Help please converting AVI files to Apple Prores

[scoostraw]

Hello,

I had some 8mm film transferred a while ago, and the files I have are AVI.

I would like to convert them to Apple Prores so that I can edit in Final Cut Pro. I've been searching for the best way to convert these files, but all I seem to find are websites of software outfits touting their own particular app.

Do any of you guys have experience with this and can recommend a good conversion program? I am on a Mac.

Thank you!

[smrpix]

Handbrake or Shutter Encoder can do the job, but it may be completely unnecessary.

Did you try loading your files in FCP? It supports a wide variety of codecs.
https://support.apple.com/guide/final-cut-pro/supported-media-formats-ver2833f855/10.6.2/mac/11.5.1

Or are you using an older, obsolete version?

[jagabo]

basic ffmpeg, drag/drop batch file:

ffmpeg -i %1 -vcodec prores -profile:v 3  %1.prores.mov

or maybe better:

ffmpeg -i %1 -vcodec prores_ks -profile:v 3  %1.prores.mov

Some profiles:

-profile 1 = ProRes LT
-profile 2 = ProRes 422 SD
-profile 3 = HQ for HD

other Options:

Encoder prores_ks [Apple ProRes (iCodec Pro)]:
    General capabilities: threads 
    Threading capabilities: frame and slice
    Supported pixel formats: yuv422p10le yuv444p10le yuva444p10le
ProRes encoder AVOptions:
  -mbs_per_slice     <int>        E..V....... macroblocks per slice (from 1 to 8) (default 8)
  -profile           <int>        E..V....... (from -1 to 5) (default auto)
     auto            -1           E..V.......
     proxy           0            E..V.......
     lt              1            E..V.......
     standard        2            E..V.......
     hq              3            E..V.......
     4444            4            E..V.......
     4444xq          5            E..V.......
  -vendor            <string>     E..V....... vendor ID (default "Lavc")
  -bits_per_mb       <int>        E..V....... desired bits per macroblock (from 0 to 8192) (default 0)
  -quant_mat         <int>        E..V....... quantiser matrix (from -1 to 6) (default auto)
     auto            -1           E..V.......
     proxy           0            E..V.......
     lt              2            E..V.......
     standard        3            E..V.......
     hq              4            E..V.......
     default         6            E..V.......
  -alpha_bits        <int>        E..V....... bits for alpha plane (from 0 to 16) (default 16)

https://ffmpeg.org/ffmpeg-codecs.html#ProRes

[scoostraw]

Handbrake or Shutter Encoder can do the job, but it may be completely unnecessary.

Did you try loading your files in FCP? It supports a wide variety of codecs.
https://support.apple.com/guide/final-cut-pro/supported-media-formats-ver2833f855/10.6.2/mac/11.5.1

Or are you using an older, obsolete version?

My FCP is 10.5.2

It will not let me import AVI files.

I have Handbrake, but it only shows me MP4, MKV and WebM as output options(?)

[scoostraw]

basic ffmpeg, drag/drop batch file:

ffmpeg -i %1 -vcodec prores -profile:v 3  %1.prores.mov

or maybe better:

ffmpeg -i %1 -vcodec prores_ks -profile:v 3  %1.prores.mov

Some profiles:

-profile 1 = ProRes LT
-profile 2 = ProRes 422 SD
-profile 3 = HQ for HD

other Options:

Encoder prores_ks [Apple ProRes (iCodec Pro)]:
    General capabilities: threads 
    Threading capabilities: frame and slice
    Supported pixel formats: yuv422p10le yuv444p10le yuva444p10le
ProRes encoder AVOptions:
  -mbs_per_slice     <int>        E..V....... macroblocks per slice (from 1 to 8) (default 8)
  -profile           <int>        E..V....... (from -1 to 5) (default auto)
     auto            -1           E..V.......
     proxy           0            E..V.......
     lt              1            E..V.......
     standard        2            E..V.......
     hq              3            E..V.......
     4444            4            E..V.......
     4444xq          5            E..V.......
  -vendor            <string>     E..V....... vendor ID (default "Lavc")
  -bits_per_mb       <int>        E..V....... desired bits per macroblock (from 0 to 8192) (default 0)
  -quant_mat         <int>        E..V....... quantiser matrix (from -1 to 6) (default auto)
     auto            -1           E..V.......
     proxy           0            E..V.......
     lt              2            E..V.......
     standard        3            E..V.......
     hq              4            E..V.......
     default         6            E..V.......
  -alpha_bits        <int>        E..V....... bits for alpha plane (from 0 to 16) (default 16)

https://ffmpeg.org/ffmpeg-codecs.html#ProRes

Wow ok.. I will need to digest this for a bit.

These are console commands I take it?

[jagabo]

These are console commands I take it?

Yes. The syntax is for a batch file. You can drag/drop videos onto the batch file to encode them. If you put the batch file in your SendTo folder, say with the name ConvertToProres.bat, you can right click on a video file and select Send To -> ConvertToProres.bat. A new file will be created in the same folder with the same name but with .prores.mov appended at the end.

[scoostraw]

These are console commands I take it?

Yes. The syntax is for a batch file. You can drag/drop videos onto the batch file to encode them. If you put the batch file in your SendTo folder, say with the name ConvertToProres.bat, you can right click on a video file and select Send To -> ConvertToProres.bat. A new file will be created in the same folder with the same name but with .prores.mov appended at the end.

I appreciate this.

I will need to get up to speed on batch files first. I am at a loss as to exactly what you are saying to do.

[jagabo]

It can easily be modified to encode all files in a folder, or even a folder tree.

[smrpix]

jagabo's excellent instructions are pretty much what shutter encoder does under the hood. The GUI may be a little more user friendly.

[scoostraw]

Wow thanks a lot. Shutter Encoder may be what I will use.

I appreciate the replies from all of you. I am out of my depth here and definitely need some hand holding.

[nicholasserra]

Whats the current codec? I've had plenty of prores files that were in AVI containers. So wondering if the codec or the container is the issue.

[scoostraw]

Whats the current codec? I've had plenty of prores files that were in AVI containers. So wondering if the codec or the container is the issue.

This is what Mediainfo shows me: