ProRes generations

How well does proves 422 stand up to a bit of to-ing and fro-ing? I have converted H264 files from a DSLR into ProRes using MPEG Streamclip, then edited in FCPX, and want to take the edit into AE for final effects, before rendering out to ProRes from AE, then onto Handbrake for final web compression.

Will this degrade the image much?

ProRes is pretty lossless. Usually you can go five or six generations without noticeable degradation.

I think Apple state 10 generations? But why so many processes?

Why not go in to FCP X native, convert on the way out to AE and then one last conversion for web?

I have never understood the fascination with MpegStreamClip.

Thanks guys,

I think you're probably right Seanus - so should I edit in H264 in FCPX, or do I transcode from H264 to ProRes on import?

Then onto AE as ProRes and save for web from there?

There is no one correct answer for every instance. It depends on a lot of factors, like what computer you're using, what's the content, what do you need to do to it, in FCP, and in AE. Agree with Seanus, have no idea why you're using Streamclip when FCP will optimize to ProRes on import.

mitchino wrote: Thanks guys,

I think you're probably right Seanus - so should I edit in H264 in FCPX, or do I transcode from H264 to ProRes on import?

Then onto AE as ProRes and save for web from there?

Yes mate. That's the way I'd do it. As Tom pointed out it really depends on many factors as whether you transcode on import or not. Most of the time I do. But if I have have huge clips that I'm just cherry picking a couple of seconds out of here and there then I don't bother.

I find MPEG Streamclip to be very handy for creating MP4s (and great for ripping DVDs to .MOV source). That said, I always start with an FCP & or FCPX Pro Res export and then convert with Streamclip.

I use Compressor for DVDs and a few other things, but I really like the flexibility and results from Streamclip for MP4s--which ends up being a common deliverable these days for a lot of clients.

Plus: Streamclip is FREE!

Give Quicktime 7 a try. Makes great H.264 encodes that you can wrap as .mp4, .mov, etc.

If you download the x.264 plugin, you'll have great results even from Compressor.

There was a discussion about it on MacBreak Studio a while ago: www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mov/pixelco...ks_108_540p_h264.mov