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
Important: Generic is the only Stream Usage setting that supports transport and
program streams. Selecting the Multiplexed MPEG-1/Layer 2 Audio checkbox sets your
stream usage to Generic if it is currently anything else.
MPEG-2 Reference Information
The following sections contain useful information for creating MPEG-2 output media files.
About Choosing the Bit Rates
When determining average and maximum bit rates for standard DVD playback, remember
to consider the bit rate of your audio track as well as the MPEG-2 bit rate.
You must keep the total of both average and maximum audio and video bit rates under
10.08 Mbps, the maximum guaranteed transfer rate from standard DVD players. Because
DVD-compatible audio formats are constant bit rate (CBR), there is no maximum audio
bit rate to worry about.
For example, if you are using AIFF audio at 1.5 Mbps, you should keep both the average
and maximum video bit rates under 8.5 Mbps. Typically, your average bit rate will be
lower than this (for example, 3.5 Mbps for 2 hours of footage on your DVD). However,
your maximum bit rate must also stay below this number. A maximum bit rate of 8.0 Mbps
is recommended to provide an extra margin for error (for example, to accommodate
subtitle streams). If you are using one of the DVD-compatible compressed audio formats
such as Dolby Digital or MPEG-1/Layer-2, your audio bit rate may be as low as 0.2 to
0.4 Mbps, in which case you can set your maximum bit rate about 1 Mbps higher.
Also, as a general rule, set your maximum bit rate at least 1 Mbps higher than your average
bit rate, to allow for bit-rate variability in achieving the goal of constant quality.
MPEG-2 Video Frame Sizes and Formats
Since MPEG-2 uses fixed video frame sizes, Compressor enters the output frame size in
the fields in the Geometry pane based on your video format selection.
The video format you choose in the Video Format pop-up menu determines the options
for the associated characteristics such as frame size and rate, aspect ratio, and field
dominance. For more information, see Video Format Tab.
Scanning methodAspect ratioFrame rate (fps)
Frame size
(pixels)Video format
Interlaced,
progressive
4:3 or 16:923.98 (progressive
only), 29.97
720 x 480NTSC
Interlaced,
progressive
4:3 or 16:925720 x 576PAL
Progressive16:923.98, 25, 29.97,
50, 59.94
1280 x 720720p
208 Chapter 18 Creating MPEG-2 Output Files