis
      Inspiring
      March 8, 2013

      Very kind of you to share.  I've posted your link for my Windows colleagues on the Media-Motion Ae list.

      shooternz
      shooternz
      Legend
      December 21, 2011

      Although you can not export Prores422 directly from Premiere on a Windows NLE you can transcode to Prores422 on a windows system.

      An application called 5DtoRGB (rarevision) will do this ....and HQ and LT and Proxy... as well as DNxHD  etc...

      Export a lossless intermediate master and then trancode it if it must be Prores422

        J
        Jim Curtis
        Inspiring
        December 22, 2011

        Shooterns...  Thanks for the heads-up about 5DtoRGB.  I downloaded it, and the Read Me file states:  "Apple ProRes codecs must be installed in order to output files in ProRes format."  Sounds to me that rules out creating ProRes from a Windows system.  But, if you've done this, and know otherwise, I'd love to be able to pass this intelligence on to some of my colleagues.

        shooternz
        shooternz
        Legend
        December 22, 2011

        I have done this Jim and it works perfectly.

        I have QT Pro in my system I might add.

        Did you download the Windows vewrsion BTW?

        But ...watch this space. I may have even better news once I test a little beta program later today

        P
        PmPhotographicAuthor
        Inspiring
        December 19, 2011

        Just to let you know that I did install the avid codecs, and yes they look pretty good

        Thanks to all who helped

        davidbeisner2010
        davidbeisner2010
        Inspiring
        December 20, 2011

        I'll offer another vote for the Avid DNxHD codecs...

        J
        Jim Curtis
        Inspiring
        December 20, 2011

        Take a look at Motion JPEG2000, while you're at it.

        Colin Brougham
        Colin Brougham
        Participating Frequently
        November 10, 2011

        I'd use these: Avid QuickTime Codecs LE 2.3.4

        Free, cross-platform, and more-or-less equal to ProRes 422. When you send the client the footage, send them the codecs, too.

        P
        PmPhotographicAuthor
        Inspiring
        November 11, 2011

        Hi Colin

        Thanks for your advice which I will have a look at.  Does this suggest that none of the built in codecs are acceptable?  Although the client has asked for Prores 422, what they are planning is HD broadcasting, do you feel your suggestion would still offer better results than using the inbuilt options for this?

        BTW, I am UK based and so am talking 1080i at 25fps

        Regards

        Colin Brougham
        Colin Brougham
        Participating Frequently
        November 11, 2011

        Well, there are lots of codec choices and format options in Pr that would potential satisfy any delivery requirement--but we really don't know what your delivery requirement is. I suggested DNxHD, because doughnuts-to-doughnuts, it's pretty similar in quality and function to ProRes; the compression type they both use is the same. They both provide a large, high-quality, able-to-be-edited, suitable-for-broadcast, ready-for-archive video file.

        That said, if they don't need to edit the file, or archive it, or are going to be recompressing the file for broadcasting (through some sort of play-out server), then there are other high-quality options you might potential use that are already available in Pr, don't require a codec download and installation, and will create much smaller delivery files. One clear option in this regard would be to use H.264 as the codec; this is either available by selecting H.264 as the Format (which creates an MP4 and has quite a few configurable options) or by selecting QuickTime as the Format (this creates an MOV, but isn't quite as configurable). I actually do most of my broadcast delivery with the QuickTime H.264 option, and I'm on a PC.

        I guess the bottom line is that you need to check with the recepient what their needs really are, and if they are flexible on format.

        Hope that doesn't confuse too much!

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