Lightweight variant of Apple's ProRes codec offering approximately 102 Mbps at 1080p/24 – designed for projects where storage space is at a premium while still maintaining good visual quality for editing and moderate grading, positioned between standard ProRes 422 and Proxy.
What is ProRes LT?
ProRes 422 LT (Light) is a storage-efficient variant of the Apple ProRes codec. At approximately 102 Mbps for 1080p/24, LT offers good quality with significantly reduced file sizes.
Basic Principle
| Aspect | Description |
|---|---|
| Position | Between 422 and Proxy |
| Goal | Storage Optimization |
| Chroma | 4:2:2 |
| Bit Depth | 10-bit |
Technical Specifications
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Bitrate 1080p/24 | ~102 Mbps |
| Bitrate 4K/24 | ~410 Mbps |
| Compression Ratio | Approx. 12:1 |
| Quality | Good |
ProRes Family Comparison
| Variant | Bitrate (1080p) | Ratio to LT |
|---|---|---|
| 4444 | ~330 Mbps | 3.2x larger |
| 422 HQ | ~220 Mbps | 2.2x larger |
| 422 | ~147 Mbps | 1.4x larger |
| LT | ~102 Mbps | Base |
| Proxy | ~45 Mbps | 2.3x smaller |
When to Use ProRes LT?
| Application | Reason |
|---|---|
| Dailies | Fast transfer |
| Review Copies | Good quality |
| Long-form Editing | Save storage |
| Multicam | Many streams |
Storage Comparison
| Format | 1 Hour 1080p/24 |
|---|---|
| ProRes HQ | ~100 GB |
| ProRes 422 | ~66 GB |
| ProRes LT | ~46 GB |
| ProRes Proxy | ~20 GB |
Quality Characteristics
| Aspect | Description |
|---|---|
| Detail | Well preserved |
| Gradients | Slight banding possible |
| Motion | Clean |
| Artifacts | Minimally visible |
4K/UHD Bitrates
| Resolution | ProRes LT Bitrate |
|---|---|
| 2K/2048×1080 | ~109 Mbps |
| UHD/3840×2160 | ~410 Mbps |
| 4K/4096×2160 | ~435 Mbps |
Ideal Use Cases
| Project Type | Suitability |
|---|---|
| Documentary | Very good |
| Corporate | Ideal |
| Web Content | Very good |
| Broadcast News | Good |
Less Suitable For
| Application | Reason |
|---|---|
| Heavy Grading | Less headroom |
| VFX-Heavy | HQ or 4444 better |
| Final Master | Not archival quality |
| HDR | Limited bit depth |
Multicam Advantage
| Aspect | LT Advantage |
|---|---|
| Streams | More simultaneously |
| Timeline | Smoother |
| Storage | Less per camera |
| Render | Faster |
Recording Options
| Device | ProRes LT Support |
|---|---|
| Atomos Ninja | Yes |
| Atomos Shogun | Yes |
| Apple Devices | Native |
| Blackmagic | With Converter |
Workflow Integration
| Phase | LT Usage |
|---|---|
| Ingest | Fast transcoding |
| Dailies | Distribution |
| Offline Edit | Space saving |
| Online | Relink to HQ/4444 |
Transcoding Strategy
| Original | LT Usage |
|---|---|
| RAW | Proxy alternative |
| XAVC | Edit codec |
| R3D | Offline version |
| BRAW | Faster than original |
Comparison to H.264
| Aspect | ProRes LT | H.264 (Similar Rate) |
|---|---|---|
| Editing | Excellent | Problematic |
| CPU Load | Low | High |
| Quality | Higher | Lower |
| Decode | Fast | Slow |
Export Settings
| Parameter | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Codec | ProRes 422 LT |
| Resolution | Native/Match |
| Framerate | Project Rate |
| Audio | PCM |
Limitations
| Aspect | Description |
|---|---|
| Grading Headroom | Limited |
| Archival | Not recommended |
| Professional Delivery | Often not accepted |
| 4:4:4 | Not supported |
LT vs. Standard 422
| Factor | LT | Standard 422 |
|---|---|---|
| Size | 30% smaller | Base |
| Quality | Good | Very good |
| Use Case | Editorial | General |
| Grading | Moderate | Full |
Best Practices
| Practice | Reason |
|---|---|
| For Offline Edit | Storage efficient |
| With Master Backup | Secure quality |
| For Review | Fast transfer |
| Not for Final | Relink to HQ |
Today
ProRes 422 LT fills an important niche in the production workflow: enough quality for smooth editing and review at significantly reduced file sizes. LT is a practical choice, especially for documentary, corporate, and long-form projects, reducing storage costs without compromising editing performance.