Apple Prores 422 Hq Codec Download Mac

All Apple ProRes codecs support all frame sizes (including SD, HD, 2K, 4K, and 5K) at full resolution. The data rates vary based on codec type, image content, frame size, and frame rate. Apple ProRes includes the following formats.

Mac Apple ProRes Converter Features - Convert AVCHD/MTS/M2TS to ProRes 422/4444 on Mac - Convert 2D recordings/videos to 3D MP4, MKV, MOV - Convert ProRes video to H.265, H.264, MPEG-2, DNxHD, AIC - Transcode MXF footage to ProRes 422 MOV/ProRes 4444 MOV - Trim, merge, crop MTS/MXF/MKV/AVI/MP4 video on Mac - Encode MKV file/video/movie to ProRes codec on Mac - Add.srt and.ass subtitles into. The ProRes 422 codec will ensure a good balance between file size and file quality. This converter only outputs Apple ProRes files up to 1080p. Apple ProRes 422: A high-quality compressed codec offering nearly all the benefits of Apple ProRes 422 HQ, but at 66 percent of the data rate for even better multistream, real-time editing performance.

To bring the same performance, quality, and ease of use introduced by Apple ProRes to raw media, use Apple ProRes RAW. Learn more about ProRes RAW.

Apple ProRes 4444 XQ*

Apple ProRes 4444 XQ is the highest-quality version of Apple ProRes for 4:4:4:4 image sources (including alpha channels). This format has a very high data rate to preserve the detail in high-dynamic-range imagery generated by today’s highest-quality digital image sensors. Apple ProRes 4444 XQ preserves dynamic ranges several times greater than the dynamic range of Rec. 709 imagery. This holds true even against the rigors of extreme visual effects processing in which tone-scale blacks or highlights are stretched significantly. Like standard Apple ProRes 4444, this codec supports up to 12 bits per image channel and up to 16 bits for the alpha channel. Apple ProRes 4444 XQ features a target data rate of approximately 500 Mbps for 4:4:4 sources at 1920x1080 and 29.97 fps.

ProRes 4444 XQ is supported on OS X Mountain Lion v10.8 or later.

Apple ProRes 4444*

Apple ProRes 4444 is an extremely high-quality version of Apple ProRes for 4:4:4:4 image sources (including alpha channels). This codec features full-resolution, mastering-quality 4:4:4:4 RGBA color, and visual fidelity that is perceptually indistinguishable from the original material. Apple ProRes 4444 is a high-quality solution for storing and exchanging motion graphics and composites, with excellent multigeneration performance and a mathematically lossless alpha channel of up to 16 bits. This codec features a remarkably low data rate compared to uncompressed 4:4:4 HD. It has a target data rate of approximately 330 Mbps for 4:4:4 sources at 1920x1080 and 29.97 fps. It also offers direct encoding of and decoding to both RGB and Y’CBCR pixel formats.

Apple ProRes 422 HQ

Apple ProRes 422 HQ is a higher-data-rate version of Apple ProRes 422 that preserves visual quality at the same high level as Apple ProRes 4444 but for 4:2:2 image sources. With widespread adoption across the video post-production industry, Apple ProRes 422 HQ offers visually lossless preservation of the highest-quality professional HD video that a single-link HD-SDI signal can carry. This codec supports full-width, 4:2:2 video sources at 10-bit pixel depths, while remaining visually lossless through many generations of decoding and reencoding. The target data rate is approximately 220 Mbps at 1920x1080 and 29.97 fps.

Apple ProRes 422

Apple ProRes 422 is a high-quality compressed codec offering nearly all the benefits of Apple ProRes 422 HQ, but at 66 percent of the data rate for even better multistream, real-time editing performance. The target data rate is approximately 147 Mbps at 1920x1080 and 29.97 fps.

Apple ProRes 422 LT

Apple ProRes 422 LT is a more highly compressed codec than Apple ProRes 422, with roughly 70 percent of the data rate and 30 percent smaller file sizes. This codec is perfect for environments where storage capacity and data rate are at a premium. The target data rate is approximately 102 Mbps at 1920x1080 and 29.97 fps.

Apple ProRes 422 Proxy

Apple ProRes 422 Proxy is an even more highly compressed codec than Apple ProRes 422 LT, intended for use in offline workflows that require low data rates but full-resolution video. The target data rate is approximately 45 Mbps at 1920x1080 and 29.97 fps.

* Apple ProRes 4444 and Apple ProRes 4444 XQ are ideal for the exchange of motion graphics media because they are virtually lossless. They are also the only Apple ProRes codecs that support alpha channels.

