Adobe Media Encoder CC User Manual
Adobe® Media Encoder
CC
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Last updated 12/15/2014
Contents
Chapter 1: What's new
New features summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
Chapter 2: Encoding quick start and basics
Overview of Adobe Media Encoder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
Encoding quick start . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Using the Preset Browser . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Add and manage items in the encoding queue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
File formats supported for import . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Working with log files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Preferences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
File formats supported for export . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Default keyboard shortcuts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
About video and audio encoding and compression . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Compression tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Keyboard shortcuts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
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Chapter 3: Encoding and exporting
Sync Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Using the GoPro CineForm codec in After Effects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Custom presets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Encode and export video and audio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Managing the media cache database . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Export settings reference . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
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Chapter 1: What's new
New features summary
Updates and Enhancements | December 2014
Publish files to YouTube and Vimeo
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Last updated 12/15/2014
What's new
The latest release of Adobe Media Encoder has two new video publishing destinations, YouTube and Vimeo. The new
destinations are located under the Publish tab in the Export Settings dialog box.
Log in to YouTube and Vimeo with your username and password to upload your encoded files to these destinations.
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• To view the video after you have uploaded the video successfully, click the link in the Output File column in the
queue.
• To stop uploading a video to YouTube or Vimeo, right-click the upload in the Queue and choose Stop upload.
• Check the Delete local file after upload box to delete the files on your local drive after uploading it to YouTube or
Vi me o.
• Use the Tags field to create keywords for the uploaded videos. Include multiple keywords by separating them with
commas.
For more information about the settings available for uploading a file to YouTube and Vimeo destinations, see
the Publish settingssection.
Updated preset names for GoPro CineForm codec
In the previous release of Adobe Media Encoder, there was a mismatch between the GoPro CineForm presets and their
bit depth settings. The presets have been renamed to better match their color channel and bit depth settings. The
following presets are available for the GoPro CineForm codec:
1 GoPro CineForm RGB 12-bit with alpha at Maximum Bit Depth
2 GoPro CineForm RGB 12-bit with alpha
3 GoPro CineForm YUV 10-bit
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What's new
For more information about the presets, see the GoPro CineForm codec section.
Speech-to-text feature removed
The speech-to-text functionality has been removed from the December 2014 release of Adobe Media Encoder CC,
Premiere Pro CC, and Prelude CC.
Previous versions of Prelude CC linked movie clips with Adobe Story scripts, and then used Adobe Media Encoder for
analysis of speech-to-text conversion accuracy. This workflow is no longer available in the latest release of Adobe Media
Encoder CC.
However, the speech-to-text feature is still available in the previous versions of Adobe Media Encoder CC. To continue
to use this feature, use an earlier version of Adobe Premiere Pro or Prelude to generate the speech-to-text metadata.
If you already have sources with speech-to-text metadata generated using earlier versions of Premiere Pro or Prelude,
you can continue to use it in the same way as before in the latest version of Adobe Media Encoder.
To include the speech-to-text metadata in Adobe Media Encoder when exporting the files:
• Check the File > Preferences > General > Export Master Speech Track And Sequence Markers or
• Click the Metadata.. button in the Export Settings dialog and check the Export Master Speech Track And Sequence
Markers preference.
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See the Speech Analysis article for detailed information about the removal of this feature in Premiere Pro.
Export each channel as a separate audio file
When you export files to the Waveform Audio format, you can now export each channel as a separate mono file.
There is a new preference Export each channel as a separate audio file in the Export Settings dialog box.
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What's new
When you select an uncompressed audio codec in the Waveform Audio format, and check the new preference, each
channel from the multichannel encoding is exported into a separate mono file. For example, when you export a 4ch
audio with this option enabled, you will get four separate mono files, instead of one file containing all four channels.
See the Audio settings section under Export Settings article for information about the different audio settings in
Adobe Media Encoder.
