How do I obtain a lost serial key?
Can I activate the trial version of Squeeze?
Why do I get a duplicate license number error?
How can I install Squeeze on a foreign-language OS (Mac)
Why am I getting an “Invalid serial number error?”
Why do I get an error message, “Squeeze requires third party tools to be installed”?
I received Squeeze with Avid. How do I obtain a registration number if one was never sent?
How do I activate Squeeze?
Why do I get an error saying my “Activation key is not valid”?
How do I uninstall BIAS SoundSoap on a Mac?
Using Squeeze & Workflow
Why do I get the error "Unable to add the source file?"
How do I create Flash 9 H.264 files?
What is the FFDShow plug-in that is installed with Squeeze on a PC?
How do I preserve my alpha channel when compressing a file in Squeeze?
How can I capture video using Squeeze? Can I capture video directly in Squeeze?
Can I import SWF files in to Squeeze?
Can Squeeze compress multiple files simultaneously?
How do I enable simultaneous compression in Squeeze?
How do I create a muxed MPEG file in Squeeze (one file with audio and video)?
Why can’t I modify Windows Media presets in Squeeze on the Macintosh?
Why can’t I import Real Media files in Squeeze?
Do I have to use the presets in Squeeze?
How do I modify the meta-data for my output?
How do I insert markers?
How do I create VOB files from Squeeze?
Why can't I create multiple bit rate (MBR) WMV files on the Mac?
Troubleshooting Squeeze
Why is my video upside down?
Why do I get a watermark on my outputs in Squeeze when using WMV source files?
Why won’t my QuickTime movies Stream?
Why do QuickTime presets to not show up in Squeeze 5 after upgrading to QuickTime 7.6.4 or higher?
Why do I get the error “0x8003001e?”
Why is the video missing when I playback SWF VP6 files created in Squeeze?
Why do I see an evaluation watermark on my FLV outputs?
Why I do get a “jittery” output video when converting to DVD NTSC?
Why can't I import my QuickTime reference file form Avid?
Why does Squeeze crash when importing QuickTime files?
Why is Squeeze applying different frames per second to my compressed movie than what I have specified?
Why does Squeeze say it is expired or can't read my serial key on my Mac?
Why do I get a pop up saying my version of Sound Soap has expired?
Why do I get Clicks and Pops in the Audio output of Squeeze?
How do I obtain product support for Squeeze?
Terminology
What is the Difference between Streaming and Progressive download?
What is the difference between an FLV and a SWF file?
What is H.264 AVC?
What is the Sorenson AVC Pro codec?
What is a Watch Folder?
What is Variable Bit Rate?
What is Image Smoothing and when should I use it?
What is the minimum Quality feature?
What is the automatic key frames feature?
What is the Quick Compress feature?
Formats & Codecs
What is h.264 (AVC) for Adobe Flash
How to I play back my FLV files?
Are Squeeze for Flash output files compatible with all versions of the Flash player?
What container formats support h.264 in Squeeze?
Can I create HD-DVD files in Squeeze?
Where can I get more information about the codecs contained in my video and audio files?
What are the differences between the Sorenson Video 3 Pro and MPEG-4 Pro codecs?
Is the Sorenson Video codec supported on all OS platforms?
Installation, Registration & Activation
Please contact the Sales Team or at sales@sorensonmedia.com or at (888) 767-3676
Squeeze cannot be activated to a full version, the trial and full versions use separate installers.
Squeeze can only be installed on one computer at a time. If you have installed Squeeze on another computer it will be detected and shut down Squeeze. Please contact the Sales team to purchase a separate license for each computer you use. You can contact them at sales@sorensonmedia.com or at (888) 767-3676
Sometimes having multiple network connections, such as an Ethernet and a wireless network connection causes this. Squeeze broadcasts its license number over the network and listens for other broadcasts. If it receives the same license number, it detects it as a duplicate copy and shuts down. When your computer simultaneously uses two or more network connections, the broadcast comes back to the computer as if it came from another machine. Squeeze detects it and shuts down. Solution: Disable one of the network connections and launch Squeeze again.
During Squeeze installation, the active System Folder must be named System in OS X. After the installation is complete, you can change the system folder name back to the name the foreign language operating system uses.
The most common reason for this is that the Squeeze installer requires you to use all CAPS and to insert the dashes in the proper order. Also, make sure that you are using a unique key as Squeeze is network aware and will not allow you to install if you are running another computer with the same key.
Make sure you have at least QuickTime 7.1.6 installed prior to installation and that you are using the latest version of the Squeeze installer for your version.
