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
• Stills: Used as part of a sequence of still images for certain video productions
• QuickTime: QuickTime is cross-platform multimedia technology which allows Mac OS
and Windows applications to capture and play back video, audio, and still-image files.
QuickTime files can contain many different kinds of media and codecs. Codecs give
instructions to QuickTime on how to play back the media.
A typical Compressor transcoding process consists of the following components.
• Setting: Once you have imported your source media file, you must assign one or more
settings to it. A setting is a combination of transcode attributes, such as output format,
filter, and geometry settings, that are applied to the source media file during the
transcoding process.
• Output (file) format: The encoder you choose to convert your source media file.
Choose one of the following output formats based on the intended playback method
and environment of your transcoded media files: AIFF, Dolby Digital Professional, DV
Stream, H.264 for DVD Studio Pro, H.264 for Apple Devices (which contains settings
for use with an iPod or Apple TV), Image Sequence (which supports TIFF and TARGA
images), MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MPEG-4, QuickTime Movie, or QuickTime Export
Components.
• Filters: Allow you to adjust different characteristics of your video such as color,
brightness, and sharpness, to maximize your video quality as the file is compressed.
• Geometry settings: Allow you to crop the image and adjust its frame size.
• Actions settings: Allow you to create automatic post-transcoding actions and apply
them to jobs and settings. Easily create and deliver output media files, send email
notifications and execute post-transcoding tasks using Automator.
31Chapter 3 The Basic Transcoding Workflow