How do you convert to Pro Res on a Mac? at DVinfo.net

Jim Jolliffe · November 15th, 2009, 03:59 AM

Hello,

I've got a MacBook and an iMac, which do struggle a little with the h264 files.

I keep hearing people say that the best route to go is to convert the 7D files to ProRes. How do I do this?

Can I do it in Quicktime? I find that QT 10 is very limited with exporting file types so I tend to still use QT 7. First of all, is this correct or am I missing a trick or two in QT 10?
I've also got the latest iMovie and Final Cut Express but haven't really taught myself how to use it yet.

Any help in this conversion would be great.

Cheers,

Jim

Daniel von Euw · November 15th, 2009, 04:20 AM

Try "mpeg streamclip" - its free and fast with a very good quality and have a nice batch modus.

Daniel

Greg Boston · November 15th, 2009, 05:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Jolliffe

I find that QT 10 is very limited with exporting file types so I tend to still use QT 7.

IIRC, there is a place in the QT preferences for 'use legacy codecs' which should offer more encoding options. I remember this issue coming up before, but I'm not at my Mac to verify the settings.

Hope this helps,

-gb-

Jon Braeley · November 15th, 2009, 06:50 AM

MPEG Streamclip (by squared5.com) is the way to go. Batch process all your Canon .movs into ProRes or almost any other codec you wish. I convert to XDCAM EX 1080p24.
It is faster then Compressor I think and streamclip is free!!

Liam Hall · November 15th, 2009, 08:35 AM

Is ProRes a supported edit format in FCE? I thought that it just supported HDV and DV, in which case you'd have to use the Apple Intermediate Codec.

Have a look in Easy Set-up. If it's there you good to go, otherwise you'll be in render hell.

David Chapman · November 15th, 2009, 09:48 AM

From what I can tell, ProRes is a FCS only option. You can get a ProRes decoder for Quicktime (Mac and PC) to play the files, but that won't help for a transcode. That must be the selling point for the full studio over FCE. I know it has more flavors of ProRes than I currently have with Studio 2. I'd like to use the LT version, but all I have is regular and HQ.

Jim Jolliffe · November 15th, 2009, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greg Boston

IIRC, there is a place in the QT preferences for 'use legacy codecs' which should offer more encoding options. I remember this issue coming up before, but I'm not at my Mac to verify the settings.

Hope this helps,

-gb-

There doesn't seem to be any preferences in the new Quicktime 10????? It all seems pretty basic compared to QT7 (pro). I think that Apple are trying to get people like me to buy Final Cut, the same way they made iMovie more simplified in the newer version.

David Chapman · November 15th, 2009, 06:52 PM

Jim, you should still have QT7 in your Utilities folder on Snow Leopard. But, if you don't have Final Cut Studio, you won't be able to convert to ProRes (components come in FCS 2 and 3).

**Did you try downloading and using MPEG Streamclip to convert to ProRes? I wonder if it installs the components for itself, not requiring FCS at all. For the record, I have never used Quicktime Player to convert to ProRes. I was using Compressor until I discovered MPEG Streamclip.

From what I recall, Apple was trying to do away with their "Pro" version of the player and allow QT X to have all of the features (no limits). Maybe their reasoning to include QT7 in the Utilities was to make up for some items not yet integrated.

James Dierx · November 15th, 2009, 10:58 PM

I use compressor. Works great.

Jim Jolliffe · November 16th, 2009, 07:41 AM

Okay, so I've downloaded MPEG Streamclip, and it looks great, loads of different formats to save to. But I can't seem to find the ProRes option. Is it called something else?
Anybody fancy giving me a step by step guide.

Cheers,

Jim

Liam Hall · November 16th, 2009, 08:52 AM

Step 1: Try a different codec. ProRes comes with the ProApps.

Jim Jolliffe · November 16th, 2009, 09:47 AM

Thats the question, which codec? There are so many. I only talk about ProRes because everybody seems to think it's the best option.

Jim Jolliffe · November 16th, 2009, 02:45 PM

OK, sorted.
I realise I didn't have the ProRes codecs because I only have FinalCut Express, not Pro. A friend sent me a folder with these codecs so now I have them. They work in Quicktime Player, MPEG Streamclip and FCE.
He also explained some of the different codecs to me and to be honest, I still don't really understand.

Michael Maier · November 17th, 2009, 01:15 PM

MPEG Streamclip and Compressor both supposedly introduce a gamma shift to the clips. Media manager is slow but seems to be a better option to convert to Prores.

