Mac compatible 10-bit codec?

Kevin R wrote on 5/9/2010, 3:41 PM

Perhaps my other post is too long. Let me ask the most pressing question:

Does Vegas support any 10-bit SD codec (4:2:2 or uncompressed) that is readable by a Mac/FCP?

For 10-bit SDI capture Vegas touts "10-bit YUV AVI" encoding. Is this readable on the Mac? If not, is there a similar 10-bit encoding that can be utilized without loss?

I am interested in the AJA hardware (Kona LSe or greater). I am only dealing with SD sources at this time.

Comments

musicvid10 wrote on 5/9/2010, 4:36 PM

I am only dealing with SD sources at this time.

Then why are you concerned with 10-bit encoding and 4:2:2 colorspace?

Kevin R wrote on 5/9/2010, 5:30 PM

Because I have 10-bit 4:2:2 SD DigiBeta tape source. 4:2:2 is not a color space, BTW. I assume you are speaking "loosely" on this. It is a chroma sub-sampling method to achieve bandwidth compression. DigiBeta uses the YUV color space.

musicvid10 wrote on 5/9/2010, 6:04 PM

Ah, I hadn't read your other thread, so I assumed you meant 8-bit 4:2:0 (or 4:1:1) source.

And yes, "subsampling" would have been a better choice of words.

Kevin R wrote on 5/9/2010, 7:30 PM

So, do you know of any 10-bit Mac/Vegas cross-compatible codecs?

musicvid10 wrote on 5/9/2010, 8:38 PM

Avid DNXHD has been accepted without question the few times I have had to submit 10-bit 4:2:2 for broadcast segments. The dropdown to select 10-bit options is but a sliver in the Windows GUI. Easy to miss. But no gamma shift if you set your options correctly.

The YUV-AVI option you mentioned is interesting, but I have no idea of its cross-platform capability.

The other option I played around with was MXF/422. I became concerned because of a slight cyan wash in the highlights, and a possible gamma shift.

Really, I am an entertainer and producer with a background in industrial still photography, and with little broadcast experience. Perrone Ford is the closest we have to a resident expert here on this cross-platform stuff.

But welcome to the forums! At least I have enough experience to be able to recognize an intelligent life-form . . .

Kevin R wrote on 5/9/2010, 10:34 PM

Thanks. When I checked out DNxHD it appeared to support HD content only--my clips are all SD. Any knowledge?

Getty Images seems big on ProRes 422 HQ, but I still need a codec to get content into a Mac in order to transcode to ProRes. Catch-22, sort of!

farss wrote on 5/10/2010, 12:15 AM

I'm pretty certain I mentioned this before.
The Sony YUV codec comes in 8 bit and 10 bit, seems to be exactly the same as the Black Magic Design codec and opens on Macs and PCs. It is 4:2:2.

Bob.

Kevin R wrote on 5/10/2010, 1:39 AM

Excellent! Can't wait to "see" it.

I'm currently unable to open 10-bit clips in Vegas exported from FCP by a friend. Perhaps he is using the wrong choice.

robwood wrote on 5/10/2010, 8:00 AM

maybe try the Blackmagic QuickTime codecs: they have 10 Bit YUV & RGB for Mac and PC as well as 8 Bit... install the software (http://www.blackmagic-design.com/support/software/) to get the codec.