Macromedia Media Encoder - CC User Guide

Adobe® Media Encoder

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Last updated 11/30/2015

Contents

Chapter 1: What's new

New features summary

Chapter 2: Encoding quick start and basics

Overview of Adobe Media Encoder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

Using the Preset Browser

Add and manage items in the encoding queue

File formats supported for import

Working with log files

About video and audio encoding and compression

Default keyboard shortcuts

Compression tips

File formats supported for export

Preferences

Keyboard shortcuts

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iii

Chapter 3: Encoding and exporting

ync preferences and settings

Using the GoPro CineForm codec in After Effects

Export settings reference

Custom presets

Encode and export video and audio

Managing the media cache database

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Chapter 1: What's new

New features summary

Expanded 4K format support

Bring 4K UHD content to the web with H.265 video at up to 60% smaller file sizes than comparable H.264 material. Open or render 4K content with new support for DNxHR and XAVC LongGOP files.

For more information, see File formats supported for export .

Publish to FaceBook

You can now easily publish your content to Facebook and showcase your work on that platform, or promote projects as part of social media campaigns.

For more information, see Export Settings Reference .

New Time Interpolation setting

Use the ne w Optical Flow time interpolation setting to change the frame rate of the exported file by leveraging optical flow to interpolate the missing frames.

The time interpolation settings are now part of a single Tim e Int erp olati on menu. In this menu, you can choose from the following settings:

• Frame Sampling: duplicates or removes frames as needed to speed or slow your footage.

• Frame Blending: duplicates or removes frames as needed to speed or slow your footage and blends between the

frames to make it look smoother.

• Optical Flow: duplicates or removes frames as needed to speed or slow your footage and interpolates new frames

in between to achieve smoothest possible motion.

The functionality of the Frame Sampling and the Frame Blending settings is the same as in the previous release. The Optical Flow setting is new in this release.

For more information, see Time interpolation settings.

Improved image sequence workflows

Automate rendering for image sequences from After Effects (and other 3D apps), including new support for OpenEXR. Streamline your workflow for frame-based content and offload rendering so that you can continue working in After Effects.

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What's new

Automatic Loudness correction

Ensure your video projects meet broadcast standards for Loudness with automatic adjustments applied to your renders.

For more information, see Automatic loudness correction .

MXF channelization

Ensure that you meet changing broadcast content requirements with flexible MXF channelization. Export audio channels within single or multiple tracks.

IRT compliance

Ensure that your content meets German broadcast standards with new IRT compliance.

For more information, see IRT Compliance .

New HDR to SDR conversion filter

Convert your HDR video to SDR for playback on non-HDR devices.

For more information, see Video exports settin g s .

Usability refinements

Increase your efficiency with the usability refinements in this release including more direct access to the Video Limiter and a new export progress indicator in the application icon on your dock.

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Chapter 2: Encoding quick start and basics

verview of Adobe Media Encoder

Adobe Media Encoder functions as an encoding engine for Adobe Premiere Pro, Adobe After Effects, and Adobe

lude. You can also use Adobe Media Encoder as a stand-alone encoder.

Pre

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 from professional tape

decks to DVD players, mobile phones, and high-definition TV sets.

YouTube and Vimeo, devices ranging

Additional resources

• 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

• See this blog on Adobe Video Applications that includes a video on the Destination Publishing feature with 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

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

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

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Encoding quick start and basics

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.

Preset Browser

The Preset Browser provides you with options that help streamline your workflow in Adobe Media Encoder.

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,

For more information on encoding using presets, see Custom presets.

Using the Preset Browser

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 .

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Encoding quick start and basics

To export a single source into multiple outputs using Watch Folders, see this video from video2brain.

test

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

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

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.

• 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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Encoding quick start and basics

Apply presets to Adobe Premiere Pro sequences

Note: This procedure is the only way to add multiple presets to Adobe Premiere Pro sequences in a single step. The Export Settings dialog in Adobe Premiere Pro allows you to apply single presets when exporting sequences to Adobe Media Encoder.

Drag a sequence from the Project panel of an open Adobe Premiere Pro project and drop it on a preset, alias, or preset group in the Preset Browser.

Apply presets to After Effects compositions

Drag a composition from the Project panel of an open After Effects project to a preset, preset group, or alias in the Preset Browser.

Apply presets to video and audio assets

Drag video and audio assets from Finder or Windows Explorer and drop them on a preset, preset group, or alias in the Preset Browser.

