 | Mac OS X Automation | Lion Release Notes | Automator/Services
Mac OS X Lion Automation Release Notes Encode Media An important aspect of creating video content for distribution, is the encoding of source videos to meet the hardware requirements of various computers and mobile devices. The Encode Media action makes the encoding of video content an easy process, done without requiring the user to have technical knowledge of compression and audio settings. NOTE: The Encode Media action does not support the encoding of legacy QuickTime content. The Action Interface The following outlines the parameters and settings controls available in the action view: The Settings popup menu (1) offers five options that determine the parameters and vertical sizing of the encoded video: 480P, 720P, 1080P, Audio Only, and Apple ProRes. The Encode for popup menu (2) offers two options that determine the range of devices supported targeted by the chosen encoding settings: Greater quality, and Greater compatibility. Using the compatibility settings produces a lower quality video that is compatible with a larger range of devices. The particulars of the encoding parameters, determined by the combination of the two popup menus, is displayed below in the action view (3). Output format, data rate, and display size are shown. In addition, the Apple devices that support the chosen encoding parameters are listed for reference. The output settings (4) provide options for determining the directory that will contain the encoded files. In addition, an option is provided to delete the source files after they have been processed. Note that the created files retain the base name of their source files, with the appropriate name extension appended to the end of the file name. For example, a source file named Race Car.mov might produce an encoded version named Race Car.m4v. What it Does The Encode Media action accepts one or more video files as input and produces an MPEG encoded video file version of each video file, as a result. If the Audio Only encoding setting is chosen, an MPEG/AAC audio file version of the audio track of the source movie, is produced. The Built-in Encoding Service By default, Mac OS X Lion includes a built-in Automator Service for encoding video files on the desktop. To access the service, simply select one or more video source files in the Finder, and launch the service by selecting it from the Finder's contextual menuaction menu, or Services menu in Finder application menu. Encoding Movies to Multiple Settings Using the workflow variables feature of AUtomator, it is possible to create workflows that perform multiple encodings with the movie files that are passed to them. In the service workflow example below, passed movie files are encoded to both 480P and 720P, producing two encoded files for each movie passed to the workflow. NOTE that the forth action in the workflow (the one that retrieves the original list of dragged-on items from the variable inputItems) has its execution options set to ignore input from the previous action so that it doesn't attempt to process the files already encoded and renamed by the previous actions. The resulting files: TRY IT YOURSELF! Download a zip archive of the service workflow shown above. To install, double-click each workflow file and click the Install button in each of the forthcoming dialogs. Once installed, the services will be available from the Finder's contextual menu. TOP NEW ACTIONS IN LION Text to EPUB File Website PopUp Create Banner Image from Text Encode to MPEG Audio Encode Media Create Annotated Media File Get Web Content/Save Images from Web Content ABOUT AUTOMATOR/SERVICES To learn more about how to create your own Automator workflows and services using this action, watch these short movies: Introduction to Automator Introduction to Services DEVELOPER NOTE The Encode Media action uses the new avconvert command-line utility to create encoded versions of existing video files. To view the command string used by this action, examine the log in the Console application after running the service. Disclaimer Mention of third-party websites and products is for informational purposes only and constitutes neither an endorsement nor a recommendation. MACOSXAUTOMATION.COM assumes no responsibility with regard to the selection, performance or use of information or products found at third-party websites. MACOSXAUTOMATION.COM provides this only as a convenience to our users. MACOSXAUTOMATION.COM has not tested the information found on these sites and makes no representations regarding its accuracy or reliability. There are risks inherent in the use of any information or products found on the Internet, and MACOSXAUTOMATION.COM assumes no responsibility in this regard. Please understand that a third-party site is independent from MACOSXAUTOMATION.COM and that MACOSXAUTOMATION.COM has no control over the content on that website. Please contact the vendor for additional information.

Encode Media

An important aspect of creating video content for distribution, is the encoding of source videos to meet the hardware requirements of various computers and mobile devices. The Encode Media action makes the encoding of video content an easy process, done without requiring the user to have technical knowledge of compression and audio settings.

NOTE: The Encode Media action does not support the encoding of legacy QuickTime content.

The Action Interface

The following outlines the parameters and settings controls available in the action view:

The Settings popup menu (1) offers five options that determine the parameters and vertical sizing of the encoded video: 480P, 720P, 1080P, Audio Only, and Apple ProRes.
The Encode for popup menu (2) offers two options that determine the range of devices supported targeted by the chosen encoding settings: Greater quality, and Greater compatibility. Using the compatibility settings produces a lower quality video that is compatible with a larger range of devices.
The particulars of the encoding parameters, determined by the combination of the two popup menus, is displayed below in the action view (3). Output format, data rate, and display size are shown. In addition, the Apple devices that support the chosen encoding parameters are listed for reference.

The output settings (4) provide options for determining the directory that will contain the encoded files. In addition, an option is provided to delete the source files after they have been processed. Note that the created files retain the base name of their source files, with the appropriate name extension appended to the end of the file name. For example, a source file named Race Car.mov might produce an encoded version named Race Car.m4v.

What it Does

The Encode Media action accepts one or more video files as input and produces an MPEG encoded video file version of each video file, as a result. If the Audio Only encoding setting is chosen, an MPEG/AAC audio file version of the audio track of the source movie, is produced.

The Built-in Encoding Service

By default, Mac OS X Lion includes a built-in Automator Service for encoding video files on the desktop. To access the service, simply select one or more video source files in the Finder, and launch the service by selecting it from the Finder's contextual menuaction menu, or Services menu in Finder application menu.

Encoding Movies to Multiple Settings

Using the workflow variables feature of AUtomator, it is possible to create workflows that perform multiple encodings with the movie files that are passed to them.

In the service workflow example below, passed movie files are encoded to both 480P and 720P, producing two encoded files for each movie passed to the workflow. NOTE that the forth action in the workflow (the one that retrieves the original list of dragged-on items from the variable inputItems) has its execution options set to ignore input from the previous action so that it doesn't attempt to process the files already encoded and renamed by the previous actions.

The resulting files:

TRY IT YOURSELF! Download a zip archive of the service workflow shown above. To install, double-click each workflow file and click the Install button in each of the forthcoming dialogs. Once installed, the services will be available from the Finder's contextual menu.

TOP

NEW ACTIONS IN LION

ABOUT AUTOMATOR/SERVICES

To learn more about how to create your own Automator workflows and services using this action, watch these short movies:

DEVELOPER NOTE

The Encode Media action uses the new avconvert command-line utility to create encoded versions of existing video files. To view the command string used by this action, examine the log in the Console application after running the service.

Disclaimer

Mention of third-party websites and products is for informational purposes only and constitutes neither an endorsement nor a recommendation. MACOSXAUTOMATION.COM assumes no responsibility with regard to the selection, performance or use of information or products found at third-party websites. MACOSXAUTOMATION.COM provides this only as a convenience to our users. MACOSXAUTOMATION.COM has not tested the information found on these sites and makes no representations regarding its accuracy or reliability. There are risks inherent in the use of any information or products found on the Internet, and MACOSXAUTOMATION.COM assumes no responsibility in this regard. Please understand that a third-party site is independent from MACOSXAUTOMATION.COM and that MACOSXAUTOMATION.COM has no control over the content on that website. Please contact the vendor for additional information.