Cineform Intermediate Codec that came with Vegas Pro 8.0c. Is this a lossless codec or just an intermediate codec for for easy edit. Can some one please confirm this for me. I am thinking about archives video using this codec. Tell me is this a good idea or bad idea. Thank you.


Bruce

It is both. CineForm is an easier to edit, archive grade, mezzanine wavelet format. While not mathematically lossless, at Filmscan 2 quality you are splitting hairs to find the difference. While it is built on a mathematically reversible wavelet core (lossless) we do add light quantization as lossless HD only achieves between 1.6:1 and 2.0:1, whereas as Filmscan 2 more offers the same practical quality (in any post production workflow need) between 4:1 and 5:1. 2.5 times more efficient than mathematically lossless, 4-5 times more efficient than uncompressed.

P.S. Opps! The free version with 8.0c doesn't have the filmscan quality modes -- we don't give away the coolest stuff -- for that you need NeoHD. The 8.0c codec is very old, Vegas 5/6 vintage, it is good for HDV work, which was it original purpose within Vegas. The high quality mode in that old codec is going to be good enough for most applications, but for a long term archive you should use Filmscan 1 or 2. (there where names as they preserve the grain of a film scan.)

I'm a happy Cineform owner - but I must admit, when i move between systems, sometimes i still use that old free codec in Veges 7, (even for 7D footage) and i still thinks its great!