Cleaner 6 - Video Files

Discreet’s Cleaner 6 is a software tool for the batch conversion, compression, and encoding of digital media using popular streaming formats, including MP3, RealVideo, QuickTime, and Windows Media, as well as MPEG-1 and MPEG-2. Because of the necessity to compress large audio and video files for presentation on the Internet, and the long time often required to perform this compression, the batch processing of files with Cleaner 6 is especially useful. After audio or video files are created or captured with other software applications such as iMovie, Final Cut Pro, or various sound editors, they may be processed by Cleaner 6 to transfer them into more useful formats. This page will guide you through the most basic proceedure for compressing or converting media files. For mopre detailed information, please see the links at the bottom of the page.

After opening the Cleaner application, a screen similar to the one illustrated should appear. If there are any listings in the window from a previous compression batch, simply highlight the entries and press the delete key on your keyboard.

Click and drag your files into the Cleaner 6 window. You may also select several files at once and drag all of them into the application. Cleaner 6 should recognize your files as either audio or video files and place a corresponding icon next to the listing. If a file is not recognized correctly, there may be a problem with the source file.

To setup your batch for encoding, open the Batch menu at the top of the screen or application, and select Specify Setting. This will open the Advanced Settings window. This window outlines in the expandable menu at the left all the formats available in Cleaner 6 and the accompanying configurations for each format.

There are many different variables associated with the efficient compression of media files. If you are unfamiliar with the various file formats or not sure which type you should use, click the button at the bottom center of the window labeledUse Wizard…. This will lead you through a series of options to help you choose the proper format for your needs. Otherwise, you may highlight the format you would like to convert your file to and click Apply. Clicking the Apply button will close this window and assign this format to your batch list.

The next step is to assign a destination to your file. This will be where the results of the conversion/compression will be saved. Going again to the Batch menu at the top of the screen, select Select Custom Destination. The resulting Destination window, allows you to specify where the file/s should be saved by selecting the Folder radio button and clicking Add… After you have selected a location to store the file, click OK. Note that you can also designate an FTP Server as the recipient for your file. This would upload the document after it has been compressed or converted.

Returning to the main batch window, your listing should now have a setting visible under the Settings column and a destination under the destination column.

The final step is to begin the conversion by clicking the Play button at the bottom right of the window. Depending on the size of your original file and the degree to which you are compressing the file, the compression could take anywhere from a few seconds to several minutes.

Links
Streamingmedia.com Cleaner tutorial
Mediathek
Anatomy of a sound file
Sound and Video Compression Formats