Episode vs. CS4 Media Encoder vs. Compressor
by Paul Kondo
on
Nov 14, 2008 at 3:40:33 am
Pardon me because the last 48 hours got a little crazy. The short of it is that I actually ended up with a copy of both CS4 and Episode (not Pro) with Flash handed to me last night. I also own Final Cut Studio 2. Oddly enough, I was thinking of buying DV Kitchen the day before.
After a fair amount of research on the web, mainly about Episode, I'm still left a bit confused. In short, with respect to my current issue, I'm wondering which program I should use for best quality results. Hopefully, that's not as open ended as it seems so here's a more narrowed question.
Specifically, if I want to make a Flash file, would Episode or Flash Encoder be better quality? If it's the same, does it just come down to ease of workflow?
I know that Episode is good as it expands the export options I have over Compressor (e.g. WMV and Flash). But outside of that, if I'm exporting something like an h.264 file, should I use one program over another?
All this new software at my disposal is making my head spin.
Re: Episode vs. CS4 Media Encoder vs. Compressor by Robert Longwell on Nov 17, 2008 at 7:09:57 pm
For flash encoding, I believe every software out there uses the On2 API. Therefore they'd all, theoretically, have the same results as long as each software exposes all the controls.
Where you'll really benefit from using Episode is likely all the filters that improve the video before it hits the encoding step. That can make all the difference.
Re: Episode vs. CS4 Media Encoder vs. Compressor by Richard Frino on Jan 15, 2009 at 2:37:38 pm
I am also spinning from the array of software that is out there. We process QT streaming through Cleaner 6.5 since it can create batches of alternate movies (tailored to connection speed). The Episode info says "all QT formats" but will it create multiple files and spit out a QT reference file for multiple speeds?
AJA IOla,LaCie 2.5TB ESATA RAID, Mac Pro 2.4 Quad, 4GB, 10.5.5, FCStudio 6
Re: Episode vs. CS4 Media Encoder vs. Compressor by Robert Longwell on Jan 15, 2009 at 4:30:01 pm
Episode can make a batch of anything you want. You can have 1 source file and have Episode create 10 QuickTimes (of any flavor), 10 FLVs, 10 WMVs, etc, etc. It is extremely flexible that way.
What it won't do for you however is to create a QT Reference file of all the output files. To do that for delivering to devices like the iPhone, you'll need to build an external script.
Compressor only works in QuickTime. And while it can create WMF and FLV and probably other formats, it requires 3rd party plug-ins to do this. So you're at the mercy of a plug-in.
Additionally Episode has some truly fantastic filters. Far more filters than what Compressor offers.
And lastly, Telestream has great support. They're very clearly dedicated to these products and work directly with customers to resolve issues. As much as I love Apple, they rarely will communicate or work with you directly on a bug.
The call is of course yours. Compressor comes free with FCS. If that suits your needs then great. But if you need a more professional tool set, go with Episode.
Re: Episode vs. CS4 Media Encoder vs. Compressor by Eric Meek on Mar 18, 2009 at 1:46:53 pm
Your so fastto point out compressor flaws but you never mention any of the VERY WELL known bugs in episode. Like DVDSP or QT and FCP.
This is crazy, you act like compressor is some free cheap version and episode isnt. I HATE EPISODE. I d rather encode with compressor any day. For you to sit and act like compressor isnt professional is what starts flame threads. You say "Compressor comes free with FCS. If that suits your needs then great. But if you need a more professional tool set, go with Episode" which is completely condescending to compressor. FCS is one of the most professional suits in the world and compressor completes that suit as well as color etc. Color comes "FREE" with FCS also so do you call that not as professional cause its included in FCS? Color was a 25,000 dollar app before apple included it. Your coming off like a dang episode cheerleader. I use both products adn i think compressor is better. Granted episode maybe faster or do wmv but i can name several bugs for episode that make it horrible choice over compressor if you have certain needs.
Episode can be buggy and was last time i used it. and it is that MPEG-1/2/4 files from Episode are not compatible with DVDSP4 or Quicktime; there is a known bug that prevents smooth playback or in some cases make the encoded file completely unreadable by QT or DVDSP4. Maybe its been fixed but it didnt used to be. You may be able to go on and on why you like episode over compressor but I to can go on and on about why compressor is better than episode. Cleaner, squeeze, episode, none compare to compressor for a pure apple workflow. And the batching abilities in compressor have work for me so much better. And the virtual cluster never fails me on my mac pro with compressor. I have all 4 cores set up as a render farm so to speak. Episode does this to i think but with compressor i clicked a few check boxes and i haven't had any problems since. Episode has been a different story. The point being our experience is relative and what may have done good for you hasnt done it for me. But the way you talk above is just compressor cant compare and that is just a complete false statement and it seems your being a salesman for episode.
bottom line you come off like compressor os some cheap free app compared to episode and if episode is gonna charge me 1000 dollars for a pro version and i can get compressor with color FCP, Motion, etc for the same price, to me there is no choice becuase the difference in quality in the two apps are so minimal its not worth buying episode. If you have non of them and you decide to buy a 1000 dollar app than id get FCS so I could have FCP, compressor motion, dvdSP, etc. Its a no brainer. Compressor does just as well as episode when it comes to final output quality. You may say compressor has wmv etc but compressor comes with FCP and colro nad motion etc. I agree episode is good but you come off like compressor just sucks and thats just untrue. Episode even gives you a compressor plugin. WHY, if episode is so great why you need compressor plugin? Since compressor 3.5 its a totally new animal for me. Maybe episode is too cause i havent used it since 08. But it offended me when you acted liek compressor was just some cheap free app that comes with FCS and if you want a REAL option use episode and that is just utter ridiculousness.
Currently there is no better encoding engine available - at any price - than Compressor 3 for any Apple-based workflows.
Re: Episode vs. CS4 Media Encoder vs. Compressor by Eric Meek on Mar 18, 2009 at 1:57:57 pm
oh yea, i dont even think episode can email you a notice when it =s done encoding. Compressor will email you and tell you your batch is done. In episode it takes scripting. So episode is far from superior to compressor.
Re: Episode vs. CS4 Media Encoder vs. Compressor by Robert Longwell on Mar 19, 2009 at 4:05:35 am
Erik,
Seriously, relax. You're all anti-Episode. Obviously you had a bad experience, I've had nothing but the opposite.
Yes a script is necessary. But the sample script is all you need. It's very simple and very flexible. Would a compressor based "email address here" field be nice? Sure. But it's not. Oh well, move on.
Re: Episode vs. CS4 Media Encoder vs. Compressor by Eric Meek on Mar 18, 2009 at 1:55:27 pm
Episode mpeg2 coding looks really bad compared to compressor. Come on man, if your gonna talk about the apps tell teh flaws of both not just one. when I try to encode a short piece to import into DVD Studio Pro it looks much worse than Compressor. And lots of Post guys use FCS and if episode cant do DVDSP as well forget it. Its not an option. motion and detail in my MPEG-2s look terrible so stop cheerleading for telestream like some episode salesman. You never mention any of these flaws but mention several in compressor. Your biased and it would be nice for people to know it.
