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
Compressor provides the tools you need to create exceptional MPEG-2 transcoded files.
MPEG-2 is an internationally accepted compression standard developed by the Motion
Picture Experts Group (MPEG). MPEG-2 allows you to create broadcast-quality video files
and was designed to support high-resolution, high bit-rate video. It is the video
compression format used for high-quality video titles on DVD, HD broadcast, and home
satellite dish systems. All DVD players contain the hardware required for MPEG-2 playback.
This chapter covers the following:
• About Standard Definition MPEG-2 (p. 195)
• About High Definition Sources and MPEG-2 (p. 196)
• About Elementary, Transport, and Program Streams (p. 196)
• About the MPEG-2 Encoder Pane (p. 197)
• MPEG-2 Reference Information (p. 208)
• MPEG-2 Transcoding Workflow (p. 213)
• Example MPEG-2 Settings (p. 219)
About Standard Definition MPEG-2
Standard MPEG-2 is full frame rate (23.98–29.97 fps) and full-screen resolution (720 x 480
for NTSC and 720 x 576 for PAL). MPEG-2 has the following characteristics.
• Support for interlaced video: MPEG-2 can support either interlaced or progressive video.
Because MPEG-2 streams are generally played from a local DVD drive, rather than over
a network with variable bandwidth, video frame rate usually stays constant, and the
video normally looks completely smooth.
• No streaming support: MPEG-2 is not suitable for streaming video files over the web
because it requires a high bit rate (2 to 9 Mbps) to maintain acceptable image quality.
Note: The Compressor MPEG-2 encoder can create MPEG-2 video streams for the
DVD-Video format. To create DVD-Video discs, you must use a DVD authoring
application, such as DVD Studio Pro, in conjunction with Compressor.
195
Creating MPEG-2 Output Files
18