ProRes vs H.264, it is hard to judge which one is better as each of them can be used as the best video codec under certain circumstances. In simple words, Apple ProRes codec is designed for post-production while H.264 codec is widely used in video delivery/distribution. Compared to the background and theoretical knowledge, you may be more interested in the using scenes. So, this is not a paper-style article but a guide which will use simple words about Apple ProRes vs H.264 to help you choose the right codec when you need to edit, play, upload, share, etc. videos.

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Best Video Converter to Convert Apple ProRes to H.264 & Vice Versa

Apple Prores Proxy

MacX Video Converter Pro, a free video conversion tool supporting both H.264/HEVC and ProRes to let you convert Apple ProRes to H.264 and vice versa at will. Also compress 8K/4K files to 1080p in superfast speed and high quality.

Table of Contents

  • Part 1. The Brief Introduction of ProRes & H.264
  • Part 2. Detailed Analysis of Apple ProRes vs H.264
  • Part 3. Comparison Conclusion – Which One Should You Choose

Part 1. The Brief Introduction of ProRes vs H.264

Apple prores 422 hq codec download mac os

#1. What is ProRes?

ProRes is a high quality, lossy video compression format developed by Apple for use in post-production that supports video resolution up to 8K. So, it gradually become the mainstream code for Hollywood movie production. Introduced in 2007 with Final Cut Studio 2, it is an unparalleled combination of multistream, real-time editing performance, impressive image quality, and reduced storage rates so that is very suitable for post-production, high quality and high performance. Besides, ProRes video codec is exclusive for iPhone Pro series, and as of now only iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max can record ProRes videos.

Apple ProRes includes the following formats: Apple ProRes 4444 XQ, Apple ProRes 4444, Apple ProRes 422 HQ, Apple ProRes 422, Apple ProRes 422 LT, Apple ProRes 422 Proxy.

ProRes vs ProRes Raw vs Raw

In 2018, Apple released ProRes Raw, the codec built upon the same technology as other ProRes codecs. ProRes Raw retains more original information than ProRes and has a higher data rate so that it is perfect for making HDR-standard videos. If ProRes codec is for Ultra HD 8K videos, ProRes Raw is born for HDR standard videos.

Well, what’s the difference between ProRes and Raw? Raw Formats are the untouched media that your video camera produces. Unlike ProRes videos, Raw videos are not encoded files. All the data of RAW is from camera sensor without any camera processing baked in. Besides, you can change camera settings like ISO, exposure, gamma, white balance and color space after your video is hot. So, ProRes Raw has the performance of ProRes and the flexibility of Raw.

Apple Prores 422 Hq Codec Download Mac

#2. What is H.264?

Used by 91% of video industry developers as of September 2019, H.264 (AVC) video compression standard is an industry standard for video compression which mainly used as a delivery/distribution codec with much smaller file size. It is a network-friendly video transmission method that can deliver high-quality images without being a bandwidth hog. So, it is commonly used for recording, compression, streaming/distribution of video contents. To free up storage space of your devices, H.264 is still more suitable than Apple ProRes.

SpecsProResH.264
Release date20072003
Developer (s)Apple Inc.Video Coding Experts Group (VCEG) and Moving Pictures Export Group (MPEG)
Compression wayIntra-frame compression, low compression ratioGOP (Group of Pictures) Processed Collectively, high compression ratio
Lossy/losslessLossy compressionLossy compression
Container format (s)Works with QuickTime Movie Format (MOV)Works with Almost All Major Formats (MP4, M4P, M4V)
Video resolutionMainly for 8K,now you can only record 4KMainly for 4K, up to 8K
Codec 10-bit Codec8-bit Codec
UsagePost-production Video distribution/delivery

Part 2. Detailed Analysis of Apple ProRes vs H.264

Here, we discard in-depth technologies about the two codecs that a paper could explain clearly, but give you easy words about what you are caring most, say which one is better.

#1. ProRes vs H.264: File Size

Winner: H.264

H.264 has high compression ratio making the file size is relatively smaller while Apple ProRes has low compression ratio making the files gigantic in size that further occupy a significant amount of space on a disk. The data rate of ProRes is higher than the normal video materials including H.264 files so bring about a lot of storage pressure as well. That’s why you need iPhone 13 Pro with at least 256GB storage to a record a 4K ProRes video, and that’s why Apple provides 1TB storage choice for iPhone users.

