,

Tip #1550: Use Nesting to Add Power to Watch Folders

… for Codecs & Media

Tip #1550: Use Nesting to Add Power to Watch Folders

Larry Jordan – LarryJordan.com

Adobe Media Encoder Watch folders are flexible, useful & easy.

The Adobe Media Encoder logo.

Topic $TipTopic

Adobe Media Encoder (AME) supports creating nested watch folders, which is a great way to perform multiple actions at once.

A Watch Folder is an automated way to compress (or transcode, actually) any media file using AME with settings that you apply to the Watch Folder itself.

Here’s a tutorial I wrote that explains how to create a simple watch folder setup, then extends that into nested watch folders which can accomplish multiple compression tasks automatically and hands-free.

NOTE: Here’s the link.

EXTRA CREDIT

You can also program AME to automatically transfer compressed files to a website when compression is complete. We used this feature a LOT during our live coverage of NAB for the Digital Production Buzz.

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Tip #1551: Create Still or Moving Watermarks

… for Codecs & Media

Tip #1551: Create Still or Moving Watermarks

Larry Jordan – LarryJordan.com

Apple Compressor creates still or moving watermarks easily.

The Apple Compressor logo.

Topic $TipTopic

[ I discovered this tip while researching a recent PowerUP webinar illustrating Media Compression in Apple Compressor. ]

In this four-minute video tutorial, I illustrate how to use Apple Compressor to add either still or moving watermarks to a video during compression.

I use watermarks for all my posted videos. While I create watermarks using stills, the opportunity to embed an animated logo is equally easy.

NOTE: Here’s the link.

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Tip #1516: What is FFmpeg?

… for Codecs & Media

Tip #1516: What is FFmpeg?

Larry Jordan – LarryJordan.com

FFmpeg: Open-source transcoding software for the media industry.

Topic $TipTopic

Underlying many popular transcoding or media viewer applications, like VLC Player or Handbrake, is FFmpeg.

FFmpeg is a free and open-source software project consisting of a large suite of libraries and programs for handling video, audio, and other multimedia files and streams. At its core is the FFmpeg program itself, designed for command-line-based processing of video and audio files.

FFmpeg is part of the workflow of hundreds of other software projects, and its libraries are a core part of software media players such as VLC, and has been included in core processing for YouTube and iTunes. Codecs for the encoding and/or decoding of most audio and video file formats is included, making it highly useful for the transcoding of common and uncommon media files into a single common format.

NOTE: One of the license stipulations to using FFmpeg is that it can not be sold, it can only be given away. And, it can’t be bundled with any transcoding software that is sold.

You may not have used it directly because it can only be accessed via the command line in Terminal. But numerous applications exist to provide a front-end to FFmpeg.

Examples include:

  • Handbrake
  • ffWorks
  • VLC Media Player
  • Blender
  • Google Chrome
  • Plex
  • and many, many others.

Wikipedia link

FFmpeg website: link

EXTRA CREDIT

It should be noted that Apple has issues with FFmpeg:

In some instances, unauthorized codec implementations have been used in third-party software and hardware products. Using any unauthorized implementation (such as FFmpeg and derivative implementations) might lead to decoding errors, performance degradation, incompatibility, and instability.

Apple link

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Tip #1521: Use FFmpeg to Create HEVC Files for iPhones

… for Codecs & Media

Tip #1521: Use FFmpeg to Create HEVC Files for iPhones

Larry Jordan – LarryJordan.com

FFmpeg is the Swiss Army knife of media compression.

Topic $TipTopic

This gets pretty geeky. Why? Because this command line tweak describes how to use FFmpeg for HEVC compression that plays on iOS devices.

One of the benefits of using HEVC, especially for videos we don’t plan to edit, is the small file size this codec creates.

This is very helpful for storing media on mobile devices where storage is frequently limited. The problem is that FFmpeg, by default, creates HEVC files which won’t play on an iOS device.

The fix, as Aaron K. reported is changing a command line tag – either before or after encoding – that fixes this problem.

Here’s a link to all the specific details.

EXTRA CREDIT

What is especially useful about this technique is that it can be applied after a file is compressed as well as process a group of files stored in a folder.

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Tip #1522: Salvaging Dead Codecs: LibreOffice

… for Codecs & Media

Tip #1522: Salvaging Dead Codecs: LibreOffice

Larry Jordan – LarryJordan.com

LibreOffice, unlike Apple’s apps, can convert decodes old text and images.

LibreOffice logo

Topic $TipTopic

I’ve been creating files on computers for a long, long time. One of the challenges is opening files that are decades old created with dead codecs. Here’s an invaluable application that can help solve this problem.

LibreOffice, unlike Apple’s current applications, can convert decades old images and text into something readable today. LibreOffice is free, open-source and continually evolving – without losing track of its past.

I find this software especially useful for AppleWorks/ClarisWorks files and older PICT (.pct and .pic) image files.

Once opened, LibreOffice can convert a file into a PDF, which simplifies preserving history for the future.

LibreOffice link

EXTRA CREDIT

As a quick side-trip, here’s a short history of PICT files – the original Mac graphics format.

Here’s a Wikipedia article with a quick history of the PICT file format.

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Tip #1502: Media Encoder Supports More Codecs

… for Codecs & Media

Tip #1502: Media Encoder Supports More Codecs

Larry Jordan – LarryJordan.com

Adobe continues to increase its support for HDR.

Topic $TipTopic

With the release of the 2021 update to Adobe Media Encoder, AME now supports more codecs.

