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
About High Definition Sources and MPEG-2
Compressor has several different options and workflows for transcoding high definition
(HD) video source files into MPEG-2 files.
HD on DVD
Compressor can output MPEG-2 files for creating HD-resolution DVDs from either HD or
standard definition (SD) source media. Compressor can retain the various frame sizes and
frame rates of high definition video when transcoding to MPEG-2. And Compressor
supports the higher bit rates required by HD-based DVD formats. For more information
on creating output for HD-based DVDs, see About the MPEG-2 Encoder Pane and the
DVD Studio Pro User Manual.
Note: The other output file format option for HD-based DVDs is H.264, also known as
MPEG-4 Part 10. H.264 is currently mandatory in both new high definition DVD
specifications (HD DVD and Blu-ray). For more information about creating H.264 files for
HD on DVD, see Creating H.264 for DVD Studio Pro Output Files.
HD to SD Downconversion
For those situations in which you are editing high definition (HD) sources in Final Cut Pro
and want to create a standard definition (SD) DVD from them, Compressor provides
high-quality downconversion. Compressor retains as much detail as possible during
scaling and correctly preserves progressive or interlaced formats when encoding to
MPEG-2 for DVD.
To see the source media resolution and frame rate
1 Import the source media file into the Batch window.
2 Click the source’s name in the Batch window.
The source media file’s resolution and frame rate, along with its duration, appear in the
lower-left corner of the Preview window.
About Elementary, Transport, and Program Streams
There are three common MPEG-2 stream types that are used to deliver MPEG-2 encoded
video.
• Elementary streams: These streams contain only one MPEG-2 content channel and no
audio. Elementary streams are required if you intend to use your MPEG-2 encoded
video as a DVD Studio Pro asset.
• Transport streams: These streams can contain several MPEG-2 content channels and
associated audio. All the channels are multiplexed together, allowing the receiver to
choose which to play back. Compressor supports creating single-channel transport
streams that can optionally include associated audio.
196 Chapter 18 Creating MPEG-2 Output Files