4.5

15Compressor User Guide
Simple transcoding
Intro to simple transcoding in Compressor
When you add a source file to Compressor and apply output instructions (all done in
Current view), you create a transcoding job. You can submit a single job for transcoding,
or add more source files (and output instructions), then submit a batch of jobs
for transcoding.
Each job in a Compressor batch has several parts:
• Source file: The media file that you want to transcode.
• Setting: The transcoding instructions that specify how the file will be processed.
Compressor provides a variety of built-in settings that you can use to output files in
common media formats. Additionally, Compressor provides a number of preconfigured
destinations—one or more settings combined with an automated job action that’s
performed after transcoding. For example, if you use the built-in Add to TV Home
Videos destination to transcode a source file, the destination outputs a high-quality
QuickTime movie file and then applies the destination’s job action to add the file to
your Home Videos library on Apple TV.
• Location: The place on your computer or a connected device where the transcoded file
will be saved. You can use one of the built-in locations, or specify a new location.
• Filename: The title of the transcoded file. You can use the default filename (the name of
the source file) or type a custom filename.
• Job action: A post-transcoding action you can add to a job—such as burning a DVD or
copying a file to your Home Videos library on Apple TV. Each of the built-in destinations
already contains a job action.
• Caption filename: A supplemental text file in the CEA-608 format or iTT format that you
can optionally add to a job to create synchronized closed captions or subtitles. See
Intro to supporting captions in Compressor.