Important considerations when applying presets

• Dropping a single preset on an output replaces the output. The new outputs inherit the output path, output name,

and source range settings from the targeted output

• Dropping a single preset on a source adds an output.

• Dropping a preset group (or multiple selected presets) on an output adds outputs. The new outputs inherit the

output path, output name, and source range settings from the targeted output.

• Dropping a preset group (or multiple selected presets) on a source adds outputs. Settings such as output path from

existing outputs are not inherited.

Add and manage items in the encoding queue

The encoding process

To encode a video or audio item, add the item to the encoding queue in Adobe Media Encoder, and then select encoding presets or create your own 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.

Encode the item using presets - Select formats and presets from the Format and Presets pop-up menus with the item

in the queue. Or choose a preset from the Preset Browser and drag it to any item in the Queue. For more information,

Encode using presets.

see

Encode the item using custom settings - Select the item and select Edit > Export Settings, and then choose your settings. For more information, see

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

Encode using custom settings.

Preferencesarticle.

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Encoding quick start and basics

Import items into the encoding queue

• To add video or audio files, do one of the following:

• Drag one more files into the queue.

• Click the Add Source button and choose one or more files.

• Double-click an open area in the Queue panel and choose one or more files.

• To add a Adobe Premiere Pro sequence, do one of the following:

• Choose File > Add Premiere Pro Sequence, select a Premiere Pro project, and select one or more sequences from

that project.

• Drag-and-drop a sequence from the Project panel in Adobe Premiere Pro into the queue.

• Drag-and-drop a Premiere Pro project from the desktop on the Queue.

• To add an Adobe After Effects composition, do one of the following:

• choose File > Add After Effects Composition, select an After Effects project, and select a composition from that

project.

• Drag-and-drop a composition from the Project panel in After Effects into the queue.

• Drag-and-drop an After Effects project from the desktop on the Queue.

Stop encoding

• Choose File > Stop Current File to stop encoding the current item. Adobe Media Encoder continues encoding the

remaining items in the Queue.

• Choose File > Stop Queue to stop encoding all items in the Queue.

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Encoding quick start and basics

Interpret items in the encoding queue

When Adobe Media Encoder imports a video asset, it attempts to determine the pixel aspect ratio, frame rate, and field order for that asset, as well as how to interpret the alpha channel (transparency) information. If Adobe Media Encoder is wrong about any of these characteristics, you can explicitly assign the correct interpretation.

1 Select one or more items in the encoding queue.

2 Choose File > Interpret Footage. You can also right click on the file and choose > Interpret Footage

3 Choose the appropriate interpretation settings.

Watch folders in Adobe Media Encoder

You can configure Adobe Media Encoder to look for files in certain folders called watch folders. When Adobe Media Encoder finds a video or audio file in a watch folder, it encodes the file using the encoding settings assigned to the folder, and then exports the encoded file to an Output folder created inside the watch folder.

The Watch Folders panel in In Adobe Media Encoder can be used to add and manage folders. You can add a watch folder in one of the following ways:

1 Choose File > Add Watch Folder and select a folder.

2 Double-click an empty area in the Watch Folders panel and select a folder.

3 Create a folder in Explorer (Windows) or Finder (Mac OS), and then drag it to the Watch Folders panel.

You can see the name of the folder in the left column of the Watch Folders panel after you have created it.

The items added to the encoding queue by the watch folder will be encoded along with other items in the queue when you start the queue.

Note: If you have the “start queue automatically when idle for” preference selected, encoding begins when the specified amount of time has elapsed after the watch folder has added a new item to the encoding queue.

Keep the Auto-Encode Watch Folders checkbox enabled to automatically encode items as soon as they are added to the watch folder.

Adding presets

You can choose a format and preset from the pop-up menus in the watch folder next to the folder name. Or drag a preset to the watch folder from the preset browser.

Create output in multiple formats from a single source item using watch folders

You can generate multiple outputs with a single operation by using watch folders. For example, you want to generate an AVI movie, and a JPEG thumbnail image whenever you transcode a video asset. Follow these steps to create these files with a single user operation:

1 Create a folder using Explorer (Windows) or Finder (Macintosh) called, “My_WatchFolder,” for example.

2 Create a new watch folder by clicking the Add Folder button, and then navigate to the folder you just made,

“My_Watchfolder.”

a Select “MPEG” as the format from the Format menu.

b Select a preset from the Preset pop-up Menu, and then click OK.

c Click on “Output To.” Select a location where you would like the result to be generated.