Contact Tech Support here: http://www.sorensonmedia.com/support
Make sure you are connected to the Internet and the Squeeze activation wizard will take care of the rest. If the system you are installing Squeeze on is not connected to the Internet visit http://www.sorensonmedia.com/registration/ from a machine connected to the Internet. You can also contact Tech Support by phone to get an activation key at (888) 767-3676
Please check the characters in the Activation Key to make sure they were entered correctly. If you are still having this error please contact Tech Support at (888) 767-3676 to have activated.
With Squeeze closed > Open Finder > select your system volume (usually called Macintosh HD) > Library > Audio > Plug-ins > VST > delete BIAS SoundSoap SM.vst
Using Squeeze & Workflow
Confirm that your system is missing the codec by playing the source file in Windows Media Player (PC) or QuickTime (Mac). If the file doesn't play correctly you will need to acquire the missing codec and install it. You can also re-export your source file as Uncompressed or DV using the NLE of your choice. If your file is missing its proper extension re-name it with the proper extension (.avi, .mov, .mpg etc.)
In Squeeze 4.5.7 input a source a file or create a watch folder. Select one of the MPEG-4 presets (for example: 512K) and apply the preset. Open the Audio/Video Compression Settings for the preset you applied. Set the Video Codec to Sorenson AVC, then click OK and Squeeze away.
In Squeeze 5 the process is the same however the Main Concept encoder is utilized instead of the Sorenson AVC encoder.
FFDShow is a DirectShow decoding filter for decompressing DivX, XviD, H.264, FLV1, WMV, MPEG-1 and MPEG-2, MPEG-4 movies. It uses libavcodec from ffmpeg project for video decompression, postprocessing code from mplayer to enhance visual quality of low bitrate movies, and is based on original DirectShow filter from XviD, which is GPL'ed educational implementation of MPEG4 encoder.
http://www.free-codecs.com/download/FFDshow.htm
The only codec available in Squeeze which can preserve an alpha channel is the VP6 codec in the F8 FLV (and SWF) options. If you double click on the F8 FLV preset to open the options you will see an option called "compress alpha channel." Click the check-box next to this option to preserve your alpha channel.
Click the Capture Video Button. Make sure that your camera is turned on and is using a Firewire (1394) connected (other capture methods will not work). Squeeze does not have “deck-link” control so you’ll need to push Play on your camera before you hit Capture.
No, Squeeze does not support importing SWF files. Squeeze is a tool for compressing video into SWF or FLV formats to use in Macromedia Flash. It accepts movie files such as MOV or AVI as inputs and then creates SWF or FLV files as outputs.
As of Squeeze version 5 you can compress multiple files (excluding 2-pass VP6 and Main Concept MPEG-4) if you have more than one processor or have a multi-core processor. You must import the files directly in to the Squeeze batch window. The multiple compression features do not work with Watch Folders.
Open the Preferences in and select the Advanced tab(or in Squeeze 5 the Behavior tab). Squeeze will show the number of Processor Cores. You can set the Maximum number of Simultaneous Compressions to 1.5 times the number of cores.
By default some the DVD presets Squeeze are setup to create separate (elementary stream) files. To change this and create one (muxed) file simply open the options for the preset and change the Stream Type from "Elementary" to "Program".
Since Windows Media encoding is not native to the Macintosh Squeeze relies on a 3rd party plug-in called Flip4Mac. You can purchase the Flip4Mac Plug-in here: http://www.flip4mac.com
Unfortunately Squeeze doesn’t not support importing Real Media file formats.
Yes, however the presets are fully customizable; you can even create your own. Once a preset is changed, the changes are saved. To revert back to the original settings, press the Default button in the Compression Settings dialog box.
Import a source file and then right-click the source file and then click "Modify MetaData."
Just below the video viewer window and to the right of the viewer controls you can click the button that “Adds a new marker at the current location.” You can also select whether you want a key frame or a chapter marker from the button to the immediate right of this button.
When creating an output using MPEG-2 right click on the preset once it has appeared in the job window and select “Modify Optional Tasks.” Then click “Copy Output to DVD Burner.” By default Squeeze will burn VOB files to your selected folder on your hard drive.
Squeeze uses the Main Concept VC-1 encoder to create WMV files on the Mac. This does not support outputting multiple bit rate WMV files. To create MBR WMV files you will need to use Squeeze on a PC
Troubleshooting Squeeze
If you are using Canopus Edius version 4.6, you could experience a flipped video within Squeeze. To avoid the flip do the following:
When in Edius and out putting the AVI file to be saved, there is a box marked 'msdv_codec' to the lower left which must be 'checked' off.
