Compressor vs. Redcine - Proxy QT quality

[Bob Dewald]

Hello,

Can anyone give me their opinion on using Compressor rather than Redcine to export HD QTs?

The workflow would involve shooting in 4K and transcoding to ProRes HD for finishing.

Is there any difference between using a proxy as the source file in Compressor versus using Redcine to extract the HD Prores QT?

We understand that the Proxy is a lower res version of the R3D file, but is there a significant difference in quality compared to the native 4K file?

Any opinions or advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Bob

[Fredrik Callinggard]

We understand that the Proxy is a lower res version of the R3D file, but is there a significant difference in quality compared to the native 4K file?

You're answering your own question


Fredrik Callinggard

[Bob Dewald]

You're answering your own question


Fredrik Callinggard

When I say lower resolution, I'm referring to a smaller image size, as in the change from 4K to 2K. I'm not referring to the actual quality of the image. Are you saying that the quality of the image is the same and only the size of the image is different? I understand that a bigger frame size is better quality, but is the proxy compressed or only downsized?

Thanks,

Bob

[Fredrik Callinggard]

Well compressor is converting from a quicktime file, or what it's tricked into believing it is - an "approximation" of what a quicktime would be.

RED Alert and REDCINE are converting from the actual RAW files.

(To convert through compressor is quicker but I would only recommend it for off-line)


Fredrik Callinggard

[Mark L. Pederson]

(To convert through compressor is quicker but I would only recommend it for off-line)


Fredrik Callinggard

yup. the proxies are FAST and super handy - but you will see aliasing, etc.

There are some folks running around saying "just use the 2K proxies - it's all you need" - and that drives me nuts.

[Fredrik Callinggard]

yup. the proxies are FAST and super handy - but you will see aliasing, etc.

There are some folks running around saying "just use the 2K proxies - it's all you need" - and that drives me nuts.

It's like telecine a 35mm shoot and end up in the on line with the one light DV tapes from the off line.

[Gunleik Groven]

yup. the proxies are FAST and super handy - but you will see aliasing, etc.

There are some folks running around saying "just use the 2K proxies - it's all you need" - and that drives me nuts.

Couldn't agree more!

[Peace Villow]

It's like telecine a 35mm shoot and end up in the on line with the one light DV tapes from the off line.

I believe that DV tapes still better than the proxies. :bleh:

[Fredrik Callinggard]

I believe that DV tapes still better than the proxies. :bleh:

You're absolutely right, was contemplating for a long time wether I should go back, edit and add "or worse" but I left it

[Bob Dewald]

Cool, thanks for answering the question so quickly. It's frustrating that a lot of people seem to advise using the proxies as a finishing solution.

Principal photography starts in 4 weeks and we're desperately looking for some test footage in R3d format with its proxies so we can test our workflow. Can anyone provide a short clip or a link to one? Even 24 frames would be sufficient.