ProRes Explained: 422 vs 4444 vs 4444XQ
Apple ProRes is a family of intermediate video codecs designed for post-production. It offers a balance between file size, quality, and editing performance that makes it the industry standard for editorial and delivery.
ProRes Variants
Apple offers several ProRes variants, each optimized for different use cases:
| Variant | Data Rate (4K) | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| ProRes 422 Proxy | ~45 Mbps | Offline editing, proxies |
| ProRes 422 LT | ~102 Mbps | Lower storage requirements |
| ProRes 422 | ~147 Mbps | Standard editorial |
| ProRes 422 HQ | ~220 Mbps | High-quality finishing |
| ProRes 4444 | ~330 Mbps | VFX, alpha channel |
| ProRes 4444 XQ | ~500 Mbps | Maximum quality, HDR |
422 vs 4444: What's the Difference?
The numbers refer to chroma subsampling:
- 4:2:2: Color information is sampled at half the horizontal resolution of luminance. This is visually transparent for most content.
- 4:4:4: Full color resolution. Required when you need to key or composite against the footage, or for maximum color fidelity.
ProRes 4444 also supports an alpha channel, making it essential for motion graphics and VFX with transparency.
ProRes File Sizes
ProRes files can get large quickly. Here are approximate sizes for a 1-minute clip at 24fps:
| Variant | 1080p (1 min) | 4K (1 min) |
|---|---|---|
| ProRes 422 Proxy | ~330 MB | ~1.3 GB |
| ProRes 422 | ~1 GB | ~4 GB |
| ProRes 422 HQ | ~1.5 GB | ~6 GB |
| ProRes 4444 | ~2.3 GB | ~9 GB |
| ProRes 4444 XQ | ~3.5 GB | ~14 GB |
When to Use Each Variant
- ProRes 422 Proxy: Offline editing, dailies review, proxy workflows.
- ProRes 422 / 422 HQ: Standard editorial, broadcast delivery, web delivery masters.
- ProRes 4444: VFX work requiring alpha channel, color grading masters.
- ProRes 4444 XQ: HDR mastering, archival masters, maximum quality requirements.
Transferring ProRes Files
At these file sizes, transfer costs add up quickly with per-GB services:
- A 10-minute ProRes 4444 4K clip: ~90 GB = $22.50 with pay-per-GB services
- A feature film in ProRes 4444 XQ: ~150+ GB = $37.50+ with pay-per-GB services
Handrive transfers ProRes files (and any other format) with no per-GB fees, directly between devices.
Learn how colorists transfer ProRes and other formats:
File Transfer for Colorists: ProRes, DPX, and EXR →