Compressor User Guide - Apple

266 Pages·2012·16.53 MB·English

by  Apple Inc.

Compressor
User Guide
K Apple Inc. Apple, the Apple logo, AppleScript, Apple TV, Bonjour, DVD
Copyright © 2012 Apple Inc. All rights reserved. Studio Pro, Final Cut, Final Cut Pro, Finder, FireWire, iPad, iPhone,
iPod, iTunes, Mac, Mac OS, OS X, QuickTime, Shake, Xsan, and
Your rights to the software are governed by the accompanying
Xserve are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and
software license agreement. The owner or authorized user
other countries.
of a valid copy of Compressor software may reproduce this
publication for the purpose of learning to use such software. NetInfo is a trademark of Apple Inc.
No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted
AppleCare is a service mark of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S.
for commercial purposes, such as selling copies of this
and other countries.
publication or for providing paid for support services.
“Dolby,” “Pro Logic,” and the double-D symbol are
The Apple logo is a trademark of Apple Inc., registered in
trademarks of Dolby Laboratories. Confidential Unpublished
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Works, © 1992–1997 Dolby Laboratories, Inc. All rights reserved.
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infringement and unfair competition in violation of federal and and other countries and is used under license.
state laws.
UNIX is a registered trademark of The Open Group.
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information in
this manual is accurate. Apple is not responsible for printing or The YouTube logo is a trademark of Google Inc.
clerical errors.
Other company and product names mentioned herein
Note: Because Apple frequently releases new versions and are trademarks of their respective companies. Mention of
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Apple
1 Infinite Loop Production stills from the film “Koffee House Mayhem”
Cupertino, CA 95014 provided courtesy of Jean-Paul Bonjour. “Koffee House
408-996-1010 Mayhem” © 2004 Jean-Paul Bonjour. All rights reserved.
www.apple.com http://www.jeanpaulbonjour.com
Production stills from the film “A Sus Ordenes” provided
courtesy of Eric Escobar. “A Sus Ordenes” © 2004 Eric Escobar.
All rights reserved. http://www.kontentfilms.com
019-2428
Contents
8 Chapter 1: Compressor basics
8 What is Compressor?
9 Compressor workflow overview
10 Compressor window overview
11 Manage Compressor windows
12 Compressor terms
14 Chapter 2: Compressor workflows
14 Quick and easy batch template workflow
15 Manual batch processing workflow
16 Custom transcoding workflow
17 Chapter 3: Import source media
17 Importing overview
18 Create a batch
20 Add source media files
20 Add standard source media files to batches
22 Add surround sound source media files to batches
25 Add image sequences to batches
26 Add metadata to source media files
27 Inspector window
29 Batch window
31 Chapter 4: Assign settings and preview media
31 Settings overview
32 Assign settings
32 Assign settings to source media
34 Replace an assigned setting with a different setting
35 Modify an assigned setting
35 Create custom settings
35 Create and modify settings
39 Share settings
40 About the Automatic settings
41 Example: Create custom groups and settings for DVD
42 Inspector panes
46 Use markers and poster frames
46 Markers and poster frames overview
47 Manually add and remove markers
49 Add compression or podcast markers
51 Plain text chapter marker lists
51 Set the poster frame
3
52 Preview media
52 Previewing overview
52 Preview media as source or with settings applied
57 Transcode a portion of a clip
59 Preview window
64 Chapter 5: Custom settings and output formats
64 Custom settings and output formats overview
65 iTunes and Apple device output
65 iTunes and Apple device output overview
66 Create H.264 settings
70 Create Blu-ray discs
72 Dolby Digital Professional files
72 Dolby Digital overview
74 Convert stereo audio to Dolby Digital Professional format
74 Assign files to surround sound channels
78 Dolby Digital Professional Encoder pane
83 Spatial mixing options
84 MPEG-2 files
84 MPEG-2 overview
86 Create MPEG-2 files
89 MPEG-2 Encoder pane
97 MPEG-2 bit rates and formats
99 About GOPs (groups of pictures)
100 AIFF files
100 AIFF overview
101 Create AIFF settings
102 Common Audio Formats files
102 Common Audio Formats overview
103 Create Common Audio Formats settings
104 MP3 files
104 MP3 overview
104 MP3 transcoding workflow
105 Create MP3 settings
