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Compressing a .mov file?

Does proress 422 make a .MOV file larger?

  • I'm a newb, excuse my ignorance. So I shot some footage with my Canon 60d, and used mpeg streamclip to make the footage editable through Final Cut. Just for kicks, I compared the .mov file size with the file size of the same clip I converted to prores. The .mov file is 232.5 mb, the converted file is 612.5mb. Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't prores suppose to make the file smaller? If not, than what does it do to the file to make it more editable? Thank you.

  • Answer:

    No, you got it backwards my friend. Smaller file size = higher compression, means the computer must "think" alot more when watching every single frame. Greater file size (if it's the same clip) = lighter compression. In the case with apple's prores it's an intraframe codec means you dont got a ridiculous GOP like the native files from the 60D. What it means is that when you record with your 60D its (iirc) h264 files in .mov container with B-frame compression. The B-frame compression means that for it to create a random frame (lets call that frame X1) then it draws information from other frames (X2, X3, X4 etc) so basically everytime you replay or skip through frames in native files directly from your 60D it has to do alot of "thinking" and working just to play a single frame - wherein the converted prores files it doesn't have to. it's built of indvidual frames, just as if you imported 100 .jpeg pictures and played them. They are all independent frames, whereas the native files from 60D arent! That is why the file size is greater. But as I mentioned earlier, don't be mistaken. Big file size is good, because it means the compression is easier on your computer :) I wish you the very best of luck with your editing and learning pls tell me if this was nonsense, because it's late in europe and i'm tired :)..

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It depends on a lot of factors. Did you downsize (in pixel resolution) the clip done through mpeg streamclip? If so, that would explain the difference. Even if the two are the same pixel resolution, all converters can use a number of codecs (coder-decoder), and the amount of compression, efficiency of compression, bit rates, etc. for all of them vary a great deal. So unless you used the same coded to convert both, you won't get the same final file sizes -- and that *doesn't* necessarily mean you will have a visible difference in quality. When you do the conversion, optimizing for "streaming" (from the web) versus optimizing for hard-drive playing will also make a difference in file sizes, without necessarily a difference in visual quality. I suggest you try out a number of codecs, and find one that produces output that's at your desired quality level, and yet makes the files as small as possible. You have lots of choices... Peace.

WellTraveledProg

Normally that would be true about the file size however the conversion program probably added some data to make the conversion happen. What did you convert to? I'm using an editor that I don't have to convert. It runs my mov files straight out of the camera. However you do need to have quick time installed so the editor can use the files it needs to run mov. I used to have to convert on my old computer and with other software but after an upgrade to my Gateway 3.3 / 8gb ram no conversion required... converting is such a pain. I just thought of something else, true or not I have no idea. When I was converting I had a quality drop... not too bad but still a drop. Perhaps, and this is a guess on my part, the program you're using wants to preserve as much of the quality as it can so during the conversion it adds data to do that and that could be what you're seeing in the file size.

Jim A

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