Apple Compressor …
In case you are not familiar with Compressor - this is the batch processor/encoder that is bundled with Final Cut Studio. Typically a producer uses Compressor to encode video source masters into distribution copies, or to encode MPEG-2 video for subsequent DVD production. There is a vast internal library of presets that can be customized to suit your needs. Projects from Final Cut Pro, Motion, and Soundtrack Pro can be directly exported to Compressor for transcoding. It’s a seamless workflow. Multiple “jobs” are supported, as well as cluster processing and ftp delivery.
There are a number of handy audio processing features built into Apple Compressor that make this tool much more attractive. Compressor 3.0 supports AIFF, AAC and MP3 encoding. Each conversion workflow offers the typical group of audio processing parameters. I’m referring to settings like sample rate, bit rate, and channel configuration. However what may be less obvious is a set of audio filters that can help to enhance your final product. In the Inspector, access the Filters tab, — Audio. Notice that we have the option to manipulate dynamics, tweak equalization, add fades, and apply peak limiting. The eq offers 10 or 31 band configurations.
Moving our attention to the Preview area, it is now possible to add Podcast/Chapter Markers. This works for both audio and video podcasts. Upon completion, processed files can be uploaded to predetermined destinations via ftp.
In case you are wondering about surround sound, Compressor makes this easy. By accessing a speaker matrix dialog box that supports drag and drop, source files can be associated with predetermined channels for common Dolby Digital configurations, including 2.0, 5.1, and 6.1.
One last feature that is worth mentioning is the embedded support for creating Droplets. These are actual stand-alone applications that simplify encoding by maintaining predetermined processing parameters. You can store a Droplet anywhere on your system, and processing engages by simply dragging files on to the Droplet icon. Droplets can be shared as well.
Needless to say that Apple Compressor is a powerful, industrial strength media processing tool. If you have not yet delved into this application, I suggest that you take some time and familiarize yourself with it. It is a true asset to the serious media producer.
Here is another Automator tip: Create a preset in Compressor and save it out as a Droplet. In Automator, select the Finder option in the Library pane. Scroll down to the open finder items action in the Actions pane and drag it into the Workflow bin. Set this workflow to open with the Droplet. Now save the workflow, and place it in the user/library/workflows/application/finder folder. In the future, control + click on a source file and select the droplet workflow from the list of Automator workflows.
I was looking at Compressor at the Apple store today on one of the demo Macs. We have been using Mono, 22050 Hz, 16kbps for a LoFi version of our show. We have some dialup and small mp3 player listeners. We have to use Sound Converter right now to do this encoding. I was hoping I could make a droplet with the new Compressor when I get it. But I could not see where you could go to this particular combination of settings. Is it limited or is there a way to override and put settings like this in?
-George
George,
As you are probably aware the presets are customizable. However you are correct. The lowest mp3 bitrate available is 32 kbps along with sample rates as low as 32 kHz.
-ptfigg.
not working for me
i create droplet with compressor then in automator ”
In Automator, select the Finder option in the Library pane. Scroll down to the open finder items action in the Actions pane and drag it into the Workflow bin. Set this workflow to open with the Droplet. Now save the workflow, and place it in the user/library/workflows/application/finder folder. In the future, control click on a source file and select the droplet workflow from the list of Automator workflows.”
al i get is a little red ball next to date in mac os when using the mouse button
cheers
Martijn
Martjin,
Are you control clicking with your two button mouse, or right clicking using a Mighty Mouse? Upon doing do, you should be presented with a drop down menu.
Now scroll down to Automator. If you placed the action file in the correct folder, you should see it in the group of pre-existing actions.
-ptfigg.
yes i get it (only one preset do the one i just created after that nothing happens. when i drop a movie clip on the droplet that i choose also in automater it just works?