Export lossless - "Grass Valley Lossless" alternative

[zvit]

I need to export some video to give to another editor to continue editing. I don't want to export to "Grass Valley Lossless" as I fear he might be using some NLE that doesn't support the Canopus files. So what would be the best alternative to "Grass Valley Lossless?" Quicktime and select "none" in compression settings? "Avi Uncompressed?"

[BernH]

I need to export some video to give to another editor to continue editing. I don't want to export to "Grass Valley Lossless" as I fear he might be using some NLE that doesn't support the Canopus files. So what would be the best alternative to "Grass Valley Lossless?" Quicktime and select "none" in compression settings? "Avi Uncompressed?"

Why don't you ask what NLE software they will be using. Yhen you can give them one that will work.

[zvit]

Why don't you ask what NLE software they will be using. Yhen you can give them one that will work.

I eventually did and it's PPRO CC which DOES except GV exports so that's what I did but my question still stands... if it WAS an NLE that doesn't support GV, what would be the best alternative to get uncompressed files.

[David Clarke]

That really does depend on what program you are going to. Resolve does not like most AVIs, for example. Avid is happier with QuickTime or Avid MXF (if you have the Workgroup version) etc..

I don't think there is a one size fits all.

[BernH]

That really does depend on what program you are going to. Resolve does not like most AVIs, for example. Avid is happier with QuickTime or Avid MXF (if you have the Workgroup version) etc..

I don't think there is a one size fits all.

Indeed. It is very dependent on the destination for the files, in terms of NLE software and OS.

The only thing that is almost independent would be an H264/MP4, but that is not uncompressed. In fact it is a very heavily compressed long GOP codec that can be difficult to edit.

That however leads me to the question, What is wrong with a good mezzanine codec that has a relatively light compression scheme such as HQ/HQX, ProRes, DNxHD/HR, etc., in the appropriate quicktime MOV or MXF wrapper. These are the native codecs of various NLE's, and will work very efficiently in the right destination NLE without any visible degradation.

Uncompressed is all well and good, but it isn't always the best solution, as the space and bandwidth requirements can be a lot higher than the mezzanine codecs.

[Hobbes]

I`m using XAVC Intra Class 480. That`s the best for me, because it supports BT.2020/BT.2100PQ 10bit 4:2:2 export to my external Encoder.

[BernH]

I`m using XAVC Intra Class 480. That`s the best for me, because it supports BT.2020/BT.2100PQ 10bit 4:2:2 export to my external Encoder.

XAVC, AFAVC, AVCHD, HDV, etc., are all heavily compressed Long GOP/Inter-frame codecs. Mezzanine codecs are Intra-Frame codecs that are much more lightly compressed. Intra-Frame tends to be easier to edit, do effects work on, and can actually introduce additional compression artifacts when trying to repeatedly decompress/process/re-compress. Long GOP codecs were never originally designed for efficient editing, but were created for reduced file sizes and bandwidth for delivery. They were also adopted by cameras for the storage space savings.

Editing and effects work is always easier/more efficient with the mezzanine codecs, as the intra-frame compression lends to easier editing, and offer an efficient balance point between the highly compressed Long GOP/Inter-frame codecs and the high bandwidth uncompressed files.

[Peterjames]

XAVC, AFAVC, AVCHD, HDV, etc., are all heavily compressed Long GOP/Inter-frame codecs.

This statement could be misleading as XAVC can be inter or intra. I do not have E9 so it may be correct in relation to exports from Edius but I have a Sony FS7 camera and I record to XAVC intra.
Extract from Sony manual below
Recording format (video)
XAVC Intra
AVC/H.264 High 4:2:2 Intra Profile
QFHD: VBR, 600 Mbps max.
4K: VBR, 600 Mbps max.
HD: CBG, 222 Mbps

[Jerry]

I`m using XAVC Intra Class 480. That`s the best for me, because it supports BT.2020/BT.2100PQ 10bit 4:2:2 export to my external Encoder.

What is your external encoder?

[GrassValley_SL]

EDIUS supports both Intra and Long GOP at encoding in the XAVC exporter.

[Hobbes]

With XAVC IntraFrame class 480, you will probably get the same quality as ProRes in around half the space.

I`m using TMPGenc Video Mastering Works 6: MPEG (H265) to produce QFHD - HDR.

[BernH]

This statement could be misleading as XAVC can be inter or intra. I do not have E9 so it may be correct in relation to exports from Edius but I have a Sony FS7 camera and I record to XAVC intra.
Extract from Sony manual below
Recording format (video)
XAVC Intra
AVC/H.264 High 4:2:2 Intra Profile
QFHD: VBR, 600 Mbps max.
4K: VBR, 600 Mbps max.
HD: CBG, 222 Mbps

I stand corrected. Yes it can be Intra-Frame, but look at those bitrates. Most it the implementations of it use Inter-Frame for the reasons I mentioned about reducing file sizes and bandwidth requirements.