Apple Compressor (4.0) User Manual
Page 53
Chapter 4
Assign settings and preview media
53
Preview a source media file
1
If the Preview window is not shown by default, open it by choosing Window > Preview.
Tip: To open your file in the Preview window in one step, double-click the source media file in its
job in the Batch window.
2
Do one of the following:
•
Choose a source media file from the Batch Item pop-up menu (identified by its filename).
A setting applied to the source
media file “Nancy at table CU
5.” The checkmark indicates
that this is currently being
viewed in the Preview window.
Selects the default
color bars image.
The original source
media file “Nancy
at table CU 5”
•
Click the Batch Item selection buttons until the source media file appears in the pop-up menu.
•
Select the source media file in its job in the Batch window.
Only the Source View button is active (the Setting View button is dimmed). This is because you
selected a regular source media file, so you can only see the unadulterated clip—without the
split-screen divider or cropping bars.
3
Choose a preview screen size from the Preview Scale pop-up menu, or drag the Preview window
handle to a size you like.
This doesn’t affect the display frame size of the actual output media file. That can be set only in
the Geometry pane of the Inspector window.
4
To preview the selected source media file, click the Play button.
Source media files with markers already added, such as files from Final Cut Pro, show the markers
in the timeline. You can manage the markers if needed. For more information, see
on page 46.
You can use the Preview window to play back Dolby Digital Professional (AC-3) files. Compressor
includes a Dolby Digital decoder so that when you add an AC-3 source media file to a batch and
play it, you can to hear it using your computer’s current speakers. This includes everything from
the built-in stereo speakers, which play a mixed-down version of the AC-3 file if it contains more
than two channels, to a set of external surround speakers connected to a USB or FireWire output.
Important:
Because Compressor is decoding the Dolby Digital audio file, you cannot use your
computer’s optical output to preview Dolby Digital audio.