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Subject: Re: [AE] Lossless movie format
From: Brendan Bolles <brendan@fnordware.com>
In-Reply-To: <list-5472583@media-motion.tv>
Date: Wed, 14 May 2014 08:51:01 -0700
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References: <list-5472583@media-motion.tv>
To: "After Effects Mail List" <AE-List@media-motion.tv>

On May 13, 2014, at 2:41 PM, Steve Oakley wrote:

> well h.264 is an interesting question. while often thought of as a =
very compressed long GOP format, it can be iframe, 10/12+ bits, 4:2:2 =
and 4:4:4 with a high enough  bit rate to be near lossless.=20
>=20
> while the format you propose would like to directly avoid any patent =
encumbered technology, having it be open enough that a suitable h.264/5 =
codec could be added might well turn out to be a critical item in =
getting wider usage. another developer could bring in a suitable codec =
component.=20
>=20
> ditto ProRes as odd as that might sound given its widespread use in =
cameras and recorders.


I'm afraid I'm going to be a stickler on the patent issues.  =
Theoretically a studio using H.264 in production might have to pay MPEG =
LA for the privilege of doing so.  Anyone making commercial software =
that uses H.264 definitely must pay MPEG LA.  I think that's a deal =
breaker that would prevent POM from gaining traction.

The ProRes situation is less clear.  There may not be any patent issues =
and Apple only warns against unauthorized implementations because it =
that are not given their seal of approval.  FFmpeg has a ProRes =
encoder/decoder, and it may be possible to duplicate it without =
violating the GPL license attached to it.

What I'm really hoping for is the Dirac codec works well enough that we =
forget all about H.264 and ProRes.


Brendan