Filed under: Software, Video, Software Update
FCS2 page hints at pending QuickTime 7.1.6 update
Many of Apple's media apps rely on QuickTime in one way or another, so it probably comes as no surprise that a Final Cut Studio 2 announcement means we'll see at least a slight QT update to bring everything up to speed. Sure enough, eagle-eyed TUAW readers have caught QuickTime 7.1.6 listed on the System Requirements page for FCS2. Though a minor upgrade that is probably filled with compatibility updates, it is also likely to include that fancy new Apple ProRes 422 codec (who names this stuff?) which supposedly offers uncompressed HD quality footage with SD file sizes. That's a pretty tall claim to fill, but we'll have to wait for the reports to roll in on whether Apple delivers on the promise.Regardless, it's a pretty obvious bet that QuickTime 7.1.6 will soon be coming to a Software Update near you.
Thanks to everyone who sent this in.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Jon said 2:35PM on 4-16-2007
"ProRes 422" refers to the color sampling - 4:2:2. "4:2:2 uncompressed" makes no sense whatsoever because 4:2:2 is a form of compression. Although I see what they mean - if you capture from a prosumer camera it will most likely be 4:2:2 so nothing is lost in converting to the Apple codec, but you lose quality in recording the image.
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Andrew said 2:25PM on 4-16-2007
So could this ProRes 422 codec be used to say, deliver HD content from iTunes thus bypassing file size worries?
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Matt said 2:28PM on 4-16-2007
Bingo Andrew. You beat me to it.
If they can get HD into the same file size that they now send out SD shows and movies isn't that a pretty big breakthrough?
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B deR West said 2:41PM on 4-16-2007
And thus, Apple TV finally makes sense
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KeynoteKen said 3:01PM on 4-16-2007
"Final Cut Pro 6 introduces ProRes 422, Apple’s new post-production format offering uncompressed HD quality at SD file sizes."
No, this is moreso a replacement for Pixlet probably. When it says SD file sizes it doesn't mean heavily compressed SD, it means full res SD that's used for collaboration. These are NOT going to be small (downloadable) files.
Also, I'd guess this would be shipped WITH FCS and not a part of a standard QuickTime install.
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King Chung Huang said 3:51PM on 4-16-2007
As KeynoteKen said, ProRes 422's SD file sizes refers to data rates used in post-production. For example, our SD edit suites use Apple's 8-bit Uncompressed 4:2:2 codec which runs at around 160 Mbps. The FCS tech specs page says ProRes 422 runs at target bit rates of 145 Mbps and 220 Mbps. So, it's definitely SD file sizes, where SD file size means 75 GB an hour, not iPod level 1 GB an hour!
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Wisconsin said 5:57PM on 4-16-2007
Like KeynoteKen, I'd expect this codec to be bundled with FCS, much like the DVCPRO-HD codec is today.
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BdeRWest said 4:23PM on 4-16-2007
And thus, what Apple is going to do with AppleTV slinks back into mystery
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NutMac said 4:27PM on 4-16-2007
#1, #2, and #4: According to ProRES 422 whitepaper, it uses 59 Mbps for 720p (or 0.44 GB per minute). ProRES 422 is for professionals, much like Pixlet was.
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Jon said 4:28PM on 4-16-2007
#5: I'd imagine that Apple would at least include ProRes 422 decoding in QuickTime to enable clients to view content without needing FCP (or a Mac for that matter).
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julian said 5:45AM on 7-06-2007
hey - my work colluge made a capture in FCP 6 in NTSC with this new codec and could play the movies in quicktime only . then its now in europe.. and my PC with quicktime 7.1.6 pro can play the film sound but no visual. where can i find this codec for standalone quicktime?
cheers
julian
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