Master Video File

What is a Master Video File?

A master video file is the highest-quality finished export of a film, created from the final approved timeline and used as the source for every other version. Masters are typically exported in a lightly compressed or mezzanine codec such as Apple ProRes 422 HQ, ProRes 4444, DNxHR or DNxHD, at full resolution, frame rate and bit depth. Web files, social cut-downs and broadcast versions are all made from it.

Why it matters

Every time a video is compressed, some quality is lost. If you make a web copy from a web copy, artifacts compound. A master gives you a clean starting point, so next year's 9:16 recut, a broadcast version or a re-encode for a new platform starts from the best possible image and sound. For clients who will edit, grade or air the footage, the master is often the actual contracted deliverable.

How it works

A master is defined by what it preserves:

• Codec. Intra-frame codecs (each frame stored independently) such as ProRes or DNxHR are robust to further editing. Some workflows use high-bitrate H.264 or HEVC as a "web master", which is smaller but less suited to re-editing.

• Bit depth and color. Often 10-bit or higher, with color space tagged correctly (for example Rec. 709 for SDR, Rec. 2020 with PQ or HLG for HDR).

• Audio. Uncompressed PCM, often with separate stems for dialogue, music and effects when contracted.

• Textless or clean versions. Many commercial jobs require a version without titles or graphics so the client can localize it.

• Size. A few minutes of 4K ProRes 422 HQ can run into tens of gigabytes, so masters need a plan for transfer and storage.

Master file vs delivery file

The master and the delivery file serve different jobs. The master is for preservation and future edits; the delivery file is for watching and publishing. A wedding couple or a marketing manager usually needs a high-bitrate H.264 or HEVC MP4 that plays everywhere. An agency or broadcaster may need the ProRes master too. A good habit is to always export and keep a master for your own archive, and deliver it to the client only when the contract calls for it, clearly labeled alongside the playback file.

Masters are commonly moved via file transfer services such as WeTransfer, cloud drives like Dropbox or Google Drive, physical drives, or a delivery platform that supports large files. The important part is that the file arrives bit-for-bit identical, without recompression.

Does DLVRD keep my master video file untouched?

Yes. DLVRD stores the file you upload exactly as it is and creates separate copies only for streaming. When a client clicks Download, they receive your original file with the same codec, bitrate and metadata. You can include a ProRes master and an H.264 playback file in the same gallery.