PostMicroTools
Reference + chooser
Which codec should I use?
Tell it the stage, your priority and platform, and get a recommended codec with reasoning — plus a full comparison table to learn the trade-offs.
Codec comparison
| Codec | Type | Chroma / bit | Best for | HW accel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ProRes 422 / HQ | Intra | 4:2:2 / 10-bit | Edit, master | Apple Silicon Pro+ |
| ProRes 4444 | Intra | 4:4:4:4 / 12-bit + alpha | Finishing, graphics | Apple Silicon Pro+ |
| DNxHR | Intra | up to 4:4:4 / 12-bit | Edit, master (cross) | CPU |
| H.264 / AVC | Long-GOP | 4:2:0 / 8-bit | Web, compatibility | Everywhere |
| H.265 / HEVC | Long-GOP | 4:2:0/4:2:2 / 10-bit | Web, efficient delivery | Most modern |
| AV1 | Long-GOP | 4:2:0 / 10-bit | Streaming (best ratio) | Newer GPUs |
| Camera RAW (R3D/BRAW/ARRIRAW) | RAW | Bayer / 12–16-bit | Acquisition, color | GPU debayer |
| EXR | Sequence | RGB(A) / 16–32-bit | VFX, finishing | — |
| IMF (JPEG 2000) | Intra | up to 4:4:4 / 12-bit | Platform delivery | — |
Intra-frame vs long-GOP
Intra-frame compresses each frame on its own — heavy on disk but light to decode and perfect for editing. Long-GOP compresses across frames — tiny files but CPU/GPU-intensive to scrub, hence proxies.
Why not deliver in ProRes?
ProRes is a mezzanine/mastering codec: high quality, big files, not meant for streaming to viewers. For final delivery to web/social, transcode to H.264/H.265/AV1.