Specifically, AME added support for:

  • ARRI Alexa Mini LF (ARRIRAW) footage Adobe Media Encoder now offers a comprehensive, cross-platform (Windows and macOS) solution for workflows, from camera media through to delivery.

Here’s a link to all of AME’s supported codecs.

In January, Adobe took another step in its move to support HDR media more extensively throughout all its applications. The default working color space and Gamma curve has been modified for all RED files.

File type Default working space in older versions of Adobe Media Encoder Default working space in Adobe Media Encoder version 14.8 and later
Red files Color space: Rec 709 Color space: RedWideGamutRGB
Gamma curve- BT.1886 Gamma curve: Log3G10
Komodo files Color space: Rec 709 Color space: RedWideGamutRGB
Gamma curve- Log3G10 Gamma curve: Log3G10

NOTE: All old projects continue to have the previous settings and are not impacted by this change. You can choose to change the colour space and Gamma space as per your requirements.

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Tip #1506: M1 Macs Accelerate 10-bit HEVC Compression

… for Codecs & Media

Tip #1506: M1 Macs Accelerate 10-bit HEVC Compression

Larry Jordan – LarryJordan.com

HDR requires 10-bit codecs and hardware acceleration.

Key settings in Apple Compressor to enable hardware-accelerated HEVC 10-bit compression.

Topic $TipTopic

I spent this last week learning more about the media capabilities of the M1 Mac.

The new M1 chip from Apple (part of the three new Macs launched last week) can accelerate encoding H.264, 8-bit HEVC, and 10-bit HEVC using hardware. This vastly speeds compression of these codecs.

NOTE: HDR media requires using a 10-bit codec, which is why compressing 10-bit HEVC quickly is important.

To enable 10-bit compression in Apple Compressor:

  • Create a new setting using the MPEG-4 category.
  • Change Codec to HEVC (top red arrow)
  • Set Encoder Type to Faster (this enables hardware acceleration)
  • Set Profile to 10-bit (this is bit-depth is required for HDR.
  • Be sure Multi-pass is disabled (Multi-pass disables hardware acceleration)

NOTE: Hardware acceleration for 10-bit HEVC is also possible for any Mac that has a T-2 chip.

EXTRA CREDIT

Here’s a tutorial on configuring an M1 Mac for video editing.

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Tip #1507: Enable Hardware Acceleration in AME

… for Codecs & Media

Tip #1507: Enable Hardware Acceleration in AME

Larry Jordan – LarryJordan.com

Hardware acceleration for 10-bit HEVC is possible – but requires a very recent computer.

Hardware acceleration settings for HEVC in Adobe Media Encoder.

Topic $TipTopic

Adobe Media Encoder (AME) takes advantage of hardware acceleration for compression that is built into recent Macs. Here’s how to turn it on.

HEVC hardware acceleration for 8-bit media requires a relatively recent Mac. (My 2017 iMac supports accelerating 8-bit, but not 10-bit.) However, HEVC hardware acceleration for 10-bit media, which is required for HDR files, requires a Mac with either a T2 or M1 chip.

NOTE: The T2 chip first appeared in 2018 in MacBooks and 2019 in iMacs.

Assuming you have the right chips in your computer, hardware encoding is enabled in AME via compression settings.

  • Search for an existing HEVC compression setting (it’s in the System Presets > Broadcast category) or create your own using MPEG-4 as the root.
  • In the Export Settings panel (top red arrow):
  • Set Performance to Hardware Encoding
  • Set Profiles to Main for 8-bit video, or Main 10 for 10-bit video.

NOTE: My computer doesn’t support hardware acceleration, which is why Main 10 isn’t selected in the screen shot.

And that’s it. Hardware acceleration will speed encoding anywhere from 10X to 30X.

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Tip #1490: Problems Playing Android Videos

… for Codecs & Media

Tip #1490: Problems Playing Android Videos

Larry Jordan – LarryJordan.com

Switch Camera settings to shoot H.264.

Camera > Advanced settings on an Android phone.

Topic $TipTopic

This tip was contributed by Warren Nelson:

I shot a video on my Google Pixel 3 of my wife opening a birthday present and when I transferred it to my Mac, it wouldn’t play. After some detection, I discovered that an Android update had defaulted to an mp4 version with H.265/HEVC instead of their old H.264/AVC.

I’m not educated enough to know if QuickTime is choking the H.265 or the HEVC portion of this new update. I tested the old setting and it worked just fine.

Users can find this setting by clicking the Advanced link in the main Camera setting (see screen shot).

I’m guessing I’m not the only one who has fallen victim to Google wanting to store smaller video files. Thanks again for all your help over the years!

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Tip #1491: Telestream Purchases Masstech

… for Codecs & Media

Tip #1491: Telestream Purchases Masstech

Larry Jordan – LarryJordan.com

Asset management tools continue consolidating.

The Telestream logo.

Topic $TipTopic

As reported in TVTechnology.com, Telestream has announced an acquisition of Masstech, which constructs hybrid cloud-based storage and asset lifecycle management systems.

This move follows Telestream’s acquisition of EcoDigital and its Diva MAM platform back in October. Telestream has now made 10 acquisitions, which the company claims makes it the leading supplier to the content storage/management segment for the Media & Entertainment market.

Under the terms of this new deal, all Masstech resources will be transferred to Telestream. The company’s engineering and product management functions will be integrated with Telestream’s Content Management Business Unit and will be led by Geoff Tognetti. The goal of this unit will be to combine Masstech intellectual property with EcoDigital’s Diva into a single product.

Here’s the Telestream press release.

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