Best way to batch transcode 4K files at DVinfo.net

Peter Lowe · May 9th, 2017, 12:53 PM

Very happy with the 4K files recorded on the A7II but struggling to figure out the best way to batch transcode them to a simpler format for draft editing on my "slow" mid-2012 Macbook Pro. What is the most efficient way to do this?

I am looking to transcode to the lowest draft quality possible so I can do a rough online edit on my laptop while working in the field then go back later and do a "proper" edit with the 4K files in Premiere Pro 6 (win) on my more powerful desktop computer when I get home again.

One way I have discovered to do the transcoding is via the latest version of Catalyst Browse that is free and gives the option of selecting multiple files for transcoding. It is also able to play back original 4K files at full speed without jerks after I found out how to switch the processing engine from the slower graphics card to the faster CPU that is great.

But so far I have only figured out how to select multiple files one at a time from a list. Is there any way to "select all" files in a folder for transcoding with Catalyst Browse? I understand "Batch transcoding" is a feature of Browse´s big sister Catalyst Prepare that costs $114 and includes a lot of other features I don´t need.

Maybe some other program can be used to batch process 4K files to a draft quality format?

I suppose an alternative solution could be to choose the A7RII menu option to simultaneously record 4K and proxy files that would remove this problem all together - but I figure this option would most likely also increase the processing burden on the already heavily loaded A7RII and by doing so end up creating more problems (overheating? battery drain? SD card space?) while recording than it solved. But maybe I am wrong about this?

Dave Sperling · May 11th, 2017, 07:52 PM

Have you tried the 'standard' multi-select keystrokes in Catalyst Browse?

On my PC if I click the first file, then shift-click the last file I want, all the intervening files are selected. Or Control-A to select all.

The equivalent keystrokes seem to work 'most' of the time on my Macbook Pro. (On Mac it's Command-A rather than Control-A). Though I really haven't figured out why it sometimes decides not to work on the mac...

Patrick Baldwin · May 12th, 2017, 03:11 AM

Edit Ready will do what you need though it is a paid software.
EditReady : Transcode Any Camera Source Without The Hassle
Best wishes.

Peter Lowe · May 17th, 2017, 08:06 AM

Thanks for the useful pointers! Happy to discover CMD-A to "select all" then "export" works fine in Catalyst Browse on my Macbook Pro (-:

Peter Lowe · May 17th, 2017, 10:16 AM

Separate but related, I also had to transcode some of the same 4K files to mp3 audio files for transcribing interviews and found a free program that I downloaded from the internet "Mediahuman audio converter" worked very well for this purpose.

All I had to do was drag and drop the original 4K files into a box, choose the output format (in my case mp3), press export and watch as almost straight away the converted files appeared in a new folder on my computer.

I am not in any way associated with this program but thought why not give credit where it is due.

May 9th, 2017, 12:53 PM	#1
Peter Lowe Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Tepetlaoxtoc MX Posts: 37	Best way to batch transcode 4K files Very happy with the 4K files recorded on the A7II but struggling to figure out the best way to batch transcode them to a simpler format for draft editing on my "slow" mid-2012 Macbook Pro. What is the most efficient way to do this? I am looking to transcode to the lowest draft quality possible so I can do a rough online edit on my laptop while working in the field then go back later and do a "proper" edit with the 4K files in Premiere Pro 6 (win) on my more powerful desktop computer when I get home again. One way I have discovered to do the transcoding is via the latest version of Catalyst Browse that is free and gives the option of selecting multiple files for transcoding. It is also able to play back original 4K files at full speed without jerks after I found out how to switch the processing engine from the slower graphics card to the faster CPU that is great. But so far I have only figured out how to select multiple files one at a time from a list. Is there any way to "select all" files in a folder for transcoding with Catalyst Browse? I understand "Batch transcoding" is a feature of Browse´s big sister Catalyst Prepare that costs $114 and includes a lot of other features I don´t need. Maybe some other program can be used to batch process 4K files to a draft quality format? I suppose an alternative solution could be to choose the A7RII menu option to simultaneously record 4K and proxy files that would remove this problem all together - but I figure this option would most likely also increase the processing burden on the already heavily loaded A7RII and by doing so end up creating more problems (overheating? battery drain? SD card space?) while recording than it solved. But maybe I am wrong about this?

May 11th, 2017, 07:52 PM	#2
Dave Sperling Major Player Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Tinton Falls, NJ Posts: 780	Re: Best way to batch transcode 4K files Have you tried the 'standard' multi-select keystrokes in Catalyst Browse? On my PC if I click the first file, then shift-click the last file I want, all the intervening files are selected. Or Control-A to select all. The equivalent keystrokes seem to work 'most' of the time on my Macbook Pro. (On Mac it's Command-A rather than Control-A). Though I really haven't figured out why it sometimes decides not to work on the mac...

May 12th, 2017, 03:11 AM	#3
Patrick Baldwin Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Bidford on Avon United Kingdom Posts: 79	Re: Best way to batch transcode 4K files Edit Ready will do what you need though it is a paid software. EditReady : Transcode Any Camera Source Without The Hassle Best wishes.

May 17th, 2017, 08:06 AM	#4
Peter Lowe Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Tepetlaoxtoc MX Posts: 37	Re: Best way to batch transcode 4K files Thanks for the useful pointers! Happy to discover CMD-A to "select all" then "export" works fine in Catalyst Browse on my Macbook Pro (-:

May 17th, 2017, 10:16 AM	#5
Peter Lowe Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Tepetlaoxtoc MX Posts: 37	Also, good free solution for transcoding 4K to MP3 (-: Separate but related, I also had to transcode some of the same 4K files to mp3 audio files for transcribing interviews and found a free program that I downloaded from the internet "Mediahuman audio converter" worked very well for this purpose. All I had to do was drag and drop the original 4K files into a box, choose the output format (in my case mp3), press export and watch as almost straight away the converted files appeared in a new folder on my computer. I am not in any way associated with this program but thought why not give credit where it is due.