The Flip4Mac WMV plugin for QuickTime must be installed and activated. This plug-in allows you to use WMV source files in Squeeze. It can be downloaded here: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/player/wmcomponents.mspx
When you intend to stream QuickTime movies, you must activate the Hinting feature in Squeeze. Hinting creates a "hint" track for every media track. The hint tracks tell the server how to package the media data for delivery. Open the compression settings dialog box and select the "Prepare Output for Streaming (Hinting)" checkbox before compressing your movie.
You can install replacement QuickTime presets by following these steps:
1. Delete the current QuickTime presets by going to C:\Program Files\Sorenson Media\Sorenson Squeeze\DefaultPresets
2. Download the replacement presets here: Sqz5_QT7.6.x_presets.zip
3. Place the new presets in the DefaultPresets folder
You can also revert back to an earlier version of QuickTime by following these steps:
1. Uninstall QuickTime by following these instructions:
support.apple.com/kb/HT1786
support.apple.com/kb/HT1925
(Make sure to read under "Verify iTunes and related components are completely uninstalled.")
2. Download and install QuickTime 7.5.5 here:
oldapps.com/quicktime_player.php
If you are running Avid Media composer that requires version QuickTime version 7.5.5 or higher and unfortunately you don't have the option of downgrading QuickTime.
You can also upgrade your version of Squeeze to Squeeze 6 or higher here: Squeeze Product Page
The most likely cause is that you are using a version of Squeeze that is not compatible with QuickTime. Make sure you are using the most up to date version of Squeeze. If you need further assistance contact support here: http://www.sorensonmedia.com/support
Your version of Flash Player is 7 or lower. VP6 was first implemented in Flash player 8. To update your player to the latest version visit http://www.adobe.com/products/flashplayer/
Most likely you are using the VP6 encoder. VP6 requires that you purchase the full version of the codec by On2. You can purchase it here: http://www.sorensonmedia.com/products/? ... ppc=5&p=17. If you have already purchased the On2VP6 license simply open Squeeze > Squeeze/Edit > Preferences > Plug-ins > Activate On2VP6.
This is a common problem when an analog recording is converted using a capture card. To export as a DVD the frame size must be 720 X 480. The extra 6 pixels in the 720x486 video source must be cropped.
If you are on a PC, try putting QuickTime in "safe mode." With Squeeze closed, open QuickTime Player. Go to Edit > Preferences > QuickTime Preferences > Advanced tab. Under Video, check the box next to "Safe mode (GDI only)." Click OK. Re-open Squeeze.
Also, make sure you have the correct version of QuickTime installed for your version of Avid by checking the Avid Media Composer Version Matrix here:
http://avid.custkb.com/avid/app/self...p?DocId=267087
DirectX and QuickTime can have conflicts that cause Squeeze to malfunction. Make sure Squeeze is closed. Open your QuickTime Player > Edit > Preferences > QuickTime Preferences > Advanced tab > Set the Video to Safe (GDI Only) > Click Apply > Close QuickTime Player.
This will happen when the source file you are importing already has lower frames per second then what you are selecting in the settings. Squeeze cannot add frames to a video that are missing in the source. You would need to re-create the source file with at least the number of frames you want in the final encode.
A user's preference folder is sometimes set to read only, even on brand new machines. Following the steps below to change this:
1. Open Finder and go to your "Macintosh HD."
2. Right-click on the "Library" folder and select “Get Info”
3. In the Info window click the padlock at the bottom and enter your admin password.
4. Under "Sharing and Permissions" click the [+] and add your user name to the list and click "OK."
5. Change your Privileges to “Read and Write”
6. Close the Info window for the "Library" folder
7. Open the "Library" folder
8. Find the "Preferences" folder, right-click it and select “Get Info”
9. In the Info window click the padlock at the bottom and enter your admin password.
10. Under "Sharing and Permissions" click the [+] and add your user name to the list and click "OK."
11. Change your Privileges to “Read and Write”
12. Close the Info window for the "Preferences" folder
13. Open the "Preferences" folder
14. Find a file named “com.SorensonMedia.Squeeze 6.plist” and/or "com.SorensonMedia.Squeeze 4.plist" and delete it (If there are more than one .plist files with Sorenson Media or Squeeze in the name, delete them all.)
15. Run the Squeeze installer once more. You can download it from www.sorensonmedia.com/downloads
SoundSoap has not been authorized.
1. Install Bias SoundSoap from the Squeeze CD or Installer Download.
2. When the Welcome screen for BIAS appears click Authorize.
3. Enter SoundSoap serial number and click authorize.
If this does not solve your issue please contact BIAS, the makers of SoundSoap, at (707) 782-1865 or online here:
http://www.bias-inc.com/support/contact.php
This is usually caused by an outdated version of Squeeze. Make sure you are using the most recent version of Squeeze.
