Sorenson Squeeze 4.5 Compression Suite
Sorenson Squeeze
Review by Steve Douglas
Check out any forum, listen to a video discussion, watch a podcast and just as
often as not you will you find that the question of what to use to compress,
and what is the most advantageous codec and settings to use is on the tips of
everyone's tongue. Of course, with such a tremendous number of diverse types
of projects, different client requests and the peccadilloes of the many, there
sadly is no one answer, no single setting, size or format. However, the one
thing all agree on is that quality and speed of creation is of utmost
importance.
Sorenson Squeeze seems to have been around since the dawn of man, or at least, the
dawn of non-linear editing. The Sorenson Squeeze 4.5 Compression Suite,
capable of running either on a Mac or PC, brings with it several new features
and capabilities not the least of which is much improved support for H.264,
speed boosts for both pre processing and encoding, the ability to run natively
on the Intel based Macs and DVD burning straight to disc.
Available either on disc or as a download
from the Sorenson website, the installation was certainly simple enough. You
need to just run the installation program and enter your serial number to
activate and that's it.
Easy to adjust interface.
Using the Sorenson Squeeze 4.5 compression suite is quite easy. Importing
projects can be accomplished either by dragging your project into the batch
window at the bottom, use the import file icon at the top left to locate a
project within your computer, use the Watch Folder, where you can compress
several source files into different formats without having to manually assign
settings for each process, or you may capture your video live by going to the
Capture Video icon found in the Input window.
No capture device connected but it is simply done within this capture video
window.
All the windows found within the Compression Suite interface are easily
adjustable as to size in relationship to each other. Need to stretch out or
enlarge the video playback window for a closer look at the details; it's no
problem. Need a larger batch window for a good look at multiple projects and
their assigned filters, easy to do. The video window even has an unobtrusive
and easy to over look button at the top right which will completely disconnect
the video window from the rest of the interface. Click again and it's
reconnected. Very cool!
A contextual window found at the bottom of
the interface that explains what each thing will accomplish or do clarifies
any confusion as to what any of the icons or controls is.
At the upper left of the interface are the
different filters, which can be applied to improve the final output of your
project. Each filter is customizable and may be saved for future projects.
With the application of filters to the project you will find a frame-viewer in
the video window that is controlled by a small, sliding button at the top of
the video. Sliding this towards center will provide instant feedback as to the
changes you are making giving you a before and after preview before deciding
to go to final compression.
Adjusting the parameters within the savable filter and being able to see
instant results may save you lots of time down the line.
Using the slider button over the preview window gives you the ability to see
your 'before' and 'after' prior to final compression.
Squeeze 4.5 allows you to apply as many encoding presets and filters as you
want and to as many projects. Just as well because Sorenson provides a great
many presets for you to choose from whether you will be making your projects
for DVD, streaming, Power Point presentations or CD distribution. Each of the
presets is easily modifiable and may be saved for future video encodings.
Multiple encodes at the same time for each project or for different projects
is very doable.
