Submitting a Final Cut Pro Project for Transcoding:
You can use Compressor to improve the transcoding process for your Final Cut Pro
projects. For example, you can transcode your Final Cut Pro project without rendering
it. This avoids a potentially time-consuming step depending on how many transitions,
filters, and video effects have been applied to your project, and also results in no
generational loss of the content from your source media files. This process also
eliminates one step from the earlier transcoding workflow which involved exporting
from Final Cut Pro to QuickTime and then to a compression application. Now, you can
directly export from Final Cut Pro to Compressor.

Depending on its file size, a Final Cut Pro project that is transcoded only on your
computer could significantly affect your computer's performance.

Note: Transcoding a Final Cut Pro project doesn't actually create a rendered project,
although the transcoded output media file does have all the rendered effects applied. If
you want to continue working on the project within Final Cut Pro, you need to render it
in Final Cut Pro.

To transcode a Final Cut Pro project:
1. Open the project you want to transcode in Final Cut Pro.
2. Use one of the following methods to select the project for transcoding
in Final Cut Pro:
• In the Browser, select the sequence you want to transcode.
• Make the Timeline the active window by clicking in it.
3. Save your Final Cut Pro project and give it an appropriate name.
4. Choose File > Export > Using Compressor.

A progress dialog appears, indicating that the files are being submitted for transcoding.
Compressor opens with the selected media file (the Final Cut Pro project) in the Batch
table of the Batch window. The project name appears in the Source Media column with
0 entries in the Setting column.

5. Assign settings and destinations to the source media file as necessary.

Settings Tab
You use the Settings tab in the Presets window together with the Inspector window to
create and modify settings, decide exactly which settings you want to use to transcode
your source media file, and which output format you want the transcoded file
converted to.

The Settings tab contains the Settings table (which displays existing settings), and
buttons to create, remove, and duplicate settings and groups (folders), as well as a
button to create Droplets.

Choosing a Pre-Existing Setting
Compressor comes with a number of pre-existing (Apple) settings and destinations
that you can use as soon as you have installed Compressor. If these presets meet your
transcoding needs, you don't have to create new presets or modify existing ones.

You can either choose a pre-existing (Apple) setting from the pop-up menu in the Setting
column of the Batch table. You can repeat this step as often as you want to assign
multiple settings to a source media file.

Or you can select one or more source media files and choose a setting from the Settings
menu in the Compressor menu bar. Using this method, you can assign one setting to
multiple source media files at the same time.

Or you can drag-select all source media files in the Batch table and, while keeping the
mouse button down, position the pointer over the Setting pop-up icon to open the
menu.You can then choose a single setting to assign to all the source media files.

Or you can open the Settings tab of the Presets
window and drag one or more settings or setting
groups to the intended source media file in the Batch
table. This method is most useful when you want to
quickly apply multiple settings to a source media file,
producing a variety of output file formats. When
dragging a setting group, all settings in the group are
automatically applied to the source.

Destinations Tab
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.

Choose a pre-existing destination from the pop-up
menu in the Destination column of the Batch table.

Or you can drag the destination from the Destinations tab of the Presets window to a
source file's setting in the Batch table (a setting must be assigned to the source media
file first).

You can always change the destination again, by dragging another destination to the
same setting.

Select one or more source file settings to set the destination for, then choose the
destination from the Destination menu in the menu bar. You can change destinations
as often as you like.

Note: You can also assign a temporary destination by choosing Other. This opens the
File Selection dialog and allows you to create a new destination for just that batch
submission. This destination preset is not saved and only applies to the submitted batch.

 

6. Click the Submit button in the Batch window.
Compressor begins transcoding the Final Cut Pro project and then closes.
You can open the Batch Monitor to view the transcoding status of your Final Cut Pro
project.

Note: Final Cut Pro needs to remain open throughout this process, because much of
the transcoding preparation of the frames occurs within Final Cut Pro rather than
within Compressor. Also, you cannot continue working in Final Cut Pro until the
transcode is completed.

 

Source: Apple's Compressor 2 User Manual

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