Adobe and QuickTime

Thanks!

I'll definitely look at AfterCodecs for work on our Windows PCs for those clients that insist on ProRes deliverables, but I'd only use it as a last resort. I'll stick to stable, established, and standard codecs first that are just as good and just as acceptable.

I just find it odd that those people who take pride (and rightfully so) on shooting and delivering the best possible file to clients would settle on an unsanctioned, reverse-engineered, "best guess" version of ProRes for their final renders. If you're using such a codec just to say "Hey! I can use ProRes, too!" or to have the coveted "Apple ProRes" codec label applied to your clips, then you may be using it for the wrong reasons.

Why do Chinese companies make knock off products? It's brand recognition that you are riding the coat tails of.

The quality of the knock off in this case, prores vs 3rd party pc prores, is indistinguishable.

I totally get it. There's a perceived value in prores. Without a loss in quality or penalization in the marketplace. The real question is, why wouldn't you!

I guess if I, coming from a broadcast background, were to use a non-standard ProRes codec for a deliverable to a broadcast station who requires Apple ProRes, I run the risk of the file getting rejected in the QC stage and the client who's commercial I was producing might miss a deadline (or at the very least, might think less of my company for "cutting corners"). Some systems are very, very picky when it comes to commercials and industry-acceptable standards, and you usually don't have an idea beforehand if the place you're submitting to will be one of those picky agencies until after you were rejected. Having to re-encode and re-upload spots when you thought the project was over and done with can get time consuming and frustrating (I've been there, especially at 4:55pm on a Friday).

Whereas you, shooting with a knock-off Movi gimbal from China would still probably get the shot just fine and the end client wouldn't be the wiser. (No where on the clip details page does it label equipment used, and broadcast stations don't care what tripod or slider you used.)

But, that said, for stock footage, I still choose to upload MP4 files solely for the upload time and bandwidth savings even though I have Apple ProRes at my disposal (for 4K only, I use ProRes for 1080).

We all have our workflows that work best for each of us, I suppose. And a company who accepts MP4 files would also accept 3rd party ProRes without a second thought.

I guess after all this, where I'm landing at is that this is stock footage, not Paramount Studios. Codecs are ultimately irrelevant. Content is king. :)

Jim, I would actually listen to anything you had to say if I actually believed you knew what you were talking about. I have been betas testing these codecs for quite a while now. They have been accepted by all agencies. They are being used by several pro houses as well. And now they are going to be released for Pr and Me as well. So before you spew information about something that you have not even used, you may want to reconsider what you state here. It is easy to demonstrate ignorance, but there is a fine line between being ignorant about a subject and out right causing actual fiduciary damage by stating false information. And no! Codecs are not irrelevant. If that was true, people wouldn't be freaking out right now wondering what the hell to use in place of the former Quicktime set.

P.S. Jim - I will introduce you personally to the creator himself this week at NAB... then you can finally get all of your questions and doubts cleared up. Make sure to remind to do so. ;)

Apple could have gone the route selling the codec for $99 / license for Windows users and probably sold a ton but no.. They are stubborn. Probably becouse they know that the market for Macs are not excatly great anymore.

Its a problem for me since i will do 50% chromakey video where i need an Alpha channel and a good high quality codec that supports it. The only good one that stock sites accept is Prores so i am very happy that AfterCodecs exists. I am not buying a superexpensive Mac only for a codec. I wish there was more alternetives but there aint from what i have seen.