Compressor 3 User Manual K Apple Inc. Copyright © 2007 Apple Inc. All rights reserved. Your rights to the software are governed by the accompanying software license agreement. The owner or authorized user of a valid copy of Final Cut Studio software may reproduce this publication for the purpose of learning to use such software. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted for commercial purposes, such as selling copies of this publication or for providing paid for support services. The Apple logo is a trademark of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. Use of the "keyboard" Apple logo (Shift-Option-K) for commercial purposes without the prior written consent of Apple may constitute trademark infringement and unfair competition in violation of federal and state laws. Every effort has been made to ensure that the information in this manual is accurate. Apple is not responsible for printing or clerical errors. 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All rights reserved. http://www.kontentfilms.com 1 Contents Preface 9 10 11 12 14 15 16 19 19 20 26 29 31 32 33 34 36 37 38 41 42 43 46 49 52 53 54 65 66 67 68 An Introduction to Compressor About the Compressor User Manual Typical Compressor Scenarios Compressor Features Output Formats for Transcoding Using the Compressor User Manual Apple Websites Getting Started Quickly Terms Used by Compressor Quick-and-Easy Compressor Workflow Optional Tasks You Can Perform Before Submitting a Batch The Basic Transcoding Workflow Compressor Concepts and Terms Preparing Compressor for Transcoding Choosing an Output Format Creating a Compressor Batch Viewing Transcoding Status Optional Compressor Shortcuts Setting Compressor Preferences 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 Batch Monitor Droplet Windows Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 3 69 71 72 Chapter 4 73 74 75 82 85 87 88 92 93 94 96 97 98 99 99 101 102 105 105 107 108 109 110 111 112 114 115 116 116 117 118 119 122 125 125 About Changing Values and Timecode Entries General Compressor Keyboard Shortcuts Preview Window Keyboard Shortcuts Importing Source Media Files About the Batch Window Adding Source Media Files to a Batch to Create Jobs Using the Inspector with Source Media Files Tips on Importing Source Media Files Creating, Previewing, and Modifying Settings About the Settings Tab Using the Inspector with Settings Duplicating Settings Creating a Setting from Scratch Previewing a Setting Deleting Settings Creating Groups of Settings Distributing and Sharing Settings Example: Creating Custom Groups and Settings for DVD Finalizing Jobs and Submitting Batches Assigning Settings to Source Media Files Replacing an Assigned Setting with a Different Setting Modifying an Assigned Setting Assigning Destinations to Source Media Files Setting the Output Filename About Targets About Adding and Copying Jobs About Chaining Jobs Submitting a Batch Test Transcode Tip About the History Window Resubmitting a Batch Saving and Opening a Batch File Submitting a Final Cut Pro Project for Transcoding Resubmitting a Final Cut Pro Project Exporting from Final Cut Pro and Distributed Processing Transcoding Different Clips from One Source Media File Creating AIFF Files Creating AIFF Output Files Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 4 Contents 125 126 128 Chapter 8 129 130 136 138 139 141 143 143 145 145 146 147 148 152 153 153 158 159 159 160 161 163 163 164 166 167 167 168 169 172 172 174 175 About the AIFF Encoder Pane About the Sound Settings Dialog Configuring AIFF Settings 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 DV Stream Output Files About the DV Stream Encoder Pane DV Transcoding Workflow Creating H.264 for Apple Devices Output Files About the H.264 for Apple Devices Encoder Pane H.264 Workflows for iPod and Apple TV Creating H.264 for DVD Studio Pro Output Files About the H.264 for DVD Studio Pro Encoder Pane H.264 Workflows for DVD Creating Image Sequence Files Creating Image Sequence Output Files About the Image Sequence Encoder Pane Configuring Image Sequence Settings Creating MP3 Output Files Common Uses for MP3 About the MP3 Encoder Pane MP3 Transcoding Workflow Creating MPEG-1 Output Files Common Uses for MPEG-1 MPEG-1 Specifications About the MPEG-1 Encoder Pane 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 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Contents 5 Chapter 15 181 181 182 183 184 199 202 211 212 216 223 223 224 230 234 234 235 237 237 238 238 239 240 241 241 244 245 253 255 255 256 260 262 264 Creating MPEG-2 Output Files About Standard Definition MPEG-2 About High Definition Sources and MPEG-2 About Elementary, Transport, and Program Streams About the MPEG-2 Encoder Pane More About GOPs and Markers MPEG-2 Transcoding Workflow Creating MPEG-4 Output Files About the MPEG-4 Encoder Pane MPEG-4 Part 2 Transcoding Workflow Creating QuickTime Movie Output Files Creating QuickTime Output Files About the QuickTime Movie Encoder Pane QuickTime Transcoding Workflow Understanding Codecs QuickTime Video Codecs QuickTime Audio Codecs Creating QuickTime Export Component Files Creating QuickTime Export Component Output Files Installing QuickTime Export Component Plug-Ins About the iPod Plug-In About the QuickTime Export Components Encoder Pane Configuring Export