Miscellaneous updates
New preferences
• Append preset name to file name - Appends the selected preset name to the end of the output’s file name. If you
change the name of the preset, the appended preset name will also be updated.
• Stop current item if decode errors are detected - If this preference is checked, Adobe Media Encoder stops
encoding if bad frames are detected on source import. This option is applicable only to .mxf source files. If this
preference is unchecked, which is the default, Adobe Media Encoder attempts to duplicate adjacent frames to fix the
decoding errors.
Other
• PNG image sequences now render faster.
• PAL DV 25 in MXF wrapper now encodes to DVCPRO instead of DV.
• Publishing image sequences now sends the whole sequence instead of just the first image.
• The Play chime when finished encoding preference is now off by default.
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New features and enhancements | October 2014
Upload files directly to Creative Cloud with the latest release of Adobe Media Encoder. Automatically encode After
Effects, Premiere Pro, and FCP XML files using the Watch Folder, learn about the new QuickTime and DCP presets,
and multiplex files while encoding. Read on for detailed information about the latest updates and improvements in
Adobe Media Encoder CC.
Publish files to Creative Cloud
The new Publish tab in the Export Settings panel replaces the FTP tab and can be used to upload files to an FTP server
or to Creative Cloud. All uploads are now done in parallel without blocking other encodes. The Queue panel displays
the state and progress of FTP as a new child item for an output.
For more information about the Creative Cloud destination settings, see the Publish settingssection.
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What's new
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Encode Premiere Pro and After Effects projects automatically using watch folders
You can now import and automatically encode After Effects, Premiere Pro, and Final Cut Pro (FCP) XML projects into
Adobe Media Encoder using watch folders. You can also import a file that you have created via scripting provided the
XML structure is valid.
1 Click the '+' sign in the Watch Folders panel. Browse and locate the project folder.
2 The selected folder is added to the list of watch folders.
3 Adobe Media Encoder will import the project and automatically add any sequences or compositions that are found
in the root level of the folder to the render queue.
If you move your project to a watch folder location, links to associated media can get broken especially if your watch
folder is on a network drive. Ensure that the system running Media Encoder is able to find all of the project's media.
You can also place a shortcut to your project file in the watch folder instead of moving the actual project file.
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What's new
For more information about Watch folders in Adobe Media Encoder, see the Watch folders in Adobe Media
Encodersection.
Changes to Match Source presets
When exporting video files in H.264 or MPEG-2 format, Adobe Media Encoder allows you to automatically match the
video settings of the source file using Match Source presets. Match Source functionality has been expanded to the
QuickTime, MXF OP1a, and DNxHD MXF OP1a formats. The October release of Adobe Media Encoder CC includes
new Match Source presets that lets you easily apply the new settings.
DNxHD/MXF OP1a presets
The DNxHD/MXF OP1a presets function is a little different from the traditional match source behavior. There are no
controls to do a match source on the specific parameters. Use these presets to simplify your workflow when you want
to get your media into an MXF wrapper. You do not have to choose from any settings and can use this preset directly.
The following source media are supported:
• XDCAM HD/EX
• AVC I
• XAVC
• IMX
• DV
• DNxHD
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QuickTime
QuickTime codecs can now automatically match the parameters of your source file. You can apply a QuickTime preset
and select Match Source from the Export Settings dialog.If the destination codec does not support a specific value such
as frame size, it will use the closest available.
For more information about Match Source presets, see the Export settings referencesection.
Multiplex during encoding
Adobe Media Encoder can now multiplex MPEG-2 streams while encoding the source. Previously, multiplexing was
handled in a separate step; a separate video and audio file was first created and then the individual files were
multiplexed at the end of an encode. When handling larger files, this separate multiplexing process made it seem as
though Adobe Media Encoder had frozen.
Multiplexing during encoding has the following advantages:
1 Increased encode throughput for MPEG-2.
2 Decreased disk usage.
Note: PCM audio format is not multiplexed during encode.
