Transcode Means Convert

This section covers transcoding. Transcoding is a special type of consolidation that lets you change the resolution (codec) of your media during the copy operation.

Transcoding Clips and Sequences

Transcoding lets you change the resolution of the media of your clips and sequences. You can always change the resolution by recapturing, but transcoding is a lot faster and easier.

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Note: Transcoding cannot make your footage look any better than it did before you transcoded it. Even though you can take a 15:1s SD sequence and transcode it to 1:1 10-bit HD, it won’t look any better. The adage of “garbage in, garbage out” applies here.

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Transcoding is a feature of Media Composer that you treat as a technical utility: There is increased flexibility when you can change the media to other resolutions (codecs). It’s easier to collaborate and easier to edit on low-power computers or over low-bandwidth connections, both of which were covered in Lesson 4, “Play Together,” after you’ve learned the basics of the tool in this lesson.