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
Note: If you want to transcode a normal size standard definition (SD) source media file
(720 x 486) using an MPEG-2 NTSC setting, your output media file will be automatically
cropped (two pixels from the top and four from the bottom) to achieve the MPEG-2
required dimensions of 720 x 480, unless you already specified cropping attributes. This
crop attribute is only temporary and is not saved in the setting. You can see the
automatic crop in the usual way, by double-clicking the setting in the job to open the
Preview window. See About the MPEG-2 Encoder Pane for more information about the
Video Format pop-up menu.
• Custom: Choose this option to manually enter values in the Left, Right, Top, and
Bottom cropping fields, or to adjust these values by dragging the red frame bars in
the Preview window. For more information, see Making Geometry Adjustments to a
Setting.
• 4:3 (1.33:1): Applies an automatic center crop with an aspect ratio of 4:3.
• 16:9 (1.78:1): Applies an automatic center crop with an aspect ratio of 16:9.
• Panavision (2.35:1): Applies an automatic center crop with an aspect ratio of 2.35:1.
• Europe Standard (1.66:1): Applies an automatic center crop with an aspect ratio of
1.66:1.
• UK Standard (1.75:1): Applies an automatic center crop with an aspect ratio of 1.75:1.
• Academy (1.85:1): Applies an automatic center crop with an aspect ratio of 1.85:1.
• Letterbox area of source: This option allows Compressor to detect whether the source
media file has been letterboxed, and if it has, to enter crop values to remove the
letterbox.
• Left, Right, Top, and Bottom: The four cropping fields (Left, Top, Right, and Bottom)
allow you to crop the frame of your source media file in pixel increments. Most broadcast
video files have overscan areas. If the output file will be shown exclusively on a computer
screen rather than on a television screen, you can safely remove some edging from
your file without affecting the picture area. The numbers give the distance (in pixels)
between the edge of the original frame and the resulting cropped frame. All fields
default to 0.
Note: The regular (action safe) overscan area is the outer 5 percent of the image on all
four sides. Cut in an additional 5 percent and you have the more conservative title safe
area. So you can safely crop anywhere between 5 and 10 percent of your outer frame
area and still preserve the essential material.
286 Chapter 24 Adding Geometry Settings