GoPro CineForm codec support
Note: The preset names have been updated in the Adobe Media Encoder December 2014 release. See Updated preset names
for GoPro ConeForm codec section.
There is a new GoPro Cineform codec available natively in a QuickTime wrapper that supports resolutions upto 4K and
includes alpha channel support.
Last updated 12/15/2014
What's new
There are three new GoPro CineForm Match Source presets that you can use with the QuickTime format:
1 Match Source - GoPro CineForm (YUV 8bpc)
2 Match Source - GoPro CineForm with alpha (RGB 8bpc)
3 Match Source - GoPro CineForm with alpha (RGB 16bpc)
The Video Codec setting is automatically set to GoPro CineForm when you select one of the GoPro CineForm presets.
Frame size limitations
Due to the frame size limitations, frame width sizes should be divisible by 16, and frame height sizes should be divisible
by 8, regardless of bit depth. For example, the frame size of GoPro 2.7 is 2704x1524 and hence this is currently not
supported as its width of 1524 results in a partial frame size of 95.25.
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Uncheck the Frame Rate and Aspect ratio settings to edit the settings. For unsupported sizes such as GoPro 2.7K, change
the resolution settings and down-scale to 1080,2K, or 4K or upscale to 6K.
Additional resources
Learn tutorial: GoPro CineForm intermediate codec support
Watch this video to learn about the GoPro CineForm intermediate codec designed for editing and post-
production that allows for multiple encodes of the same material with minimal loss in quality.
Last updated 12/15/2014
What's new
The following links provide more information about the GoPro CineForm codec in After Effects and Premiere Pro:
• After Effects blog
• Using the GOPro CineForm codec in Premiere Pro
• Using the GoPro CineForm codec in After Effects
For more information about video exports settings, see the Export settings referencesection.
Miscellaneous updates
• DCP 25fps support - The Wraptor DCP exporter now includes support for 25fps.
• HiDPI support - On high-resolution monitors, text and menu items can look small and can also be hard to select.
Adobe Media Encoder detects such cases and automatically adjusts the text, user interface, and layout appropriately
for the high-resolution monitors.
• Touc h s up por t - Basic touch gestures are now supported when Adobe Media Encoder is installed on touch-capable
devices such as the Microsoft Surface tablet.
• XAVC CBG - You can choose to export XAVC 2k and higher resolutions using a CBG bit rate instead of VBR.
• AS-11 improvements - AS-11 export includes support for 16 channels of audio. AS-11 is a new encoding option
that was included in the June 2014 release of Adobe Media Encoder CC. See
section for information about using the AS-11 option.
Creating AS-11 packages using DPP
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Last updated 12/15/2014
Chapter 2: Encoding quick start and basics
Overview of Adobe Media Encoder
Adobe Media Encoder functions as an encoding engine for Adobe Premiere Pro, Adobe After Effects, and Adobe
Prelude. You can also use Adobe Media Encoder as a stand-alone encoder.
For an overview of using all the features in Adobe Media Encoder, see this video by Jan Ozer.
Getting started with Adobe Media Encoder
Using Adobe Media Encoder, you can export videos to video-sharing websites like YouTube and Vimeo, devices
ranging from professional tape decks to DVD players, mobile phones, and high-definition TV sets.
Here are a few helpful resources to get you started:
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• Workflow and overview of exporting video and audio from Premiere Pro using Adobe Media Encoder
• Apply effects using Adobe Media Encoder
• Export closed captions from Premiere Pro to Adobe Media Encoder
Adobe Media Encoder workspace
There are four main panels in Adobe Media Encoder that you use while encoding your files. You can group panels as
tabs in a single frame or float them as separate panels.
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Encoding quick start and basics
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A Encoding panel B Queue panel C Preset Browser D Wat ch Fo lder
After you customize the workspace to your requirements, select Window > Workspace > New Workspace to create a
custom workspace.
Many commands in Adobe Media Encoder have keyboard shortcuts to help you complete tasks quickly, with minimal
use of the mouse. Default keyboard shortcutsfor default keyboard shortcuts in Adobe Media Encoder.
