Install the Apple ProRES codec without Final Cut or ProApps
Thanks to the very old forum discussion over at Creative Cow. I was able to install the Apple ProRES codec for quicktime without installing Final Cut X or Final Cut Studio. I’m sorry apple, but I abandoned Final Cut years ago. However my new capture card the Black Magic Intensity Extreme can only capture in Uncompressed or PDX. To use ProRES requires that you have a ProApp like Final Cut X, Final Cut Pro or Motion installed. I still think ProRES is the best working video codec around, especially for Mac, but I don’t want Final Cut on my computer!
Install Instructions:
There is a workaround however. First start by downloading the ProApp codec update direct from the apple website. If you don’t have a ProApp installed on the computer the update won’t work. However using the unpkg software created by timdoug you can extract the codec files and install them manually by moving them into the appropriate library folder.
Move the following files to: /Mackintosh HD/Library/Quicktime/
and some more files to /Mackintosh HD/Library/Video/Professional Video Workflow Plug-Ins
After that the Codecs will show up in any app the uses the Quicktime Codec library and can be used in programs like Media Express.
Codec Download :
You can download the extracted codecs here form my website for easy access.
ProApps QuickTime Codecs v1.0.4 Extracted (Old Version)
ProVideoFormats 2.0.1 Extracted (April 13, 2015)
Note: that Adobe CC (creative cloud) on OS X 10.8 or 10.9 does not require the quicktime codec or ProApp to export ProRes via After Effects or Adobe Media Encoder, since the OS X has the codec installed in the system level, however older applications still require the quicktime components and therefor this workaround is necessary.
martin, this post is super helpful. i’m wondering though, if you have prorescodec 1.0.3? i’m trying to downgrade from 1.0.4- and the codec in your package is the latter.
Hi Natan, You are correct the package on my site is v1.0.4 I do not have have a copy of the older version of the codec.
Thanks Martin! Worked well.
Hi!
I have Wondershare ultimate video converter for fast jobs and it complains about not having the codecs. I downloaded the stuff but there is no such thing as a quicktime folder in my library. Do you have any idea? I have a new iMac OSX 10.9.2.
All the best
André
Do you have quicktime 7 installed? If not, give that a try. http://support.apple.com/kb/dl923
Thanx! I think I actually found out what was wrong. I was looking i my users Library not the computers. It works now anyhow. Thanx again for the fix!
A
Thank you so much! This solved my problem and took me about 2 minutes!
Thank you so much Martin this helped a huge lot
Hi Martin,
thanks for this guide, after all I’m finally able to capture to ProRes with Media Express! Still I’m missing the option to capture to DV PAL although I have Quicktime 7 Pro installed on the same Mac which already comes with this codec. Do you have any idea how to “unlock” this codec in Media Express? Thanks in advance!
Not sure, but my guess is that you have to change the source video to PAL in the Blackmagic Desktop Video settings. Otherwise I would assume only NTSC codecs will be listed.
Thanks, but unfortunately that does not change anything. I still only can choose between the QT uncompressed and recently added ProRes formats for capturing. I don’t get it: QT Pro 7 comes with so many different codecs, but none of them is listed in Media Express…
Thank you very much! Worked great and helped a lot!
Thank you for this workaround!
Hi Martin,
I can export file .mov (ProRes 422) to a .mp4 simple file using QT 7. But a file .mov (ProRes 4444) to a .mp4 file I can’t. The file exported has just audio with no image. I tried to make the same conversion on Acrok HD and I got success. Do you have any idea? I have all codecs installed on my computer.
Thanks in advance !
for those of you who couldn’t find your library folder, you have to go to your finder and search “macintosh HD”. Took me forever to locate it because no site but one ever actually mentioned this!
Once I found it it works well. thanks!
Thanks so much Martin. This is a life-saver work-around. I owe you a beer 🙂
Glad to help.
Thanks Martin, but I have a problem on Os x Yosemite, there is no quicktime folder in library even though qicktime is installed. Is there anyway to get around this or Yosemite simply does not work with prores just yet. I can work with the files in Premiere pro cs 6 but can’t export prores files.
Hi Cyrus,
First make sure you are looking in the System Library, and not the User Library. Path should be Macintosh HD > Library > Quicktime
If you still don’t see it, you should install Quicktime 7. Still works in any all versions of OS X after 10.6.3. including Yosemite!
Download here: http://support.apple.com/kb/DL923
Perfect, was looking in user Library! Thanks a lot.
