Use an intermediate when it solves an editing, finishing or handoff requirement; use a delivery file when the recipient needs a compact finished result. Do not assume that transcoding a compressed source to ProRes restores information that was already lost.
On this page
Assign a job to each file
| Role | Priority | Useful question |
|---|---|---|
| Camera original | Preserve the acquisition recording | Can the project be rebuilt from this file? |
| Working proxy | Responsive editing | Does it stay correctly linked to the original? |
| Intermediate or master | Reliable downstream processing or handoff | Does the recipient need this codec and quality level? |
| Delivery copy | Destination acceptance and reasonable transfer size | Does it meet the actual upload or playback requirements? |
ProRes is a family of profiles, not one universal bitrate or quality level. H.264 is also a codec family used with different encoding choices. Confirm the exact format supported by the applications on both ends. Apple’s import documentation and the recipient’s export requirements are more useful than a broad “supports MOV” statement.
A useful intermediate test
- Export a short sequence with graphics, gradients and motion using the proposed intermediate settings.
- Import that output into the receiving application.
- Check duration, frame rate, color handling, audio channels and any alpha requirement.
- Compare visible detail with a reference export from the original project.
- Measure the actual file size and allow enough storage for the complete project.
Do not spend storage without a reason
A larger file can be appropriate for a finishing handoff, but it also increases transfer and archive requirements. For an existing sample, average bitrate equals file payload bits divided by duration. For an estimate, enter the expected average rate in the file size calculator and label it as an estimate.
Keep the path back to the original
When you transcode, retain the original media and document the transformation. Check filenames, time references and audio layout before relinking a whole project. An intermediate export of a finished timeline is not the same thing as an editable project archive. Continue with moving an edit between applications.
Sources and scope
This is a documentary guide and a proposed decision method, not a hands-on software benchmark. Sources were checked on October 6, 2026. Menus and capabilities can change with the application version, edition, operating system and hardware.
