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.
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Chapter 3
The Basic Transcoding Workflow
You can also streamline your workflow by putting your settings into groups. See
Creating
Groups of Settings
for more information.
After you have created a setting, you can further customize it with additional adjustments
such as filters (to adjust image quality or add effects such as letterboxing), pixel size
(geometry values), and post-transcoding actions. These additional adjustments are all
managed in the Inspector window. See
Adding Filters to a Setting
,
Working with Frame
Controls
,
Adding Geometry Settings
, and
Adding Actions
for more information.
Stage 2:
Previewing the Setting
It’s a good time-saving measure to preview your setting before submitting the batch.
This can be done using the Preview window and ensures that the quality of the output
media file is acceptable. The Preview window consists of a split screen displaying the
content of your source media file in its original form in one half, and the content of your
output media file in the other half.
From the Preview window, you can do any of the following:
• Play the media file.
• Dynamically preview effects (in real time).
• Modify the effects of the filters and geometry settings of your setting.
• Compare source or output versions.
• Crop the output file frame size.
• Change the aspect ratio.
• Add various markers (compression, chapter, or podcast).
Note: Frame Controls settings cannot be previewed in the Preview window. To preview
Frame Controls settings, do a test transcode of a small section of your source media file.
(See
Transcoding a Portion of the Clip with the Preview Window
for more information.)
See
Previewing a Setting
or
Using the Preview Window
for more information.
Stage 3:
Creating a Destination
By default, your transcoded file is saved in the same folder as your source media file
(Source). However, if you want to store your transcoded files in a different location, you
can create a new destination in the Destinations tab. Using this tab, you can choose any
folder, volume, or remote server for which you have permissions and access to be a
destination, and add useful file identifiers for your transcoded output file. Once you have
created sufficient destinations, you won’t need to open the Destinations tab again.
See
Creating and Changing Destinations
for more information.
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Chapter 3
The Basic Transcoding Workflow