ProRes vs HEVC vs H.264

Introduction

If you've ever worked with video, you've likely encountered terms like ProRes, HEVC, and H.264. These are all video codecs, which are essential tools that compress video to make files smaller and more manageable. Think of a codec as a translator that both compresses and decompresses video data. But why are there so many, and what makes them different? It all comes down to a fundamental choice: quality vs. file size.

Intra-Frame vs. Inter-Frame Compression

This is the most important concept for understanding the difference between these codecs.

• Intra-Frame Codecs: These codecs compress each frame of video individually, as if it were a single photograph. They don't look at other frames to save space.

  • Pros: Because each frame is a standalone image, these codecs are great for editing. You can easily scrub through footage, jump to any point, and perform edits without your computer having to "reconstruct" the frame from surrounding ones.

  • Cons: The file sizes are much larger because there's less compression.

• Inter-Frame Codecs: These codecs compress video by analyzing the differences between consecutive frames. Instead of saving a full frame, they save a full frame (an I-frame) and then a series of "difference" frames that only contain the information that has changed.

  • Pros: The file sizes are significantly smaller, making them perfect for sharing and streaming.

  • Cons: They are more difficult to edit with. If you try to jump to a specific moment, your computer has to reconstruct that frame by looking at the I-frame and all the subsequent difference frames, which requires more processing power.

A Breakdown of the Codecs

Now that you understand the core difference, let's look at each codec.

• ProRes (Intra-Frame): Developed by Apple, ProRes is the classic example of an intra-frame codec. It's an industry standard for video professionals because it prioritizes quality and editing performance above all else. Its large file sizes make it a poor choice for distribution, but its ease of decoding and simple compression makes it a go-to for editing.

• H.264 (Inter-Frame): This is probably the most widely used codec in the world. It's a great example of an inter-frame codec, and it's used everywhere from YouTube and Netflix to your smartphone. H.264 is excellent at compressing video into small, high-quality files that are easy to upload and stream. While it's harder to edit with than ProRes, its small file size and universal compatibility make it perfect for final delivery.

• HEVC (H.265) (Inter-Frame): The successor to H.264, HEVC (High-Efficiency Video Coding) is a more advanced inter-frame codec. It offers even better compression than H.264, meaning you can achieve the same quality at a smaller file size. . However, this improved efficiency comes at a cost: it's more demanding to encode and decode. While HEVC is becoming more common, H.264 is still the king of compatibility.

Summary

In short, if you're a video editor, you'll love ProRes for its smooth performance. If you're sharing a video on the internet, H.264 is your best bet for compatibility, while HEVC will give you the smallest file size if your audience has the hardware to play it back.