#2. ProRes vs H.264: Video Quality

Winner: Apple ProRes

Apple ProRes preserves a wider color gamut. Apple ProRes is a 10-bit codec that the ProRes files have more shades while working with Color Grading options in a post-production tool like iMovie, Clips, Final Cut Studio 2, Final Cut Pro X, Adobe Premier and Davinci Resolve. However, H.264 is an 8-bit codec which has fewer color grading options while working with post-production software. As far as we know, HDR offers brighter highlights, darker shadows and more details in both sides, but Apple ProRes supports HDR while H.264 doesn’t support it.

#3. ProRes vs H.264: Compatibility

Winner: H.264

Apple video codec

Apple ProRes is a quite new video codec mainly designed for post-production, so that the supported devices or applications are countable. As of this article, there only a few devices, hardware or platforms support ProRes.

  • Recorders: Arri Alexa, AJA (IO HD FireWire 800 interface; Ki Pro and Ki Pro Mini portable recorders, Ki Pro Rack and Ki Pro Ultra for 4K/UltraHD workflows), Atomos[19] (Ninja and Samurai recorders), Sound Devices (PIX series recorders), Convergent Designs (Odyssey7, 7Q, 7Q+), Fast Forward Video[20] (Sidekick recorder) HyperDeck SSD recorders, Blackmagic Cinema Camera, Odyssey7 and Odyssey7Q monitor/recorders, Atomos Shogun, AJA CION production camera, Blackmagic UrsaMini 4.6k, Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K, iPhone 13 Pro, iPhone 13 Pro Max, etc.
  • Encoders: iMovie, Clips, Final Cut Studio 2, Final Cut Pro X, Adobe Premier, Davinci Resolve, QuickTime (using the 'Maximum' quality setting when producing a Movie Recording), etc.
  • Video hosting sites: YouTube.
  • Media Player: VLC Media Player, QuickTime Player (need to download Apple ProRes QuickTime decoder for Windows and Mac).

As for H.264, you can find it nearly everywhere. H.264 touches every aspects of our digital lives and its popularity is growing continuously. You can find it in HD DVDs, HDTV, pay-TV, YouTube videos, Blu-ray discs, videos from Netflix, Hulu, Vimeo, iTunes Store, Amazon Prime Video, etc. You can also find it in CCTV and Video Surveillance markets. Since iPhone 6S Plus, all newer iPhone models support H.264 video codec.

Apple Prores 422 Hq Codec Download Mac Download

#4. ProRes vs H.264: Encoding

Winner: ProRes

Apple ProRes uses I-Frame approach. All ProRes codecs are frame-independent codecs that each frame is encoded and decoded independently of any other frame. That leads to a faster rendering speed, 5.7 times the R3D 3:1, 4.1 times the R3D5:1, and 1.5 times the Canon's new compressible RAW . That’s the reason ProRes files are big. However, ProRes files are loosely compressed, so they don’t require much GPU to de-compress the information.

H.264 uses GOP (Group of Pictures) Approach. H.264 codec compresses a group of pictures to form a complex architecture that, even though it reduces the overall file size, requires more inputs from GPU to decompress and process while processing.

Apple Prores 422 Hq Codec Download Mac Software

#5. ProRes vs H.264: Other Advantages & Disadvantages

ProRes:

Apple Prores 422 Hq Codec Download Mac Torrent

  • ProRes helps make iPhone 13 Pro series and newer iPhone models more professional in terms of recording cinematic videos.
  • ProRes is a bandwidth intensive format because of its large file size.
  • If you use ProRes coding format when editing your videos, you can export your videos with a faster speed.

H.264:

  • H.264 is more suitable for the majority of people who only need videos up to 4K.
  • H.264 is more economical. The service providers and common people can use the existing wires and infrastructure for long-distance transmission. Because H.264 video is standard based, it provides a vendor agnostic video extension solution that users can mix and match H.264 equipment from different vendors without worry of any compatibility or proprietary issues.
  • H.264 is a network-friendly video transmission method that delivers high-quality images without being a bandwidth hog.
  • H.264 lets you stream video from an encoder to multiple decoders simultaneously. For example, you can stream one set of video signals to a display, a video wall and a digital signal system at the same time.

Part 3. Comparison Conclusion – Which One Should You Choose

H.264 is for video distribution/delivery purposes, while ProRes is for post-production. That said, if you just need to do a simple edit or just play a video, you can go with H.264 codec, but if you plan to do a heavy edit with lots of transitions, effects, layers and color grading, you will be best served by Apple ProRes.

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