Hy, I copied the files in to my Library > Quicktime-folder. My old FCP 5 (running on PPC/ Motorola) does not find the codecs. Maybe your files are to new? Any idea? All the best
Yes, my guess is these files are too new and designed for the Intel architecture not PPC. What are you doing running FCP 5 on an old MAC PPC?
If you have cs6 but use one of the osx variants that has the pro-res built in, you should download the set for cc (and for osx yosemite use the latest for 2014cc).
I was able to download and unpackage the ProApp Quicktme codecs, but can’t seem to locate a Library>Quicktime folder in my Library directory. Any thoughts on how to locate this?
I’m running Yosemite 10.10.1 and Quicktime 10.4.
Thanks
are you looking in the user library or the system library? Should be “Macintosh HD > Library > Quicktime”
Found it! in the Mac HD library. Though I ended up downloading and installing the trial version of FCPX to install the ProApp codecs.
thanks so much!!!!
Hi there,
thank you for creating this wonderful workflow.
I found the phrasing of the following step confusing:
“Move the following files to: Library/Quicktime/
and some more files to Library/Video/Professional Video Workflow Plug-Ins”
Is there an image missing between those two statements? Which files need to go into the Quicktime folder and which into the Professional Workflow Plug-Ins?
Thank you!
Thanks for the feedback. Those are great suggestions. I’ll make the instructions clearer.
Hey Martin
Thanks a lot for a wonderful work-around. Been trying for ages to find a way of creating pro-res without having FCP and this is a godsend! We’re all PC based (Premiere mainly) but often get asked for pro-res files. Before I had to send out which was not cost-effective. Now can export to Cineform .mov files, put them on my old Mac and convert with mpeg Streamclip. Magic!
OS X YOSEMITE is operating system suitable for working more than playing the game.
I have a problem Wi-Fi if open distributed Wi-Fi. The machine will find, but if the first Wi-Fi machine will find nothing.
I am not sure what you are asking.
Is there a way to use the Apple ProRes codec on PC? I don’t have a Mac, am trying to convert 4K files to 1080 for my editor with MPEG Streamclip, of course don’t have the ProRes 422 option.
Encoding ProRes is only possible on Mac. You can decode on a PC
[…] Hier hat jemand einen weg gefunden, er öffnet die “QuickTime-Codecs für ProApps” und installiert die Codecs dann von Hand.Link zur Anleitung. […]
Thanks so much for this! I transferred all the files to the Quicktime folder, but can’t find the Macintosh HD/Library/Video/Professional Video Workflow plugins folder anywhere. I made sure I was looking in the correct library as well.
But the codecs are all appearing correctly in Premiere pro, etc. Was this step necessary or just something extra?
Thanks very much!
I believe the “Professional Video Workflow Plug-Ins” folder is for apps using the AVfoundation framework instead of quicktime component. However I maybe incorrect about this.
I have copied the files into the Library folder. /Macintosh HD/Library/…
My Quicktime: 10.4
Premiere Pro CS6 can’t export Prores.
Why? Can you help me?
Thanks!
Ohhh…
I have found it in the “Video-Codec” and looked for it under “preset”.
So far, the presets are not loaded.
Yes, in version CS6 you had to download the presets separately and install them. Adobe CC does not have this issue. You can get them here:
https://www.adobe.com/support/downloads/detail.jsp?ftpID=5411
Martin, THANK YOU for this post. Can’t believe I found one where you’re using an Intensity Extreme, had exactly what I was looking for. PERFECT POST! Thanks again!
No Problem, happy this helped you out.
Posts like this are very helpful. Thanks for the write up.
I am searching for a similar fix but with Aperture 3 on 10.6 and a new Nikon NEF codec (supported on Yosemite but not earlier). I am confidant there is a similarliy simple fix to help Aperture read new raw/.nef files.
My search is why I arrived here.
Again, I appreciate folks like you that post helpful tips like this.
Cheers.
[…] all, an easy way to get them is by installed the Final Cut Pro X trial. Alternatively, you can find instructions online for installing them […]
THANK YOU for this post. Can’t believe I found one where you’re using an Intensity Extreme, had exactly what I was looking for. PERFECT POST!
Anyone else getting it to still work with El Capitan? It’s broken now for me…
I have not tested myself, but I have hard there are some issues with blackmagic drivers in El Capitan. Make sure you download the lastest Desktop Video Utility driver from Blackmagic.
Ah, yes my codecs have also disappeared. I wonder if something changed in 10.11 with how codecs are handled.
