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
Exporting from Final Cut Pro and Distributed Processing
You can use Compressor to transcode sequences or clips from within other applications,
such as Final Cut Pro. This saves time and hard disk space by eliminating the need to
export self-contained media files before processing them.
There are two methods you can use to avoid exporting self-contained media files for
Compressor distributed processing:
• Export a sequence directly from Final Cut Pro to Compressor and then submit that job
to a cluster in an Apple Qmaster distributed processing network. In this workflow,
Final Cut Pro opens on each processing node in that cluster to complete the job.
• Export the Final Cut Pro sequence as a QuickTime reference movie and then submit
the resulting movie to the cluster for processing. This method does not require that
Final Cut Pro be installed on each computer in the distributed processing cluster.
Note: You can also use distributed processing with the Share feature in Final Cut Pro and
Motion. For more information, see the Final Cut Pro User Manual or the Motion User Manual.
To export a Final Cut Pro sequence directly to Compressor for distributed processing
1 Make sure Final Cut Pro is installed on each computer in the cluster that you intend to
use for distributed processing.
Each installation of Final Cut Pro requires a product serial number. For information about
volume licenses, go to http://www.apple.com/finalcutstudio.
2 Make sure all of the source media files and render files for your Final Cut Pro project are
on a hard disk that can be shared (mounted) by all the computers in the cluster that will
process the job. (The following instructions use an example of a shared hard disk named
Media1.)
If you copy all the media files to another hard disk for this purpose, you may need to
reconnect the media files in Final Cut Pro before proceeding.
Important: The hard disk you use to store the media files may not be a startup disk for
any computer in the cluster.
3 In Final Cut Pro, set the scratch disk to the same hard disk used for storing media files in
step 2:
a Choose Final Cut Pro > System Settings, then click the Scratch Disks tab.
b Click Set.
c In the dialog that appears, locate and select the disk you want to use (Media1 in this
example).
d Click Choose. The specified disk (Media1) is listed next to the Set button, along with
the amount of available disk space.
For more information about Final Cut Pro scratch disks, see the Final Cut Pro User Manual.
354 Appendix B Solving Problems