106 MPEG-1 files
106 MPEG-1 overview
107 About system and elementary streams
107 MPEG-1 specifications
108 Create MPEG-1 files for the web
109 Create MPEG-1 video for DVD
110 Create MPEG-1 audio for DVD
112 MPEG-1 Encoder pane
114 MPEG-4 files
114 MPEG-4 Part 2 overview
115 MPEG-4 Part 2 default settings
116 Create MPEG-4 Part 2 settings
119 Create settings for an audio podcast
Contents 4
121 QuickTime movie files
121 QuickTime movie overview
122 QuickTime video codecs
123 QuickTime audio codecs
124 Create QuickTime media files
130 QuickTime Export Components files
130 QuickTime Export Components overview
130 Create QuickTime Export Components settings
132 DV Stream files
132 DV overview
133 Create DV Stream settings
134 Create image sequence files
137 Chapter 6: Assign destinations and submit batches
137 Jobs, targets, and batches overview
137 Work with destinations
137 Destinations overview
138 Assign destinations
140 Create and modify destinations
142 If a warning triangle appears
143 Destinations tab and Inspector
145 Set up targets and jobs
145 Set up targets
146 Add and copy jobs
146 Chain jobs
147 Submit batches
147 Submit a batch
151 View batch information in the History window
153 Chapter 7: Advanced functions
153 Add filters
153 Filters overview
154 Add and adjust filters
156 Video filters
163 Audio filters
165 Color output
166 Work with frame controls
166 Frame controls overview
167 Apply frame controls to a setting
168 Frame Controls pane
172 About deinterlacing
173 About reverse telecine
175 About retiming
176 Modify geometry settings
176 Geometry overview
177 Crop, scale, and change frame dimensions
179 Geometry pane
Contents 5
184 Add post-transcoding actions
184 Post-transcoding actions overview
184 Add setting actions
186 Add job actions
187 Job Action tab
198 Use Droplets
198 Create Droplets
201 Use Droplets for transcoding media
204 Droplet window
205 Use Final Cut Pro X and Motion 5 with Compressor
207 Use the command line to submit Compressor jobs
207 Shell commands overview
207 Synopsis
207 Command options
208 Example: Compressor commands
211 Compressor preferences
211 Set Compressor preferences
212 Preferences window
214 Chapter 8: Use Apple Qmaster to set up a distributed processing system
214 What is Apple Qmaster?
215 Distributed processing systems
215 Distributed processing overview
217 Distributed processing basics
218 Distributed processing setup guidelines
219 Examples of distributed processing systems
220 Additional components of a distributed processing network
221 How the Apple Qmaster system distributes batches
222 Create service nodes and cluster controllers
222 Creating service nodes and cluster controllers overview
223 Quickly set up a service node using This Computer Plus
224 Set up a cluster controller using QuickClusters
225 Advanced service node and cluster controller information
225 Use nodes without Compressor installed
228 Enable managed and unmanaged services
229 Schedule service availability
230 Use virtual clusters to make the most of multicore computers
231 Turn cluster controller services on or off
231 Set a service password for including a computer in a cluster
232 Use cluster storage
234 Rendering services and shared storage setup
234 Use distributed processing with Shake
235 Recovery and failure notifications
236 Process a batch
236 Batch processing overview
237 Submit a batch of files from Compressor
238 Submit a batch of Shake files using Apple Qmaster
240 Submit a batch of Maya files using Apple Qmaster
242 Submit a batch of files using the Generic Render command in Apple Qmaster
Contents 6
244 Advanced rendering information
244 Set environment variables in Apple Qmaster
245 Manage Shake media files on a shared volume
245 Shake plug-in dialog
246 Generic Render dialog
247 Use Mental Ray for Maya
247 Use Apple Qmaster to submit UNIX commands
249 Job segmenting and two-pass or multi-pass encoding
249 Example: Submit After Effects batches with the Generic Render command
250 Apple Qmaster window
250 Apple Qmaster window
253 Apple Qmaster Sharing window
253 Setup pane of the Apple Qmaster Sharing window
254 Advanced pane of the Apple Qmaster Sharing window
256 Set Apple Qmaster preferences
257 Chapter 9: Use Apple Qadministrator to create and modify clusters
257 What is Apple Qadministrator?
257 Open Apple Qadministrator
258 Create and modify a cluster
262 Monitor cluster activity
262 Set Apple Qadministrator preferences
265 Chapter 10: Keyboard shortcuts
265 Compressor keyboard shortcuts
Contents 7
1
Compressor basics
What is Compressor?