Encoding panel
The Encoding panel provides information on the status of each item being encoded.
When you encode multiple outputs simultaneously, the Encoding panel displays a thumbnail preview, progress bar, and
the completion time estimate of each encoding output. For more information, see
Parallel Encoding .
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Encoding quick start and basics
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Queue panel
You add files that you want to encode to the Queue panel. You can add source video or audio files, Adobe Premiere Pro
sequences, and Adobe After Effects compositions to a queue of items to encode. You can drag-and-drop the files into
the queue or click Add Source and select the source files to encode.
The items added to the encoding queue are encoded when you start the queue. You can instruct Adobe Media Encoder
to start encoding after you add an item to the queue, or wait until you decide to start encoding. You can also set a
preference to begin the encoding when the specified amount of time has elapsed after a new item is added to the
encoding queue.
You can add, remove, or reorder items in the queue panel. For more information, see Add and manage items in the
encoding queue
After adding video and audio items to the encoding queue, you can apply additional presets using the Preset Browser
or adjust output settings in the Export Settings dialog box. For more information,
Encode and export video and audio.
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Encoding quick start and basics
Preset Browser
The Preset Browser provides you with options that help streamline your workflow in Adobe Media Encoder.
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System presets in the browser are organized as categories based on their use (such as Broadcast, Web Video) and device
destination (such as DVD, Blu-ray, Camera, Tablet). You can modify these presets to create custom presets, also called
User Presets.
In the Preset Browser, you can quickly find a preset using search, or using the enhanced navigation provided by the
collapsible folder structure. For more information on the Preset Browser,
Using the Preset Browser
For more information on encoding using presets, see Custom presets.
Watch Folder
Any folder on your hard drive can be designated as a Watch Folder. Once you select your Watch Folder, any files that
you add into the folder are encoded using the selected presets. Adobe Media Encoder automatically detects media files
being added to the Watch Folder and starts the encoding.
For more information, see Add a Watch folder to the encoding queue .
To export a single source into multiple outputs using Watch Folders, see this video from video2brain.
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Encoding quick start and basics
Encoding quick start
To encode a video or audio item, add the item to the encoding queue in Adobe Media Encoder, and then select
encoding presets or custom settings. You can instruct the application to start encoding after you add an item to the
queue, or you can tell the application to wait until you decide to start encoding.
Add an item to the encoding queue - Drag video or audio files into the queue in Adobe Media Encoder. For more
information, see
Encode the item using presets - Select formats and presets from the Format and Presets pop-up menus with the item
in the queue. For more information, see
Encode the item using custom settings - Select the item and select Edit > Export Settings, and then choose your
settings. For more information, see
Start the encoding - Click the Start Queue button.
To start encoding items in the queue automatically (or to turn off the feature), select or deselect the Start Queue
Automatically When Idle For option in the Preferences dialog box. For more information, see the
Add and manage items in the encoding queue .
Encode using presets.
Encode using custom settings.
Preferencesarticle.
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Using the Preset Browser
The Preset Browser provides you with options that help streamline your workflow in Adobe Media Encoder.
To learn more about using the preset browser, see this video from video2brain.
System presets
System presets in the browser are organized as categories based on their use (such as Broadcast, Web Video) and device
destination (such as DVD, Blu-ray, Camera, Tablet). You can modify these presets to create custom presets, also called
User Presets.
In the Preset Browser, you can quickly find a preset using search, or using the enhanced navigation provided by the
collapsible folder structure.
Custom presets, preset groups, and aliases
You can modify system presets to create custom presets. For more information about creating custom presets, see
Custom presets
You can organize custom presets in separate folders called as preset groups. Preset groups allow you to apply multiple
presets to a source in a single step.
Aliases allow you to create multiple instances of a preset for use in multiple preset groups.
