there is a difference visually. DV profile 8.1 is single layer, hence it is 10bit 420, while profile 7 FEL is dual layer resulting in a 12bit 422 signal. Profile 7 MEL is only ever 10bit 420 as well.dapope wrote: ↑Sun Dec 20, 2020 4:45 am7 theoretically allows for 12 bit colour with supported titles, while 8.1 does not. However you might find that profile 7 MEL (10 bit colour) works while profile 7 FEL (12 bit colour) does not. If neither works you might try 8.1. Outside of the 12 bit colour both 7 and 8.1 should present the same visually.
The difference between 10bit to 12 bit is negligible, because (a) you're eyes won't see it (most likely) and (b) because most current end consumer TVs are 10bit panels at best.
But the difference between 420 and 422 chroma subsampling is perceivable, THIS is the real deal. 420 is 1/4 color resolution while 422 is 1/2 color resolution (of original full color). You get DOUBLE the color resolution.
422 is what we want.
All pro signals and backups used to be 10bit 422 (until storage became much cheaper and compressed RAW formats came around).
Color resolution is more important than bit depth.