H.264 workflows for apple devices – Apple Compressor 3 User Manual

Page 161

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H.264 Workflows for Apple Devices

The efficiency and quality of H.264 creates a number of options for iPod and Apple TV
video producers.

• Compressor includes two video sizes specifically designed for playback on an iPod or

an iPhone: iPod 320 (QVGA) and iPod 640 (VGA). Both sizes create output media files
that are compatible for playing on an iPod, and both will look good on the display of
the iPod.

• As long as you intend the output media files to be viewed on the iPod itself, you can

use the iPod 320 encoder size, which produces files that are about one half the size
of the iPod 640 encoder size.

• If you expect the output media files to be played on larger displays, whether in iTunes

or on a monitor connected to an iPod, you should use the iPod 640 encoder size
with its higher quality.

• Output media files created with the iPod and iPhone settings will also play on

Apple TV.

• The Apple TV HD encoder size produces video files that are about four times the size

of the iPod 640 encoder size. These are not compatible with iPod playback and may
not play smoothly on older Mac computers.

• If you have assigned chapter markers to the video using the Preview window, iTunes

will automatically use the first marker as the poster frame. If you assigned an image to
any markers in Compressor, the first marker with an image becomes the poster frame
in iTunes. You can change the poster frame in iTunes if necessary. See the iTunes help
for more information. See

Adding Chapter or Podcast Markers to a Clip

for more

information about adding chapter markers in Compressor.

Configuring Settings for H.264 for Apple Devices Output Files

To ensure that your output media files are iPod, iPhone, and Apple TV compatible, it is
recommended that you use the standard settings provided in the Apple Devices group
in the Settings tab. For more information on applying settings, see

Assigning Settings to

Source Media Files

.

You can also create iPod, iPhone, and Apple TV compatible media files with batch
templates. For more information, see

Quick and Easy Compressor Workflow: Batch

Template Method

.

Note: Files created using iPod and iPhone settings can also play on Apple TV.

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Chapter 12

Creating H.264 for Apple Devices Output Files

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