ProRes codec

The Apple ProRes family is a high-quality codec designed for professional video production, offering excellent image quality with manageable file sizes. Designer supports multiple ProRes variants for different quality and bandwidth requirements.

ProRes 422

ProRes 422 is the standard variant that provides excellent quality for most professional video applications. It offers a good balance between file size and image quality, making it suitable for broadcast and post-production workflows. ProRes 422 supports up to 10-bit color depth and is ideal for most video content.

ProRes 4444

ProRes 4444 is the highest quality variant in the ProRes family, supporting up to 12-bit color depth and an alpha channel for transparency. This codec is designed for visual effects work and high-end post-production where maximum image quality is required. ProRes 4444 provides virtually lossless compression with larger file sizes.

ProRes HQ (High Quality)

ProRes HQ offers higher quality than standard ProRes 422 while maintaining reasonable file sizes. It provides enhanced detail preservation and is particularly useful for content that will undergo multiple generations of processing or when the highest quality is needed within the 422 color space.

Note

ProRes codecs are developed by Apple and are widely supported across professional video applications. They provide excellent quality for high-end video production workflows.

Performance Consideration

Check the performance stats of the individual server you intend to playback ProRes on, as performance may be more limited than GPU accelerated codecs like HAP/DXV and NotchLC.

Best Practices

• Use ProRes 422 for standard broadcast and streaming content
• Choose ProRes 4444 when you need alpha channel support or maximum quality
• Select ProRes HQ for content requiring enhanced detail preservation

Quality Comparison

ProRes codecs are designed to maintain high image quality across different compression levels:

• ProRes 4444: Highest quality, largest file size, supports alpha channel
• ProRes HQ: Enhanced quality over standard 422, moderate file size increase
• ProRes 422: Standard quality, good balance of quality and file size

The choice between variants depends on your specific quality requirements, available storage, and whether you need alpha channel support.