FFmpeg: ProRes Video with PCM Audio in MOV

This article provides a straightforward guide on how to use FFmpeg to create a QuickTime (MOV) container containing an Apple ProRes video track and uncompressed PCM audio. You will learn the exact command-line syntax, the standard video profiles available, and how to select the correct audio bit depth for your output.

The FFmpeg Command

To encode a video to ProRes with uncompressed PCM audio inside a QuickTime (.mov) wrapper, use the following basic command template:

ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -c:v prores_ks -profile:v 3 -c:a pcm_s24le output.mov

Command Breakdown

  • -i input.mp4: Specifies your source video file.
  • -c:v prores_ks: Selects the ProRes encoder. FFmpeg has two built-in ProRes encoders: prores (faster) and prores_ks (higher quality, supports formal profiling).
  • -profile:v 3: Selects the specific ProRes profile. The integer values correspond to the following quality levels:
    • 0: ProRes Proxy
    • 1: ProRes LT
    • 2: ProRes Standard (422)
    • 3: ProRes HQ (High Quality)
    • 4: ProRes 4444 (supports alpha channels)
  • -c:a pcm_s24le: Selects the uncompressed PCM audio encoder.
    • pcm_s24le produces 24-bit Little Endian PCM audio, which is the professional standard for post-production.
    • Alternatively, you can use pcm_s16le for 16-bit audio or pcm_s32le for 32-bit audio.
  • output.mov: The output file path. The .mov extension automatically instructs FFmpeg to use the QuickTime container.

Advanced Example: Copying Video and Encoding Only Audio

If your video track is already encoded in ProRes and you only want to convert the audio to uncompressed PCM while preserving the video stream without re-encoding, use the stream copy feature:

ffmpeg -i input.mov -c:v copy -c:a pcm_s24le output.mov

Standard Broadcast/Post-Production Command

For a strictly standard post-production export (ProRes 422 HQ video with 48kHz, 24-bit stereo PCM audio), use this optimized command:

ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -c:v prores_ks -profile:v 3 -vendor ap10 -pix_fmt yuv422p10le -c:a pcm_s24le -ar 48000 output.mov
  • -vendor ap10: Tags the video metadata as official Apple ProRes, ensuring maximum compatibility with Apple QuickTime Player and Final Cut Pro.
  • -pix_fmt yuv422p10le: Sets the pixel format to 10-bit YUV 4:2:2, which matches the ProRes 422 standard.
  • -ar 48000: Sets the audio sample rate to 48,000 Hz (48 kHz), the industry standard for video production.