Components Settings Adding Filters to a Setting Working with Filters About the Filters Pane Available Filters Adding Filters to a Setting Adding Frame Controls to a Setting Working with Frame Controls About the Frame Controls Pane Adding Frame Controls to a Setting Using Reverse Telecine Using the Retiming Controls Chapter 16 Chapter 17 Chapter 18 Chapter 19 Chapter 20 6 Contents Chapter 21 267 267 269 274 277 277 279 280 283 284 289 295 297 303 305 306 307 308 311 312 314 315 316 317 319 319 322 323 323 324 327 327 327 328 330 333 Adding Geometry Settings Working with Cropping, Scaling, and Padding About the Geometry Pane Making Geometry Adjustments to a Setting Adding Actions to a Setting Working with Post-Transcoding Actions Adding Actions Triggering AppleScript Droplets Using the Preview Window About the Preview Window Previewing a Clip Transcoding a Portion of the Clip with the Preview Window Adding Markers to a Clip Preview Window Keyboard Shortcuts Creating and Changing Destinations About the Destinations Tab Using the Inspector with Destinations Creating a Destination Warning Triangles Deleting and Duplicating a Destination Creating Destinations for Use with DVD Studio Pro Using Droplets About the Droplet Window Creating a Droplet Checking Droplet Settings and AppleScript Options Using a Droplet to Transcode Source Media Files Droplet Tips Customer Support and Troubleshooting Calling AppleCare Support Troubleshooting Tips Command-Line Usage Using the Command Line Shell Commands for Configuring Service Nodes and Cluster Controllers Shell Commands for Submitting Compressor Jobs Shell Commands for Monitoring Batches Chapter 22 Chapter 23 Chapter 24 Chapter 25 Appendix A Appendix B Index Contents 7 Compressor is an essential part of the video compression process. It makes compression fast, efficient, and convenient, giving you more options in your choices of compression settings and output formats. With the ability to view and experience media content in many different ways (such as on websites, Apple TV, an iPod, CD-ROM discs, and DVDs), content authors need a quick and easy means of converting their material so that it can be conveniently distributed to a variety of playback devices. Whether you want to create high-quality movie trailers that can be opened and viewed over the web within seconds, or you just want to transfer a video clip to a CD or DVD, you need to compress media files so that they fit into limited space and are readily available for viewing. Compressor is a high-speed video and audio encoding tool that provides an efficient way to convert content for any of these methods. In addition to the variety of viewing delivery methods, there are also a variety of output formats to consider. You may need to compress the same media file into different output formats just to accommodate different media players and uses. With Compressor, you can select different output formats for use with the various distribution models. Preface 9 An Introduction to Compressor About the Compressor User Manual This preface, "An Introduction to Compressor," contains background information that introduces most of the basic concepts and terms related to using Compressor. Other chapters in this user manual cover the following: Â Chapter 1, "Getting Started Quickly," will help you with basic steps in using Compressor for the first time. Â Chapter 2, "The Basic Transcoding Workflow," offers more detailed Compressor setup procedures. Â Chapter 3, "The Compressor Interface," is a quick visual tour of Compressor windows and features. Â Chapter 4, "Importing Source Media Files," covers the file types that Compressor can accept and how to import them. Â Chapter 5, "Creating, Previewing, and Modifying Settings," covers settings, an essential part of the Compressor workflow. Â Chapter 6, "Finalizing Jobs and Submitting Batches," is a detailed explanation of basic Compressor workflow. Â Chapters 7 through 18 explain each of the output file types in turn. See "Output Formats for Transcoding" on page 14 for more information on these chapters. Â Chapters 19 through 22 will help you add settings and further adjust the visuals of your Compressor transcode jobs for better-looking and better-sounding output. Â Chapter 23, "Using the Preview Window," explains how to use the Compressor Preview window so you can have a look at source media files, as well as the effect of any Compressor settings you might apply to the files. Â Chapter 24, "Creating and Changing Destinations," covers how to set up and save frequently used destinations for transcoded output files. Â Chapter 25, "Using Droplets," covers the time-saving drag-and-drop applications you can create with Compressor. 10 Preface An Introduction to Compressor Typical Compressor Scenarios The following are typical Compressor scenarios: Â Converting source media to one or more different output formats: You can use Compressor to convert one or more media files to one or more different media file output formats. See "Quick-and-Easy Compressor Workflow" on page 20 for more information. Source media or Final Cut Pro project Compressor application H.264 MP3 MP3 MPEG-1 MPEG-4 QuickTime To web AC-3 AIFF H.264 MPEG-1 MPEG-2 AIFF MP3 QuickTime Apple devices Apple TV iPod iTunes QuickTime movie (for broadband and lowband) DVD video CD-ROM Â Exp ...