For example, if you want a preset to exist in more than one preset group, create aliases to the preset instead of
duplicating it. Then, add the aliases to other preset groups. When you edit the preset, the changes are applied to all its
aliases.
Managing Presets
To manage presets, use the Preset menu or the options in The Preset Browser (Window>Preset Browser). You can also
right-click a preset in the Preset Browser to view the context menu for the available options.
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Encoding quick start and basics
A Custom preset B Preset group C Create new preset D Delete preset E Create new preset group F Preset settings G Import presets H Export
presets I
Search for presets
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Create presets, preset groups, and aliases
Preset Groups can contain user presets, aliases to presets, or other preset groups.
• Select Preset > Create Preset to create a preset.
• Select Preset > Create Group to create a preset group.
• To create a preset alias, right-click the preset in the Preset Browser, and select Create Alias.
• To quickly create an alias to a system preset, drag the system preset to the User Presets and Groups section.
• To quickly create an alias to a user preset, Alt -drag (Win) or Opt - drag (Mac OS) the user preset to a preset group.
Modify user presets
• To rename a preset, click the name of a selected preset. Type a name for the preset and press Enter. Alternatively,
select Preset > Rename to rename a preset.
• To modify preset settings, select a preset, and select Preset > Settings.
• To delete a preset, select the preset and press Delete. Alternatively, select Preset > Delete.
Note: Only custom presets can be edited. Changes to system presets can be saved as new user presets by clicking the Save A
Copy button in the Preset Settings dialog.
Show the location of a preset in Finder or Explorer
Right-click the preset in the Preset Browser and select Reveal Preset File.
Quickly find a preset in the browser
As you type in the search field , the Preset Browser filters the preset list to match your search string. All columns are
scanned for matching results.
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Encoding quick start and basics
Import and export presets
Presets can be imported and exported as EPR files. EPR files are saved in the XML format.
• Select Preset > Import to import EPR files. Imported presets appear in the User Presets and Groups section.
• Select Preset > Export to export selected presets as EPR files.
Note: You can also drag-and-drop EPR files on an existing preset (User Presets and Groups only) in the Preset Browser to
import them.
Apply presets or preset groups to the Queue
• Drag presets, preset groups, or aliases from the Preset Browser and drop them on sources or outputs in the Queue.
• Dropping a preset on a source adds an output to the source.
• Dropping a preset on an existing output replaces the settings of the output with the settings of the preset.
• To add an output to the source, drag a source from the Queue to a preset, preset group, or alias in the Preset Browser.
• To replace the settings of the output with the settings of the preset, drag an output from the Queue to a preset, preset
group, or alias in the Preset Browser.
• Select a source in the Queue and double-click a preset, preset group, or alias in the Preset Browser.
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• Select a source in the Queue. Select presets, preset groups, or aliases selected in the Preset Browser. Click Apply
Preset.
To apply presets to sources in the Queue, do one of the following:
Apply presets or preset groups to Watch Folders
To apply presets to watch folders in the Watch Folders panel, do one of the following:
• Drag presets, preset groups, or aliases from the Preset Browser and drop them on watch folders or outputs in the
Watch Folde r s p a nel.
• Dropping presets on a watch folder adds new outputs to the watch folder.
• Dropping presets on an existing output replaces the settings of the output with the settings of the preset.
• To add an output to the watch folder, drag a watch folder from the Watch Folders panel to a preset, preset group, or
alias in the Preset Browser.
• To replace the settings of the output with the settings of the preset, drag an output from the Watch Folders panel to
a preset, preset group, or alias in the Preset Browser.
• Select a watch folder in the Watch Folders panel. Alt + double-click (Win) or Opt + double-click (Mac) a preset,
preset group, or alias in the Preset Browser.
• Select a watch folder in the Watch Folders panel. Select presets, preset groups, or aliases in the Preset Browser. Alt
+ click (Win) or Opt + click (Mac) the Apply Preset button.
Apply presets to Premiere Pro sequences, After Effects compositions, and media assets during import
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