November 15th, 2009, 03:59 AM	#1
Jim Jolliffe Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: London, UK Posts: 39	How do you convert to Pro Res on a Mac? Hello, I've got a MacBook and an iMac, which do struggle a little with the h264 files. I keep hearing people say that the best route to go is to convert the 7D files to ProRes. How do I do this? Can I do it in Quicktime? I find that QT 10 is very limited with exporting file types so I tend to still use QT 7. First of all, is this correct or am I missing a trick or two in QT 10? I've also got the latest iMovie and Final Cut Express but haven't really taught myself how to use it yet. Any help in this conversion would be great. Cheers, Jim __________________ www.jimjolliffe.com

November 15th, 2009, 08:35 AM	#5
Liam Hall Major Player Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: London, England Posts: 969	Is ProRes a supported edit format in FCE? I thought that it just supported HDV and DV, in which case you'd have to use the Apple Intermediate Codec. Have a look in Easy Set-up. If it's there you good to go, otherwise you'll be in render hell. __________________ Writer-Director-DOP www.liamhall.net

November 15th, 2009, 09:48 AM	#6
David Chapman Major Player Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 346	From what I can tell, ProRes is a FCS only option. You can get a ProRes decoder for Quicktime (Mac and PC) to play the files, but that won't help for a transcode. That must be the selling point for the full studio over FCE. I know it has more flavors of ProRes than I currently have with Studio 2. I'd like to use the LT version, but all I have is regular and HQ. __________________ David Chapman www.davechapfilms.com

November 15th, 2009, 06:52 PM	#8
David Chapman Major Player Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 346	Jim, you should still have QT7 in your Utilities folder on Snow Leopard. But, if you don't have Final Cut Studio, you won't be able to convert to ProRes (components come in FCS 2 and 3). **Did you try downloading and using MPEG Streamclip to convert to ProRes? I wonder if it installs the components for itself, not requiring FCS at all. For the record, I have never used Quicktime Player to convert to ProRes. I was using Compressor until I discovered MPEG Streamclip. From what I recall, Apple was trying to do away with their "Pro" version of the player and allow QT X to have all of the features (no limits). Maybe their reasoning to include QT7 in the Utilities was to make up for some items not yet integrated. __________________ David Chapman www.davechapfilms.com

November 16th, 2009, 07:41 AM	#10
Jim Jolliffe Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: London, UK Posts: 39	Okay, so I've downloaded MPEG Streamclip, and it looks great, loads of different formats to save to. But I can't seem to find the ProRes option. Is it called something else? Anybody fancy giving me a step by step guide. Cheers, Jim __________________ www.jimjolliffe.com

November 15th, 2009, 04:20 AM	#2
Daniel von Euw Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Köln, NRW, Germany Posts: 70	Try "mpeg streamclip" - its free and fast with a very good quality and have a nice batch modus. Daniel

November 15th, 2009, 06:50 AM	#4
Jon Braeley Major Player Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Miami, FL Posts: 528	MPEG Streamclip (by squared5.com) is the way to go. Batch process all your Canon .movs into ProRes or almost any other codec you wish. I convert to XDCAM EX 1080p24. It is faster then Compressor I think and streamclip is free!!

November 15th, 2009, 10:58 PM	#9
James Dierx Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: IL Posts: 43	I use compressor. Works great.

November 16th, 2009, 08:52 AM	#11
Liam Hall Major Player Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: London, England Posts: 969	Step 1: Try a different codec. ProRes comes with the ProApps. __________________ Writer-Director-DOP www.liamhall.net

November 16th, 2009, 09:47 AM	#12
Jim Jolliffe Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: London, UK Posts: 39	Thats the question, which codec? There are so many. I only talk about ProRes because everybody seems to think it's the best option. __________________ www.jimjolliffe.com

November 16th, 2009, 02:45 PM	#13
Jim Jolliffe Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: London, UK Posts: 39	OK, sorted. I realise I didn't have the ProRes codecs because I only have FinalCut Express, not Pro. A friend sent me a folder with these codecs so now I have them. They work in Quicktime Player, MPEG Streamclip and FCE. He also explained some of the different codecs to me and to be honest, I still don't really understand. __________________ www.jimjolliffe.com

November 17th, 2009, 01:15 PM	#14
Michael Maier Trustee Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 1,269	MPEG Streamclip and Compressor both supposedly introduce a gamma shift to the clips. Media manager is slow but seems to be a better option to convert to Prores.