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Some important things to keep in mind when inserting into a file
Review our documentation on ProRes Compatibility
Source and target files do not need to be the same in terms of quality or color space. You can load a YUV10 HQ file in the source and insert to a YUV8 SQ file, for instance, and the application will make the appropriate conversion during the insert. HOWEVER it is highly recommended that the patch is exported the same way and from the same application/timeline as the original so that there are no surprises, especially if inserting into the middle of a shot. Same-to-same inserts are the fastest as no transcoding is necessary. Eg ProRes HQ YUV10 to ProRes HQ YUV10 insert simply copies frames from the source to target and happens very fast. By contrast, YUV8>>YUV10 requires decoding the original and encoding to the target, so it will be somewhat slower. In short inserts this will hardly be apparent, but in much longer inserts it will be noticeable.
Some source and target file characteristics must match or the insert will return an errror. Frame rate must match (eg 29.97p can’t be inserted to 25p, and 50i can’t be inserted to 25p). In general any frame rate conversions (pulldowns or standards conversions) should be made while exporting the patch from your NLE.
Your patch file does not need to be the same codec or wrapper as the target. You can, for instance, export your patch as DNxHD mixdown or DPX frames from your NLE, and use that as the source for a fix to a ProRes delivery file.
While longer inserts are happening, you can open the file in another cineXtools tab or Quicktime/other player and watch down/QC the insert. The insert can be cancelled without damaging the file, but the frames already overwritten at the time of cancelling are changed. Insert can only be “undone” as another insert edit from a copy of the original file.
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