4.5

10Compressor User Guide
Leverage built-in settings and destinations
Compressor comes with built-in settings that you can use to transcode files into the most
common media formats.
Compressor also provides preconfigured destinations that transcode files and then
perform actions on the transcoded files. For example, if you transcode a source file using
the built-in Add to TV Home Videos destination, the destination outputs a high-quality
QuickTime movie file and then automatically adds the file to your Home Videos library on
Apple TV.
Customize your output for efficiency
In addition to transcoding source files, you can use Compressor to:
• Create custom settings and destinations. You can use a variety of formats to build
custom settings and destinations tailored to your unique transcoding workflows. For
example, you can create a custom setting with specific frame dimensions or with video
and audio filters applied. And when you create a destination, you can apply a job action
that is performed after the file is transcoded—such as sending an email message or
running an Automator workflow.
• Create settings to transcode Final Cut Pro and Motion projects. You can create a
custom setting in Compressor and then use it to transcode Final Cut Pro or Motion
projects. For example, you can create a setting that outputs a file with the bit rate of
your choice.
• Transcode files using a network of shared computers. If you need more processing
power and shorter transcoding times, you can create a group of shared computers to
distribute and speed the transcoding process.
• Create Compressor droplets—a standalone application that lets you transcode media
files in the Finder—to provide a very simple workflow for yourself or other users by
dragging and dropping.
Compressor workflow
The basic process of transcoding files in Compressor is described below.
Import your media into Compressor
The first step in the transcoding process is to add one or more media source files to
Compressor. You can add media files from your computer or a connected storage device.
Each media source file in Compressor is called a job. Each transcoding session, containing
one or more jobs, is called a batch.
Apply transcoding instructions
After you add a source file, apply one or more transcoding instructions to it. Compressor
provides a variety of preconfigured transcoding instructions called settings, which you can
use to convert files to the most common media formats. If you want, you can modify the
setting’s properties to meet your requirements.