Apple Compressor 3 - Manual (Page 27)

• Creating DVD compliant files for use with DVD Studio Pro: Before you can convert your
existing media files into DVD Studio Pro projects, you must convert the video into
MPEG-1 (SD projects only), MPEG-2 (SD and HD projects), or H.264 (HD projects only)
files. Before importing one or more media files into DVD Studio Pro, Compressor
transcodes the files into the correct format. Compressor can encode audio in the Dolby
Digital Professional format (also known as AC-3). Dolby Digital Professional is a very
common compressed audio format for DVD-Video discs. Compressor also supports two
specialized situations:
• For those situations in which you are editing high definition (HD) sources in
Final Cut Pro and want to create a standard definition (SD) DVD from them,
Compressor includes a high-quality down conversion capability. HD sources using
1080i or 720p resolutions use a high-quality transcoding process to create SD MPEG-2
video output files.
• For those situations in which you must fit the maximum video onto a DVD and do
not require broadcast quality, Compressor includes the ability to export
DVD-Video-compatible MPEG-1 format files.
Compressor Features
Compressor can work as a standalone application or be integrated into the workflow of
other applications, such as Final Cut Pro. To this end, Compressor accepts the same full
range of source media file types that Final Cut Pro accepts. Compressor offers the following
features.
• Batch processing: This streamlined process allows you to create multiple output files
from single source media files.
• VBR options: Using the MPEG-2 encoder, you can set either a single- or dual-pass variable
bit rate (VBR) for your output files, a setting that affects the video file image quality.
• H.264 encoding: H.264 produces higher quality video at lower data rates for everything
from mobile phones to High Definition (HD). H.264 works especially well with the Apple
QuickTime 7 media player. Compressor includes H.264 formats that specifically target
HD DVDs, iTunes, the iPod, and Apple TV.
• Droplets: These standalone applications can be used for drag-and-drop transcoding
operations straight from your desktop. Once created, Droplets simplify and automate
the transcoding process and can be used even without opening Compressor.
• Settings: Settings contain all necessary file format, filter, and geometry settings needed
for transcoding. You can customize and modify the Apple-supplied settings or create
new ones, making it possible to create a library of specialized settings that can be
reused.
27 Chapter 2 Ways to Use Compressor