ProRes Compatibility

Owned by Noah Chamow
Apr 19, 2024
2 min read

In a normal ProRes (VBR) each frame gets compressed using a different amount of data and results in every frame being a slightly different size. To do video inserts into a target file, each frame needs to be big enough for a maximum potential data overwrite. Because of this video inserts to ProRes may only be made to either CBR or VBR Padded files.

VBR padded ProRes files can be created from standard VBR ProRes files through re-wrapping, a process that has no effect on the video essence or QC and is very fast, much like a file copy. This rewrap can either be done in CineXtools itself in the rewrap and audio versioning tab, for free through one of our plug-ins or as a built-in function of the NLE, or through our free ProRes pad, rewrap utility:

  1. For a guide to rewrapping in CineXtools visit Rewrap & Audio Versioning

  2. Download our free rewrap utility that lets your batch process your Standard ProRes to Padded ProRes and vice versa: ProRes PAD Rewrap Utility - Quickstart Guide

Which NLEs support exporting an “insertable” ProRes file?

  1. Avid Media Composer – AMA Using the free functions in our plugin Avid Media Composer Insert Plugin

  2. Adobe Premiere (Media Encoder) – Using the free functions in our plugin Adobe Premiere Insert Plugin

  3. Autodesk Flame and Smoke – CBR export available natively in the 2018 release and later

  4. Blackmagic Design DaVinci Resolve – CBR export available natively in v.14 and greater

  5. FilmLight Baselight - CBR export available natively in v.5 and greater

If your files were created on third party edit systems that do not support exporting VBR Padded files natively and you did not use one of the CineXPlugins, you will need to rewrap the file as VBR Padded in the Rewrap & Audio Versioning tab.

Audio inserts may be made to any ProRes file without rewrapping. Patch files do not need to be padded. There are other benefits to rewrapping, such as cleaning up the header metadata to a standard that will pass broadcast QC. The process takes about as long as a file copy, which is highly recommended anyway due to the fact that insert edit is a destructive process . You can make the copy and rewrap at the same time, along with any track order changes or track additions/subtractions if your desired final file has a different track layout from the original.