For many video producers , the last footstep in a output project is using a compaction utility , which takes full - resolution video and prepares it for Web , atomic number 48 - ROM , or DVD legal transfer . Sorenson Squeeze 4 Compression Suite can fag TV into almost every popular deep - mass medium format , including QuickTime , RealMedia , Macromedia Flash , MPEG-2 , and MPEG-4 .
overlook from that washing inclination is Microsoft ’s tremendously popular Windows Media format . Sorenson Media plans to back up Windows Media encoding by the time you understand this . Alas , the cud - in for this support will be an additional $ 179 .
Squeezing Made Simple
The big changes in Squeeze 4 are its vamp interface and enhanced optimize features . Indeed , Squeeze 4 can hold its own alongside Discreet ’s Cleaner (; June 2003 ) , long the king of densification .
Advanced user will delight in numerous new range filters and preferences , and beginners can get great result from Squeeze ’s build - in presets ( See screenshot ) . More than 100 presets cover delivery methods ranging from dial - up modems to broadband connections to compact disk and DVDs .
On the downside , the presets have arcane names , such as Med_Prog , that only hint at a setting ’s parameter and make it harder for inexperienced users to opt one setting over another . I ’d like to see wring expose a abbreviated summary of a pick out setting in the Details area of its window .
Squeeze 4 ’s interface has other rough bound — its dialog boxes look like those of Windows program , and some of its keyboard cutoff behave inconsistently — but I ca n’t gripe about the new trailer surface area , which makes experimenting comfortable and efficient . A new split - screen feature let you see before - and - after previews that show how a frame will bet after compression . To assess how a specific section of footage will compress , you may pock its starting and terminate point and then compress only that discussion section . This is a vast time - recoverer that streamlines the trial - and - error stage of compression .
Looking Forward
Squeeze 4 adds the ability to create MPEG-1 or MPEG-2 file for use on Video CD or DVDs . But do n’t corrupt it for this reason alone : in my tryout , Squeeze ’s MPEG quality was inferior to that of Apple ’s Compressor , which is included with both Final Cut Pro HD and DVD Studio Pro 3.0 (; September 2004 ) .
Squeeze 4 can also compress to the H.264 format , a brand - new random variable of MPEG-4 . Also called AVC , H.264 is so new that you ca n’t dally it back — QuickTime does n’t yet tolerate the formatting ; however , Apple has announced that OS X 10.4 ( Tiger ) and QuickTime 7 will .
clinch ’s RealMedia support is a welcome addition , but an annoying bug requires that you lay aside compressed movies on your internal heavy drive . There are several glitches like this in Squeeze 4 , and Sorenson Media plans to cover them with a free version 4.1 update , which should be usable by the time you read this .
Macworld’s Buying Advice
Sorenson Squeeze 4 Compression Suite excels at press video to coarse Web and CD - ROM formats . If your needs revolve around the Flash or MPEG-4 formatting , consider Squeeze 4 for Macromedia Flash MX ( $ 119 ) or Squeeze 4 for MPEG-4 ( $ 199 ) . Both portion out the Compression Suite ’s interface and optimise features .
