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
• Creating DVD compliant files for use with DVD Studio Pro: Before you can convert your
existing media files into DVD Studio Pro projects, you must convert the video into
MPEG-1 (SD projects only), MPEG-2 (SD and HD projects), or H.264 (HD projects only)
files. Before importing one or more media files into DVD Studio Pro, Compressor
transcodes the files into the correct format. Compressor can encode audio in the Dolby
Digital Professional format (also known as AC-3). Dolby Digital Professional is a very
common compressed audio format for DVD-Video discs. Compressor also supports two
specialized situations:
• 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 includes a high-quality down conversion capability. HD sources using
1080i or 720p resolutions use a high-quality transcoding process to create SD MPEG-2
video output files.
• For those situations in which you must fit the maximum video onto a DVD and do
not require broadcast quality, Compressor includes the ability to export
DVD-Video-compatible MPEG-1 format files.
Compressor Features
Compressor can work as a standalone application or be integrated into the workflow of
other applications, such as Final Cut Pro. To this end, Compressor accepts the same full
range of source media file types that Final Cut Pro accepts. Compressor offers the following
features.
• Batch processing: This streamlined process allows you to create multiple output files
from single source media files.
• VBR options: Using the MPEG-2 encoder, you can set either a single- or dual-pass variable
bit rate (VBR) for your output files, a setting that affects the video file image quality.
• H.264 encoding: H.264 produces higher quality video at lower data rates for everything
from mobile phones to High Definition (HD). H.264 works especially well with the Apple
QuickTime 7 media player. Compressor includes H.264 formats that specifically target
HD DVDs, iTunes, the iPod, and Apple TV.
• Droplets: These standalone applications can be used for drag-and-drop transcoding
operations straight from your desktop. Once created, Droplets simplify and automate
the transcoding process and can be used even without opening Compressor.
• Settings: Settings contain all necessary file format, filter, and geometry settings needed
for transcoding. You can customize and modify the Apple-supplied settings or create
new ones, making it possible to create a library of specialized settings that can be
reused.
27Chapter 2 Ways to Use Compressor