AAUG Reviews

by Tom Shackle, AAUG Member

Episode Encoder is a professional software solution for easily converting (transcoding) digital files from one format to another, and more.

The reality of the digital world is that there is not a single standard for either video or audio. MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MPEG-4, XDCam, Windows Media, Flash 7, Flash 8, Flash 9, H.263, H.264, VC-1, AVI, DV, HDV, DVCPro, DNxHD, RealMedia, PCM, ACC, MP3, AIFF, is a medium size list of formats out there. All have their purpose. Some formats are intended for master recording, others for postproduction (editing), and many are for digital content distribution.

With the proliferation of portable digital video-capable appliances (iPod, iTouch, iPhone, and yes, the Zune and others) not everything gets distributed full screen these days. In fact, many films and videos today get released in a variety of screen sizes and resolutions, depending on whether they will be viewed on high definition Blu-Ray disc, DVD, or the Web. Even cinematic movies, and their trailers, are being sized for the portable small screens. As well, some websites give a choice of different screen sizes, catering to the speed of a user’s Internet connection. Examples are the hilarious TV ads “I’m a Mac/I’m a PC” are placed on the Apple website. http://www.apple.com/getamac/ads

Episode Encoder addresses the myriad of output formats and screen size choices with a broad selection of built-in encoding presets. If a user is not content with that array, they can make custom adjustments for data rates and screen sizes, and save this information as new presets.

A key feature of Episode Encoder is batch processing, so that digital transcoding does not have to be done one file at a time. You can also apply multiple output choices to any digital file placed in the Job Batch window (pictured). Then click on the “Start Encoding” arrow, and go do something else while the transcoding chugs away in the background. The time for completion will depend on the speed of your computer, the number of files, and the number of applied presets.

Included on the Episode Encoder 5.2.1 installation disc is a plug-in for Compressor 3, a utility bundled with Apple’s Final Cut Studio professional software suite. Similar to Episode, Compressor is also designed for transcoding. It can be accessed through Final Cut editing, or Compressor can function as a standalone application. The plug-in from Telestream allows a video sent to Compressor to then have many of Episode’s encoding presets available in the mix of output choices. Episode does not need to be launched in order for some of its presets to be available in Compressor.

That said, there is another technique that bypasses Compressor 3, and then offers all of the Episode Encoder presets. It starts by first exporting a reference Quicktime movie from Final Cut Pro. A reference movie does not contain all of the digital information needed for distribution, but it has enough data in it to represent the movie and be accepted by Episode. A reference movie is also much smaller in file size than a full Quicktime video, and outputs from Final Cut with less waiting time. After a reference movie is made, it gets dropped into Episode’s batch processing window, given the desired presets or user settings, and encoding can begin.

As a media professional, I need software transcoding tools to meet the hard to predict challenges of production work. Whether it is converting legacy videos from an incompatible digital format to match new project video, or creating distribution copies for desktop, disc, or the Web, these kinds of software tools prove vital.

Episode Encoder can handle most any transcoding assignment. Prior to receiving a review copy, I had been transcoding with Quicktime Pro, Compressor, and the neglected AutoDesk Cleaner 6.5, depending on the capabilities or limits of those applications. There was no “one-stop shop”. With Episode, it appears I can consolidate my transcoding needs into one easy to use software utility. Telestream also offers a next step up with Episode Encoder Pro ($995) which has several more encoding presets and further adjustments.

For this review Episode Encoder 5.2.1 ran well on a two-year old 17” MacBook Pro with 4GB of RAM, and OS X 10.5.8 installed.

System requirements:

• Intel-based Mac or Apple PowerPC G5
• Mac OS X 10.4, or higher
• Quicktime Player 7, or higher
• Final Cut Pro 6 (for Episode’s Compressor plug-in)
• Minimum 1GB of RAM
• 20GB of hard drive

More information about Episode Encoder:

http://www.telestream.net/episode/episode-desktop.htm?product-headline

Tom Shackle is a writer, and an Alaska-based multimedia professional

A key feature of Episode Encoder is batch processing, so that digital transcoding does not have to be done one file at a time. You can also apply multiple output choices to any digital file placed in the Job Batch window (pictured). Then click on the “Start Encoding” arrow, and go do something else while the transcoding chugs away in the background. The time for completion will depend on the speed of your computer, the number of files, and the number of applied presets.

Included on the Episode Encoder 5.2.1 installation disc is a plug-in for Compressor 3, a utility bundled with Apple’s Final Cut Studio professional software suite. Similar to Episode, Compressor is also designed for transcoding. It can be accessed through Final Cut editing, or Compressor can function as a standalone application. The plug-in from Telestream allows a video sent to Compressor to then have many of Episode’s encoding presets available in the mix of output choices. Episode does not need to be launched in order for some of its presets to be available in Compressor.

That said, there is another technique that bypasses Compressor 3, and then offers all of the Episode Encoder presets. It starts by first exporting a reference Quicktime movie from Final Cut Pro. A reference movie does not contain all of the digital information needed for distribution, but it has enough data in it to represent the movie and be accepted by Episode. A reference movie is also much smaller in file size than a full Quicktime video, and outputs from Final Cut with less waiting time. After a reference movie is made, it gets dropped into Episode’s batch processing window, given the desired presets or user settings, and encoding can begin.

As a media professional, I need software transcoding tools to meet the hard to predict challenges of production work. Whether it is converting legacy videos from an incompatible digital format to match new project video, or creating distribution copies for desktop, disc, or the Web, these kinds of software tools prove vital.

Episode Encoder can handle most any transcoding assignment. Prior to receiving a review copy, I had been transcoding with Quicktime Pro, Compressor, and the neglected AutoDesk Cleaner 6.5, depending on the capabilities or limits of the those applications. There was no “one-stop shop”. With Episode, it appears I can consolidate my transcoding needs into one easy to use software utility. Telestream also offers a next step up with Episode Encoder Pro ($995) which has several more encoding presets and further adjustments.

For this review Episode Encoder 5.2.1 ran well on a two-year old 17” MacBook Pro with 4GB of RAM, and OS X 10.5.8 installed.

System requirements:

• Intel-based Mac or Apple PowerPC G5
• Mac OS X 10.4, or higher
• Quicktime Player 7, or higher
• Final Cut Pro 6 (for Episode’s Compressor plug-in)
• Minimum 1GB of RAM
• 20GB of hard drive

More information about Episode Encoder:

http://www.telestream.net/episode/episode-desktop.htm?product-headline

Tom Shackle is a writer, and an Alaska-based multimedia professional