If you are looking for a good converter to transcode H.264 MOV files to ProRes for editing on Mac, you may have interest in this thread. It introduces a professional H.264 MOV to ProRes converter to help you batch convert H.264 MOV video files to Apple ProRes codec maintaining original quality.
Converting H.264 MOV files to ProRes is the suggestion when working with FCP. In our experience, the main benefit of converting H.264 MOV files to something like ProRes, or DNxHD (all are great editing codecs) is that it can be a lot easier to playback/editing in your NLE. We know it may sound weird, given the bigger file sizes, but the way that H.264 (your camera’s codec, inside of those .mov files) is compressed can be really tough to playback for an NLE.
If you have a number of H.264 MOV files and want to encode them to ProRes on Mac, you can give HD Video Converter for Mac a shot. This converter app offers a couple of ProRes formats for users to choose from, including Apple ProRes 422, Apple ProRes 422 (HQ), Apple ProRes 422 (LT), Apple ProRes 422 (Proxy), and Apple ProRes 4444, you can select one as target format depending on your requirement in post production.
Apple ProRes 422 – Higher quality than Apple ProRes 422 (LT);
Apple ProRes 422 (HQ) – Keep original video quality for editing in FCP;
Apple ProRes 422 (LT) – Get a smaller file sizes than Apple ProRes 422;
Apple ProRes 422 (Proxy) – SD levels – 480i/p and 576i/p. Used in offline workflows.
Apple ProRes 4444 – Edit and finish 4:4:4 material.
[Guide] How to encode H.264 MOV to ProRes on Mac?
Here’s what you need
HD Video Converter for Mac
Download, install and run HD Video Converter for Mac, then follow these steps:
Step 1: Run HD Video Converter for Mac as a professional H.264 MOV to ProRes Converter. When its main interface comes up, click ‘Add File’ to load source video to it.
Step 2: Select ‘Apple ProRes 422 (*.mov)’ as output format
From the ‘Profile’ list, move to ‘Final Cut Pro’ catalogue, and select ‘Apple ProRes 422 (*.mov)’ as target format. Apple ProRes is the best suited editing codec for FCP X. When loading them into Final Cut Pro X, you needn’t wait for a long time for rendering. To produce smaller files, you can select ‘Apple ProRes 422 (LT) (*.mov) as target format.
In addition to FCP X, the ProRes codec is also suitable for editing in NLEs like DaVinci Resolve, Edius, and Adobe Premiere.
Important: If you’ve loaded a number of video clips to do batch conversion, please do remember ticking off ‘Apply to All’ option before you start.
Step 3: Adjust video and audio settings (for advanced users)
If necessary, you can click ‘Settings’ button and go to ‘Profiles Settings’ panel to modify video and audio settings like video encoder, resolution, video bit rate, frame rate, aspect ratio, audio encoder, sample rate, audio bit rate, and audio channels. 3D settings are also available.
Step 4: Click ‘Convert’ to start H.264 MOV video files to ProRes conversion.
Step 5: Click ‘Open Folder’ to get generated ProRes QuickTime files for editing in your NLE with optimum performance.
To import the transcoded files into Final Cut Pro X. navigate to File > Import > Media. In the window that comes up select your transcoded ProRes clips. DO NOT check “Create Optimized Media” OR “Create Proxy Media”. Both of these check boxes are unnecessary because we already converted the media to ProRes which means Final Cut Pro X can use the footage without “optimizing” it. Checking this box would create a redundant and time consuming second transcode of your footage.
You’re now ready to edit!
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