4
Table Of Contents
- Compressor 4 User Manual
- Contents
- Welcome to Compressor
- Getting Started Quickly
- Ways to Use Compressor
- The Basic Transcoding Workflow
- The Compressor Interface
- Compressor Windows and the Transcoding Workflow
- Creating and Managing Compressor Layouts
- Working with the Compressor Windows
- Batch Window
- Settings Tab
- Destinations Tab
- Inspector Window
- History Window
- Preview Window
- Apple Qmaster Sharing Window
- Share Monitor
- Droplet Windows
- About Changing Values and Timecode Entries
- Keyboard Shortcuts
- Setting Compressor Preferences
- Importing Source Media Files
- Creating, Previewing, and Modifying Settings
- Finalizing Jobs and Submitting Batches
- Creating AIFF Files
- Creating Common Audio Format Files
- Creating DV Stream Output 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 H.264 for Apple Devices 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 Export Component Files
- Creating QuickTime Movie Output 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
- Apple Qmaster and Distributed Processing
- Distributed Processing Basics
- Basic Components of the Apple Qmaster Distributed Processing System
- Getting Started Quickly Using This Computer Plus
- Getting Started Quickly Using QuickClusters
- The Interfaces in the Apple Qmaster Distributed Processing System
- Apple Qmaster Sharing Window of Compressor
- General Information About Clusters
- Options in the Apple Qmaster Sharing Window of Compressor
- Managed vs. Unmanaged Services
- Turning Cluster Controller Services On or Off
- Using Virtual Clusters to Make the Most of Multicore Computers
- Setting a Service Password for Including a Computer in a Cluster
- Scheduling Service Availability
- Using Cluster Storage
- Defining Ports for Service Advertisements
- Recovery and Failure Notification Features
- Creating Clusters with Apple Qadministrator
- Setting Up for Part-Time Distributed Processing with Shake
- Appendix A: Keyboard Shortcuts
- Appendix B: Solving Problems
- Appendix C: Using the Command Line
• Dialog Normalization: Specifies the average volume of the dialogue, using decibels of
full scale (dBFS), in your sound files relative to full modulation. The playback device
uses this information to maintain similar volume among different AC-3 streams. The
goal is to make all AC-3 encoded audio files have the same listening level, regardless
of the source file.
It is especially important to properly use the Dialog Normalization feature if you have
different audio files (with different volume levels) going on to a DVD. If you know the
average level for each file, enter that number in the Dialog Normalization field for each
file. For example, if the dialogue in your Final Cut Pro sequence averages around –12 dB
on the audio meter, enter –12 in the Dialog Normalization field.
Note: This normalization is between the audio streams on the DVD, not within an
individual audio stream itself. For that type of normalization, use an audio editing tool.
You can enter values from –1 dBFS to –31 dBFS. The difference between the value you
enter and 31 dBFS (which represents the normal dialogue listening level) is the amount
that the source audio will be attenuated.
• If you enter –31 dBFS: The attenuation is 0 dB (31 dBFS–31 dBFS), and the source
audio levels are not affected at all.
• If you enter –27 dBFS: The attenuation will be 4 dB (31 dBFS–27 dBFS).
• If you enter –12 dBFS: The attenuation is 19 dB (31 dBFS–12 dBFS).
The louder the source file, the smaller the value you enter, and the more the audio in
the encoded file is attenuated during playback.
If you do not know the sound level of the source file or for some other reason want to
ensure the Dolby Digital Professional encoder does not affect your sound levels, enter
–31 for the Dialog Normalization and choose None in the Compression Preset pop-up
menu (located in the Preprocessing tab).
Important: It is critical that you set Dialog Normalization correctly if you intend to use
any of the Compression Preset settings. The Compression Preset settings assume that
the audio, after the dialogue has been normalized, is at the normal listening level of
31 dBFS. Levels that are consistently louder than that result in distorted sound and
erratic levels.
147Chapter 12 Creating Dolby Digital Professional Output Files