Compressor is an application for converting audio and video files into professional media formats
for disc, device, or web delivery. The process of converting from one file format to another is
called transcoding. You can use Compressor on its own or with Final Cut Pro X and Motion to
transcode audio and video files directly from those applications.
In Compressor, you can:
• Convert source media to high-definition (HD) or standard-definition (SD) formats (including
H.264) for Apple devices such as Apple TV, iPhone, iPad, iPod, or iTunes; for streaming or
podcasting on the web; for DVD, CD-ROM, or Blu-ray Disc; or for handoff to post-production.
Source media or
Final Cut Pro project
AC-3
MP3
H.264 AIFF AIFF
MPEG-1 H.264
MP3 H.264 MP3
MPEG-4 AC-3
AC-3 MPEG-1 QuickTime
QuickTime
MPEG-2
To web
Apple TV QuickTime DVD video CD-ROM Blu-ray Disc
iPhone movie
iPad (for broadband
iPod and lowband)
iTunes
• Use batch processing to create multiple output files from single-source media files.
• Create standalone applications called Droplets for drag-and-drop transcoding operations on
your desktop. Simply drag a media file onto a Droplet to launch a customized transcoding
session, without opening Compressor.
• Use Apple-supplied encoding settings or create your own settings to build a library of
specialized settings that can be reused.
• Apply video filters to add fade-in/fade-out effects, timecode overlays, gamma correction, noise
removal, letterbox framing, watermarks, color adjustments, and more.
8
• Apply audio filters to control dynamic range, peak levels, equalization, and audio fade-in/
fade-out effects.
• Use the Preview window to view the results of your filter settings in real time.
• Create and save output destinations, including your desktop, local disks, remote disks, and FTP
locations. You can even use destination presets to specify filenaming conventions.
• Control video file image quality during MPEG-2 DVD transcoding by applying single- or dual-
pass variable bit rate (VBR) to your output files.
• Customize your frame dimensions using geometry controls. You can resize your image to common
aspect ratios, including 4:3, 16:9, and 2.35:1, or reduce file size by cropping unwanted image areas.
• Publish your media files to a QuickTime Streaming Server or other locations for DVD authoring.
• Customize post-transcoding operations by applying AppleScript automation to your output files.
• Export sequences directly from Final Cut Pro X or Motion into Compressor for transcoding,
leveraging the powerful video-processing technology of those applications.
• Encode media files in the background so that you can perform other tasks at the same time.
• Automatically send an email notification to any location to notify you or your colleagues when
a transcoding job is complete.
• Use distributed processing to divide the transcoding work among multiple computers, thereby
increasing your processing power. The distributed processing feature is limited to computers
that have Compressor installed.
• Enable and disable distributed processing services and monitor batches using
command-line options.
Compressor workflow overview
Compressor offers several ways to convert (transcode) media files into any of numerous
professional file formats. For basic transcoding jobs to common output formats (Blu-ray Disc,
DVD, Apple TV, YouTube, and so on), choose a preconfigured template to have Compressor
automatically apply all required settings. For more advanced transcoding jobs, apply an output
setting from a list of more than 30 file formats.
Whether basic or advanced, all transcoding workflows in Compressor follow the same
essential steps:
• Import your source media into Compressor.
• Apply and modify your preferred output settings.
• Specify a save destination (the location where the output files are saved).
• Submit your file or batch of files for transcoding.
Chapter 1 Compressor basics 9
Each transcoding session in Compressor is known as a batch. A transcoding batch can contain
multiple source media files, referred to as jobs. Each job can be transcoded into multiple formats.
The following diagram represents a batch containing two jobs:
Batch
Job 1
Target 1 Output media file
Setting Destination (Job 1, Target 1)
Source
media file
1 Target 2 Output media file
Setting Destination (Job 1, Target 2)
Job 2
Target 1 Output media file
Source Setting Destination (Job 2, Target 1)
media file
2 Target 2 Output media file
Setting Destination (Job 2, Target 2)
In the diagram above, each job is converted to two output files. The settings and save
destinations of these files are known as the targets. One output media file is created for each
target assigned to a source media file. The total number of output files created by transcoding
this batch will be four: Job 1 will create two output media files, as will Job 2.
Compressor window overview
The main Compressor workspace has five windows, each of which represents a part of the
transcoding workflow:
Batch window Preview window
Settings and Inspector History
Destinations tabs window window
Chapter 1 Compressor basics 10