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• Destination: A destination also needs to be assigned to the source media file. This is
the location where your transcoded media file is stored. You can either use the default
destination called Source (the same folder the source media file is in), or you can
designate any location to which you have full access. You can also change the default
destination in Compressor preferences. The destination also controls how the transcoded
media file is named.
• Target: A blueprint for creating an output media file containing a setting, a destination,
and an output filename.
• Job: Once you assign one or more targets to the source media file, it becomes a job,
and is ready to be transcoded.
• Batch: A batch consists of one or more jobs that are processed at one time. All jobs
contained within the batch are submitted collectively when you click the Submit button.
• Output media file: The transcoded media files created after the batch is submitted and
processed are called output media files. An output media file is the result of a
successfully transcoded source media file (containing one setting and destination). You
can create as many output media files as there are different settings applied to the
various source media files in the batch.
Preparing Compressor for Transcoding with Custom Settings
Compressor contains a number of preconfigured settings that allow you to start
transcoding immediately. If you want to transcode your source media files immediately
and don’t need to create your own settings, you can follow the steps described in Quick
and Easy Compressor Workflow: Batch Template Method instead. Or if your workflow is
not covered by any of the batch templates and you want to start transcoding immediately,
you can also try the steps in Quick and Easy Compressor Workflow: Manual Method.
However, if you want to create your own settings and destinations, and customize other
attributes such as filters, cropping, frame resizing, and actions settings, you need to follow
the steps outlined below. If the custom settings you create here can be used for all your
transcoding needs, you won’t need to go through these steps again. However, if you
need to create new settings and destinations for each transcoding project, you’ll need
to repeat these steps each time.
Stage 1: Creating a Setting
Unless you are using a preexisting setting or a batch template supplied with Compressor,
you will need to create your own settings. This is done using the Settings tab and begins
with choosing an output format from the File Format menu that opens when you click
the Add (+) button. See Choosing an Output Format for more information. In addition,
you also have the option of adding filters, geometry settings, and post-transcoding actions
and then previewing your setting to ensure satisfaction. See Creating a Setting from
Scratch for more information.
34 Chapter 3 The Basic Transcoding Workflow