Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Depending on your MacBook Air model, ProRes is much easier on the CPU than modern H264/H265 codecs, as every frame is stored in a ProRes video file compared to only a couple of frames per second in H264/H265 encoded video (they store so-called keyframes and then store the changes between those keyframes, thus the CPU has more to do than just display a frame, it has to decode/calculate it).
And H264 and H265 are modern codecs used in smartphones and consumer cameras, streaming services, BluRays and so on.

Thanks for the explanation. So the ProRes is likely to be a bigger file but all the video is already in the file, whilst the h.264/h.265 is a more compact file but the CPU calculating how to draw frames which uses CPU power. I think i've got it!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Michael Scrip
You'd be surprised about how easy ProRes is to edit.

It's less compressed so it's actually easier for a computer to process. But ProRes file sizes can be much bigger than a standard highly compressed MP4.

I'm honestly surprised it took this long to put ProRes in an iPhone. It's actually called "Apple ProRes"

:p
When I've looked at video file output options on Final Cut I've been historically been terrified of the larger file sizes for Apple ProRes. If I get one of the new MacBook Pros maybe I will look at seeing if it has a practical use for me.
 
When I've looked at video file output options on Final Cut I've been historically been terrified of the larger file sizes for Apple ProRes. If I get one of the new MacBook Pros maybe I will look at seeing if it has a practical use for me.

Given that Apple A and M series SoC offload the bulk of H.264/H.265 workload to fixed function multimedia en/decode logic that 'value add" that ProRes adds is typically narrower. ProRes was easier on CPU/GPU in part because keeps info about all the frames. So decode was more 'lightweight". But if H.264 decode largely isn't running on CPU/GPU cores then there isn't much left to "off load". Defacto that is lightweight also.

What Apple could do is also off load the bulk of ProRes to the fixed function logic. So it wouldn't be a speed thing. Technically there is an option to do completely lossless video encoding in H.265. Pragmatically that typically isn't done. the higher end ProRes formats have alpha channel encoding support. So really the gap comes up with higher end HDR recording with heavyweight image editing and/or post processing.

ProRes isn't about delivering finished video. Or archive format for finished video. It is about a format that is more conducive to higher quality editing/processing of video.

Video editing/processing of one , maybe two , camera feed(s) , little to no color grading , not much rendering to a standard def color space ... ProRes probably won't add much. [ .e.g, "one man band" set ups where self shoot with one camera , light edits and publish onto lowest common denominator web video. Final Cut can be used as 'incrementally more powerful' iMovie. ]

So for the Macs with smallest SSD capacity options it isn't a good fit. ( If ProRes sizes are "scary" that is typically indicative that the target drives are relatively small. Hence the 'fear' of filling it up. ). If have a fast , external drive of reasonable capacity ProRes file sizes are much less 'scary'.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Minxy
Recommendations for the year when you should truly upgrade from your iPhone:

iPhone 8 - 2022
iPhone X - 2023
iPhone XS - 2024
iPhone 11 - 2027
iPhone 12 - 2028
iPhone 13 - 2030

If Apple still supports the device with iOS updates, I would wait even longer.

2028? I definitely couldn’t wait that long to upgrade. I would rather upgrade every 2 years than to wait 7 more years.
 
I am vaccination (although that second dose almost did me in). Believe it or not, in many places vaccinated people are still required to wear a mask (I'm in Missouri, BTW)...which I don't mind because the vaccinated can still contract the virus and spread it.

I’m with you on wearing a mask. I never had an issue trying my password in when wearing a mask. I don’t see what the big deal is.
 
If the new phones have ProRes can we expect ProRes capture to be available to third party apps like Filmic Pro and Mavis?
 
Recommendations for the year when you should truly upgrade from your iPhone:

iPhone 8 - 2022
iPhone X - 2023
iPhone XS - 2024
iPhone 11 - 2027
iPhone 12 - 2028
iPhone 13 - 2030

If Apple still supports the device with iOS updates, I would wait even longer.
I would agree with this if I didn't buy new phones almost exclusively for the cameras.
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.