How to encode prores 4444 with alpha for vfx
- Step 1Drop your source video — Drop your master and pick a ProRes profile
- Step 2Select ProRes variant (422 / 422 HQ / 4444) — JAD transcodes via FFmpeg's prores_ks encoder
- Step 3Download the MOV for editing — Stream the result to disk
Frequently asked questions
Which ProRes variant should I use?+
ProRes 422 Proxy is the lightest option — used for offline editing where speed matters over quality. ProRes 422 is the standard editing variant, good for 1080p workflows. ProRes 422 HQ maintains higher quality at the cost of larger files — recommended for 4K or colour-critical work. ProRes 4444 preserves alpha channels and is required when working with transparency. For most editing workflows, ProRes 422 HQ is the recommended choice.
Can I edit ProRes files from JAD directly in Final Cut Pro?+
Yes — JAD outputs ProRes wrapped in a QuickTime MOV container, which is the native format Final Cut Pro, Premiere Pro, and DaVinci Resolve all accept. Import the MOV file directly into your project library and it will appear as a standard ProRes asset with all expected scrub and performance characteristics.
Why are ProRes files so much larger than H.264?+
H.264 is an inter-frame codec that achieves high compression by encoding differences between frames (P-frames and B-frames). ProRes is intra-frame — every frame is independently encoded as a high-quality JPEG-like slice. This makes scrubbing instant (no need to decode a GOP to access a single frame) but produces files 5–20x larger than H.264 at equivalent resolution. ProRes is designed for editing, not distribution.
Privacy first
All video processing runs locally in your browser using WebAssembly and FFmpeg. No file is ever uploaded — only metadata counters are saved for signed-in dashboard stats.