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All rights reserved. http://www.kontentfilms.com Contents Preface 9 Welcome to Compressor 9 About Compressor 10 About the Compressor Documentation 10 Additional Resources Chapter 1 11 Getting Started Quickly 11 Terms Used by Compressor 12 Quick and Easy Compressor Workflow: Batch Template Method 17 Quick and Easy Compressor Workflow: Manual Method 24 Optional Tasks You Can Perform Before Submitting a Batch Chapter 2 27 Ways to Use Compressor 28 Typical Compressor Scenarios 29 Compressor Features Chapter 3 31 The Basic Transcoding Workflow 31 Compressor Concepts and Terms 34 Preparing Compressor for Transcoding with Custom Settings 36 Choosing an Output Format 37 Creating a Compressor Batch 39 Viewing Transcoding Status 39 Optional Compressor Shortcuts Chapter 4 41 The Compressor Interface 42 Compressor Windows and the Transcoding Workflow 43 Creating and Managing Compressor Layouts 46 Working with the Compressor Windows 49 Batch Window 52 Settings Tab 53 Destinations Tab 53 Inspector Window 62 History Window 63 Preview Window 65 Apple Qmaster Sharing Window 3 66 Share Monitor 67 Droplet Windows 67 About Changing Values and Timecode Entries 69 Keyboard Shortcuts Chapter 5 71 Setting Compressor Preferences 71 About Compressor Preferences 74 Using Compressor Preferences Chapter 6 77 Importing Source Media Files 77 About the Batch Window 81 Adding Source Media Files to a Batch to Create Jobs 89 Using the Inspector with Source Media Files 92 Tips on Importing Source Media Files Chapter 7 95 Creating, Previewing, and Modifying Settings 96 About the Settings Tab 99 Using the Inspector with Settings 100 Duplicating Settings 102 Creating a Setting from Scratch 103 Searching for a Setting 103 Previewing a Setting 105 Deleting Settings 106 Creating Groups of Settings 107 Distributing and Sharing Settings 108 Example: Creating Custom Groups and Settings for DVD Chapter 8 111 Finalizing Jobs and Submitting Batches 111 Assigning Settings 116 Assigning Destinations 118 General Job and Target Information 120 General Batch Information 127 Using Final Cut Pro and Motion with Compressor 129 Using Distributed Processing with Compressor Chapter 9 131 Creating AIFF Files 131 Creating AIFF Output Files 132 About the AIFF Encoder Pane 132 About the Sound Settings Dialog 133 QuickTime Audio Sample Sizes and Rates 134 Choosing an Audio Codec for Distribution 134 Configuring AIFF Settings 4 Contents Chapter 10 135 Creating Common Audio Format Files 135 Creating Common Audio Format Files 136 About the Common Audio Formats Pane 136 Configuring Common Audio Formats Settings Chapter 11 139 Creating DV Stream Output Files 139 About the DV Stream Encoder Pane 140 DV Transcoding Workflow Chapter 12 141 Creating Dolby Digital Professional Output Files 142 About the Dolby Digital Professional Encoder Pane 148 General Information About Creating Dolby Digital Professional Files 149 Converting Stereo Audio Files to Dolby Digital Professional Format 150 Assigning Files to Surround Sound Channels (Manual Method) 153 Assigning Files to Surround Sound Channels (Automatic Methods) 155 Assigning Files to Surround Sound Channels with Droplets 155 Options for Spatial Mixing Chapter 13 157 Creating H.264 for Apple Devices Output Files 158 About the H.264 for Apple Devices Encoder Pane 161 Chapter and Podcast Markers for Apple Devices 162 Aspect Ratios for Apple Devices 162 H.264 Workflows for Apple Devices 163 Configuring Settings for H.264 for Apple Devices Output Files Chapter 14 165 Creating H.264 for Blu-ray