Calibrated Software MXF Import v3 - Manual (Page 32)

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‘dnxhd’ options for Compressor 3.5.3 & 4.0.2
Control file used was the XDCAM-MOV file.
IMPORTANT: Any change in the ‘dnxhd’ options may require you to restart your computer for the changes to be ‘seen by
Compressor, as Compressor can run silently in System Memory.
For the below tests, all files were imported
manually into Compressor. We did not use the ‘Send to Compressor’ feature in
FCP-7 or FCP X which could make a difference in test results. All visual comparison tests were performed on the
computer monitor by sight.
In the Preview Window in Compressor,
DNxHD-RGB-GAMMA-REFMXF & DNxHD-RGB-REFMXF are visually the same.
DNxHD-709-REFMXF appears brighter than DNxHD-RGB-REFMXF.
XDCAM-MOV is much darker than both.
CONCLUSION: Based on the above results it would appear that for display in the Preview Window, Compressor is
requesting RGB from the Avid QuickTime Codecs due to the fact that we see a Color Level difference between DNxHD-
709-REFMXF & DNxHD-RGB-REFMXF
– there would be no Color Level difference with YUV data. Also since DNxHD-
RGB-GAMMA-REFMXF & DNxHD-RGB-REFMXF are visually the same then the added Gamma Extension appears to
make no difference when viewing in the Preview Window.
Exporting from Compressor as ProRes 422, ProRes422 HQ, and ProRes444
When exporting we used all default setups in Compressor and all files were manually imported into Compressor. We did
not use the ‘Send to Compressor’ feature in FCP-7 or FCP X which could make a difference in test results.
All ProRes MOV files generated from all of the DNxHD tests file, regardless of options or Color Level Settings, were
visually the same as the corresponding ProRes MOV files generated from the XDCAM-MOV file. This would lead us to the
conclusion that when converting to ProRes with the above setup parameters that Compressor will perform conversions
using YUV data and ignore reported YUV Gamma thus avoiding any color level changes or gamma shifts.
RECOMMENDATION
It appears that Color Level settings do not make a difference when exporting DNxHD to ProRes with default manual
setups in Compressor. Please note that
we did not try exporting any DNxHD nor did we perform any ‘Send to
Compressor’ tests from FCP, which could make a difference in test results.