Apple Compressor 2 - Manual (Page 38)

38 Chapter 3 The Compressor Interface
Compressor Windows and the Transcoding Workflow
Each Compressor window represents a part of the transcoding workflow.
 Batch window: Allows you to import source media files, add settings and
destinations, and name the batch.
 Presets window: Contains two tabs—Settings and Destinations. The Settings tab
allows you to centrally manage Apple and custom settings. The Destinations tab
allows you to create, modify, or remove destination settings, set a default destination,
and add file identifiers to your output media filename.
 Inspector window: Allows you easy access to common transcoding controls, and a full
summary table containing all the details of each setting. You can also use the
Inspector window to gather information on source clips, and to make dynamic
changes interactively with the Preview window.
 Preview window: Allows you to play your source media file in its original format, or
preview your source media file with whichever settings have been assigned to it. You
can see the effects of your settings—such as filters and frame resizing—and make
adjustments to these attributes while previewing the media file in real time.
 History (Not Pictured): The History drawer allows you to view a full log of all batches
submitted from your computer and resubmit any batches listed in the log.
 Droplet window (Not Pictured): Allows you to save one or more settings or groups of
settings into a Droplet, a standalone preset, packaged into a drag-and-drop
application and saved as an icon.
 Batch Monitor (Not Pictured): Allows you to view the status of all batches being
processed. (See the Batch Monitor User Manual for more information.)
The Compressor toolbar (not pictured) makes it easy to navigate to the main
Compressor windows, and to the Batch Monitor.
Preview window
Batch window
Inspector window
Presets window