Disc 166 About the H.264 for Blu-ray Disc Encoder Pane 168 H.264 Workflows for Optical Disc Chapter 15 169 Creating Image Sequence Files 169 Creating Image Sequence Output Files 170 About the Image Sequence Encoder Pane 171 Configuring Image Sequence Settings Chapter 16 175 Creating MP3 Output Files 175 Common Uses for MP3 176 About the MP3 Encoder Pane 177 MP3 Transcoding Workflow Chapter 17 179 Creating MPEG-1 Output Files 179 Common Uses for MPEG-1 180 MPEG-1 Specifications 181 About the MPEG-1 Encoder Pane Contents 5 182 About the MPEG-1 Video Tab 183 About the MPEG-1 Audio Tab 184 About System and Elementary Streams 184 MPEG-1 Transcoding Workflow 185 Configuring the MPEG-1 File Format for Web Use 187 Configuring the MPEG-1 File Format for DVD Use 187 Creating the MPEG-1 Video for DVD Setting 189 Creating the MPEG-1 Audio for DVD Setting 191 Optional—Creating an MPEG-1 for DVD Group and Destination Chapter 18 193 Creating MPEG-2 Output Files 193 About Standard Definition MPEG-2 194 About High Definition Sources and MPEG-2 194 About Elementary, Transport, and Program Streams 195 About the MPEG-2 Encoder Pane 206 MPEG-2 Reference Information 210 MPEG-2 Transcoding Workflow 216 Example MPEG-2 Settings Chapter 19 217 Creating MPEG-4 Output Files 217 About MPEG-4 Part 2 218 About the MPEG-4 Part 2 Encoder Pane 222 Using Default MPEG-4 Part 2 Settings 223 Customizing MPEG-4 Part 2 Settings 225 Audio Podcasting Workflow 228 Adding Additional Settings and Presets Chapter 20 229 Creating QuickTime Export Component Files 229 Creating QuickTime Export Component Output Files 230 Installing QuickTime Export Component Plug-ins 230 About the iPod Plug-in 231 About the QuickTime Export Components Encoder Pane 231 Configuring Export Components Settings Chapter 21 233 Creating QuickTime Movie Output Files 233 Creating QuickTime Output Files 234 About the QuickTime Movie Encoder Pane 240 QuickTime Transcoding Workflow 244 Understanding Codecs 244 QuickTime Video Codecs 245 QuickTime Audio Codecs Chapter 22 247 Adding Filters to a Setting 247 Working with Filters 6 Contents 249 About the Filters Pane 250 Video Filters Tab 257 Audio Filters Tab 259 Color Tab 260 Adding Filters to a Setting Chapter 23 263 Working with Frame Controls 263 About the Frame Controls Pane 268 Adding Frame Controls to a Setting 269 About Deinterlacing 270 About Reverse Telecine 273 Using the Retiming Controls Chapter 24 277 Adding Geometry Settings 277 Working with Cropping, Scaling, and Padding 279 About the Geometry Pane 283 Making Geometry Adjustments to a Setting Chapter 25 287 Adding Actions 287 Working with Post-Transcoding Actions 287 Adding Setting Actions 289 Adding Job Actions Chapter 26 305 Using the Preview Window 305 About the Preview Window 311 Previewing a Clip 316 Transcoding a Portion of the Clip with the Preview Window 317 Working with Markers and Poster Frames 324 About the Preview Window Keyboard Shortcuts Chapter 27 325 Creating and Changing Destinations 326 About the Destinations Tab 327 Using the Inspector with Destinations 327 Creating a Destination 329 Warning Triangles 330 Deleting and Duplicating a Destination Chapter 28 333 Using Droplets 334 Creating Droplets 336 About the Droplet Window 338 Checking Droplet Settings 340 Using a Droplet to Transcode Source Media Files 342 Using Droplets to Create Jobs and Settings in Compressor 343 Droplet Tips Contents 7 Chapter 29 345 Apple Qmaster and Distributed Processing 345 Distributed Processing Basics 347 Basic Components of the Apple Qmaster Distributed Processing System 354 Getting