term terminology ◆ established
Mezzanine File
also: mezzanine · intermediate file · intermediate codec
high-quality intermediate media file created by transcoding camera-original footage into an edit-friendly, visually lossless codec—typically ProRes 422 HQ, ProRes 4444, or DNxHR HQX. Mezzanine files sit between the original camera-native files (which are often computationally expensive to decode in real-time) and lightweight proxies (which sacrifice quality for performance). Unlike proxies, mezzanine files preserve enough quality for finishing work—color grading, compositing, and even final delivery in some workflows. The term distinguishes these working files from both the source originals and the lower-quality proxies, occupying the middle tier of the media quality hierarchy.
in short
A high-quality intermediate transcode used as a working format between camera originals and lightweight proxies.
usage
Used in discussions of media management, storage planning, and workflow architecture where the distinction between proxy, mezzanine, and original matters.
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