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Encoding quick start and basics

3 Create a new Watch Folder item that also points to the folder “My_Watchfolder,” just like you created in Step 2.

a Select “AVI” as the format from the Format menu.

b Select a preset from the Preset Menu, and then click OK.

c Click on “Output To.” Select a location where you would like the result to be generated.

4 Create a new Watch Folder item that also points to the folder “My_Watchfolder,” just like you created in Step 2 and

Step 3.

a Select “JPEG” as the format from the Format menu.

b Select a preset from the Preset Menu, and then click OK.

c Click on “Output To.” Select a location where you would like the result to be generated.

5 Drag and drop the source file into “My_WatchFolder,” and then click the Start Queue button. The encoding process

begins automatically if Auto-Encode Watch Folders is enabled.

When complete, each file will be in its expected output locations.

Note: The preset should be custom and have Export As Sequence unchecked. This will only export the first frame of the video, which is often black.

Note: Still Image Sequences are not supported as source footage through Watch Folders. If a set of still images is placed in the folder being watched, each individual still file will be added as a separate item to the Queue rather than than the entire sequence as a single piece of footage.

Save the encoding queue

The encoding queue and all encoding settings are saved automatically when you exit Adobe Media Encoder.

The encoding queue is also saved automatically when a user starts an encode.

To manually save the encoding queue, choose File > Save Queue.

Note: Turn off the Preferences > Remove completed files from the queue on exit checkbox if you want to keep completed encoded items in the Queue when you close and restart Adobe Media Encoder.

Remove items from the encoding queue

1 Select the item, or items that you want to remove from the encoding queue.

2 Click the Remove button, choose Edit > Clear, or press the Delete key.

Duplicate items in the encoding queue

1 Select the item, or items that you want to duplicate in the encoding queue.

2 Do one of the following:

• Click the Duplicate button, choose Edit > Duplicate

• Press Ctrl-D (Windows), or Command-D (Mac OS)

• Right-click the file and choose Edit > Duplicate.

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Encoding quick start and basics

Skip items in the encoding queue

Skip items

1 Select the item, or items that you want to skip in the encoding queue.

2 Choose Edit > Skip Selection or you can right-click the file and choose Edit > Skip Selection.

Reset a skipped file for encoding

1 Select the items in the encoding queue that you want to reset to the Ready state.

2 Choose Edit > Reset Status or you can also right-click the file and choose Edit > Reset Status.

File formats supported for import

Some filename extensions—such as MOV, AVI, MXF, and FLV—denote container file formats rather than denoting a specific audio, video, or image data format. Container files can contain data encoded using various compression and encoding schemes. Adobe Media Encoder can import these container files, but the ability to import the data that they contain is dependent on which codecs (specifically, decoders) are installed.

By installing additional codecs, you can extend the ability of Adobe Media Encoder to import additional file types. Many codecs must be installed into the operating system and work as a component inside the QuickTime or Video for Windows formats. Contact the manufacturer of your hardware or software for more information about codecs that work with the files that your specific devices or applications create.

Video and animation formats

• 3GP

• Animated GIF (GIF) (Windows only)

• DV (in MOV or AVI container, or as a containerless DV stream)

• FLV, F4V

Note: The FLV and F4V formats are container formats, each of which is associated with a set of video and audio formats. F4V files generally contain video data that is encoded using an H.264 video codec and the AAC audio codec. FLV files generally contain video data that is encoded using the On2 VP6 or Sorenson Spark codec and audio data encoded using an MP3 audio codec. Adobe Media Encoder, however, can import FLV files using the On2 VP6 video codec, not the Sorenson Spark codec.

• QuickTime movie (MOV; on Windows, requires QuickTime player)

• MPEG-1, MPEG-2, and MPEG-4 formats (MPEG, MPE, MPG, M2V, MPA, MP2, M2A, MPV, M2P, M2T, MTS,

AC3, MP4, M4V, M4A, VOB, 3GP, AVC, h.264)

Note: Several formats associated with specific modern cameras use MPEG-4 encoding. For example, the XDCAM EX format uses MP4 files, and the AVCHD format uses MTS files.

• Media eXchange Format (MXF)

• MXF OP1a

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Macromedia Media Encoder - CC User Guide

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual