3
Table Of Contents
- Compressor 3 User Manual
- Contents
- Welcome to Compressor
- Getting Started Quickly
- Ways to Use Compressor
- The Basic Transcoding Workflow
- The Compressor Interface
- Setting Compressor Preferences
- Importing Source Media Files
- Creating, Previewing, and Modifying Settings
- Finalizing Jobs and Submitting Batches
- Creating AIFF Files
- Creating Dolby Digital Professional Output Files
- About the Dolby Digital Professional Encoder Pane
- General Information About Creating Dolby Digital Professional Files
- Converting Stereo Audio Files to Dolby Digital Professional Format
- Assigning Files to Surround Sound Channels (Manual Method)
- Assigning Files to Surround Sound Channels (Automatic Methods)
- Assigning Files to Surround Sound Channels with Droplets
- Options for Spatial Mixing
- Creating DV Stream Output Files
- Creating H.264 for Apple Devices Output Files
- Creating H.264 for DVD Studio Pro Output Files
- Creating H.264 for Blu-ray Disc
- Creating Image Sequence Files
- Creating MP3 Output Files
- Creating MPEG-1 Output Files
- Common Uses for MPEG-1
- MPEG-1 Specifications
- About the MPEG-1 Encoder Pane
- About the MPEG-1 Video Tab
- About the MPEG-1 Audio Tab
- About System and Elementary Streams
- MPEG-1 Transcoding Workflow
- Configuring the MPEG-1 File Format for Web Use
- Configuring the MPEG-1 File Format for DVD Use
- Creating the MPEG-1 Video for DVD Setting
- Creating the MPEG-1 Audio for DVD Setting
- Optional—Creating an MPEG-1 for DVD Group and Destination
- Creating MPEG-2 Output Files
- Creating MPEG-4 Output Files
- About MPEG-4 Part 2
- About the MPEG-4 Part 2 Encoder Pane
- Using Default MPEG-4 Part 2 Settings
- Customizing MPEG-4 Part 2 Settings
- Audio Podcasting Workflow
- Stage 1: Configuring the MPEG-4 Output for Audio-Only Output
- Stage 2: Including Podcasting Information
- Stage 3: Applying the Setting to a Source Media File’s Target
- Stage 4: Entering Annotations for the Output Media File
- Stage 5: Creating and Configuring Markers for the Output Media File
- Stage 6: Submitting the Job and Verifying the Output Media File
- Adding Additional Settings and Presets
- Creating QuickTime Movie Output Files
- Creating QuickTime Export Component Files
- Adding Filters to a Setting
- Working with Frame Controls
- Adding Geometry Settings
- Adding Actions
- Using the Preview Window
- Creating and Changing Destinations
- Using Droplets
- Appendix A: Keyboard Shortcuts
- Appendix B: Solving Problems
- Resources for Solving Problems
- Solutions to Common Problems
- Exporting from Final Cut Pro and Distributed Processing
- QuickTime Reference Movies
- Cluster Settings for Extended Transcoding Sessions
- Cleaning Up Cluster Storage
- Using Apple Qmaster with an NFS Server
- Apple Qmaster Distributed Processing and Xsan
- Compressor Command-Line Usage Requires Login
- Create Blu-ray Disc Job Action
- Contacting AppleCare Support
- Appendix C: Using the Command Line
- Installing Apple Qmaster from the Command Line
- Using the Command Line for Distributed Processing
- Using Scripts to Run Apple Qmaster, Compressor, and Batch Monitor
Chapter and Podcast Markers for Apple Devices
Chapter markers created in Final Cut Pro are passed through (transferred) to other output
files that can be recognized by QuickTime Player, iTunes (.m4v files), Final Cut Pro, and
DVD Studio Pro.
You can also add podcast markers to the output file. Podcast markers are similar to chapter
markers (they can have a URL and artwork assigned to them); however, they cannot be
navigated to directly by the viewer. They are intended to provide a slideshow function
to audio podcasts. For information about adding chapter and podcast markers, see Adding
Markers to a Clip.
Aspect Ratios for Apple Devices
The choice you make with the Device pop-up menu defines the width of the encoded
file. The choice you make in the Aspect Ratio pop-up menu defines the height of the
encoded file. Compressor scales the source video vertically to make it fit the height. This
means that the source video must be anamorphic (things look tall and skinny) in
anticipation of being scaled to fit the intended aspect ratio. Non-anamorphic video set
to an aspect ratio other than its native aspect ratio will appear distorted in the encoded
file.
Important: If your source video is letterboxed, use the aspect ratio that matches the
whole video frame, including the black bars, or else you will end up with distorted output
files. You can use the automatic crop feature to crop off the letterbox bars. See Adding
Geometry Settings for more information.
The following choices are available in the Aspect Ratio pop-up menu for each Device
option:
• 4:3
• 16:9
• 1.85:1
• 2.35:1
Each choice will result in a different height for the output media file. For example, with
the iPod 640 (VGA) setting, the 4:3 option results in a 640 x 480 file, whereas the 16:9
option results in a 640 x 360 file.
If the source media file is either DV NTSC or HDV, but you are unsure of your source media
file’s aspect ratio, click the Automatic button. This option analyzes the source media file’s
aspect ratio to determine the appropriate pixel dimensions.
160 Chapter 12 Creating H.264 for Apple Devices Output Files