Thanks so much for this tutorial .. I just upgraded from a 2010 Macbook Pro to an iMac 2015 5k.. Used my old system to clone and lost the codecs this helped .. Thanks again
This is so helpful thank you so much!!!!!! You have no idea how much this has helped me
HEY THERE,
I really want to get this on my mac too, but i use my MC so much, that i am super worried its gonna create some error and i wont get back to where i came from. I have downloaded the latest ProApp, and are ready to go. I did start and discovered that that the first file was already in the QT folder…. i moved it back, or whatever i did, but i don’t have the stomach to do it. Is there any other way, more automated or can someone remote my mac and work it out for me? I really would like these codecs….
kindly,
Thomas
There are many people have have had success doing this. It does work. If you are really not confident, then find a friend who can help. Otherwise your only option is to buy Final Cut X for $300 and then apple will install these for you. https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/final-cut-pro/id424389933?mt=12
[…] to Martin Thoburn for the guide (Install the Apple ProRES …) and timdoug (unpkg utility) for the utility to unpack the codecs from Apple’s update to […]
Hi,
Thanks for this it got the codecs onto the black magic media express so I can capture real time. But when I select any of the new file formats it does not work, when I end the capture its closes the media express and shows error, so I actually never get the clip.
Any ideas
Not sure. Are you using the latest version of media express and the latest drivers from apple? Are you on an up to date OS or an old one? Newer versions might behavior differently. This was all done and tested a long time ago, ore maybe just one of these things is off. Not sure.
Hi, Martin. I’m not sure if this is the same question.
But I try to import MXF files to Premiere Pro CS6.
And it shows “The importer reported a generic error”
so I google how to import MXF files into Premiere.
And I found out that I need to install the “Pro Video Formats” you’ve mentioned.
So I tried to install it but it says my Mac doesn’t have Finalcut which I don’t want to use at all.
I think that’s the reason I find your post so far.
And I still couldn’t solve my problem.
Could you help? Thx.
Thank you, just saved my Pavtube from trash!
Hi Martin,
tough I highly suspect you to be from Duisburg I’ll break a leg to write my thanx in english 😉
Oh it was a long search until I found your blessed article above! Thank YOU so MUCH for that download link with all the great library data with the correct file tree for DAUs like me !!!
THX, LATER & SERVUS from BAVARiA,
Yours
ART FLY
Glad it was helpful. 🙂 I’m not from Duisburg, but I have lived in Bavaria before.
Hi Martin, I have an issue and wondered if you had any insight?
I’ve been asked to help out on a project being cut in FCP7. I borrowed a friend’s copy (as he now uses FCPX & Premiere) and installed. I then went on the Apple Website and installed the most up-to-date ProVideoFormats.dmg (2.0.5). When I open FCP it asks that I set my project settings. We’re using a HD 1080p 25fps along with ProRes422 (proxy) media.
Unfortunately, FCP7 doesn’t seem to be able to see the ProRes codecs and won’t offer me them as a project option. Even though the codecs seem to be there (other apps are using them) and the project pre-set files are there (As long as the project pre-set doesn’t require a ProRes codec, it offers it as an option!)
I’m flummoxed! I think I’ve tried everything! I’ve just tried to go from the top again: Uninstalled FCP7, Deleted all the codecs, re-installed FCP7, downloaded the final update from Apple (7.0.3, as far as I can see) and installed, then downloaded all the Codecs again starting with 2.04 (install), then 2.0.5 (install). Didn’t work. Then I downloaded the extracted ones from your site, just to make sure that the automatic installer had placed them where they should be (Went through, matching the path/contents on your extracted download to what was on my system) Everything matched up! Streamclip will Export stuff in the ProRes Codecs, DaVinci Resolve will export stuff using the ProRes Codecs, all the other software seems to have access to them, yet FCP7 seems not to? Or at least, if it does, for some reason it won’t offer me the “easy setup” of 1080p 25fps ProRes 422 Proxy, and if I pick something else then try to change it within the project it doesn’t offer me the ProRes options. Am I barking up the wrong tree here? I have 2 versions of Quicktime installed X (that came with the OS) and 7. Could that have something to do with it? I am just baffled!
Oh, I’m on a 2015 Mabook pro with Sierra.
Sorry for the long question! I’ve posted several places and no-one seems to be able to solve it!
That is very strange. I’m not sure I know the answer, perhaps the newer codecs don’t work well. This person seems to have it up and running, however no mention of proRES codecs however. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCIrsGYw21I
The 7.0.3 update should have the updated codecs at the time of 7.0.3 release. Does it work without installed any codec updates at all after a clean install of FCP 7.0.3?
Martin