Visit http://www.sorensonmedia.com/support or call +1(801)313-8170.
Terminology
Streaming:
Streaming delivers media in real-time over the internet. No file is downloaded to the hard drive of your audience. The file is played, but not stored. If the recipient's Internet connection is not fast enough to receive all of the packets in the file, they are dropped and the quality of the playback is compromised.
Progressive:
Progressive download saves the file to your viewer’s hard drive. This ensures the highest quality playback possible regardless of the connection speed of your viewer. Some progressive download media types can be set to 'Fast Start'. Media set to 'Fast Start' begins to play as soon as enough of the file resides on your viewer’s hard drive. In general, viewers with slower connections will need to wait longer for progressive download media to begin playing due to their lower bandwidth when compared with streaming media compressed to an appropriate data rate.
A SWF file is a Flash movie. FLV is Flash video. The FLV file format enables developers to insert video into a Flash movie timeline. To publish or play back a Flash video, the FLV file needs to be called by a SWF file. This is known as linked FLV. Projects that require embedded FLV Squeeze can create a single SWF file with no FLV.
H.264 AVC (Advanced Video Coding) - also known as MPEG-4 Part 10 - is a new major video codec standard that replaces several popular formats and offers significant advantages over them. These advantages include: advanced compression that results in a significant data rate savings; a network abstraction layer designed for efficient transmission of data; and presets for a wide variety of applications ranging from video telephony to high-end broadcasting.
Sorenson AVC Pro is Sorenson Media's implementation of the H.264 AVC (Advanced Video Coding) standard. This new standard compresses video into much smaller files than previous MPEG-2 rates and still retains high-quality digital video.
A Watch Folder is a folder that Squeeze monitors for incoming uncompressed video. As new files are placed in this folder, they are automatically compressed according to either preset or custom compression settings chosen by the user.
Variable Bit Rate (VBR) encoding adjusts the data rate according to the amount of action and the number of scene changes. This feature increases the efficiency of the Sorenson Video Pro codec and allows for better video at lower bit rates. The overall effect is that each scene is encoded as if it were a separate movie.
Image smoothing allows our decoder to decode in such a way that over-compressed pixels that would appear blocky appear instead to be muted slightly. This type of decompression is much more taxing on the CPU. Therefore, instead of big, offensive blocks, over-compressed video looks muted, or fuzzy.
Sorenson Media does not recommend using image smoothing on anything above dial-up modem rates.
It is very challenging to maintain both image quality and a constant frame rate when streaming video for dialup modem delivery. The Minimum Quality option allows you to trade either data rate or frame rate to maintain a specific image quality threshold.
When you turn on the Minimum Quality setting it forces Sorenson Video to keep the picture quality above the specified level. If the quality begins to drop below that level, the codec increases the data rate to maintain the quality.
If you don't want the data rate to increase, select the Drop frames to maintain data rate option. With "Drop frames" turned on, if the quality begins to fall below the specified threshold, the codec drops a frame and uses the data saved to increase the quality, while holding the data rate constant. This action reduces the frame rate temporarily, but increases the quality of the encoded frames. The codec automatically returns to the specified frame rate when it can maintain the minimum quality.
The Automatic Key Frames option detects the differences between frames. When the difference reaches the specified threshold, Sorenson Video inserts a new keyframe. The Automatic Keyframes slider lets you specify how different a frame must be from the previous frame before Sorenson Video inserts a key frame. The ideal is to find a setting that inserts a keyframe at the beginning of each scene, without inserting unnecessary keyframes inside individual scenes. The only exception is fast motion scenes which often require additional keyframes.
Lower slider values produce fewer keyframes (requires greater difference between frames) and higher slider values produce more keyframes (requires less difference between frames). The default value of 50 is good for most applications. We recommend staying within the 35-65 range for best results. Depending on your content, you may need to compress several times to find the optimum setting.
The Quick Compress option compresses about 20% faster by sacrificing a little quality. The quality loss is minimal and for many applications, this is a very good choice for delivering faster encode times while maintaining most of the video quality.
Formats & Codecs
The Adobe Flash Player 9.2 and above enables playback of h.264 files. You can create your own Flash-compatible MP4 files with Squeeze.
To create a Flash 9 MP4 file using Squeeze:
1. Open Squeeze, input a source a file or create a watch folder.
2. Select one of the Flash 9 MP4 presets (for example: "F9 360p 16x9") and apply the preset.
3. Click "Squeeze It!"
Here are some good (and free) FLV players:
Adobe Media Player (PC & Mac)
Plays FLV and F4V files
http://www.adobe.com/products/mediaplayer/
SWF & FLV Player (Mac & PC)
Plays SWF and FLV files
http://www.apple.com/downloads/macos...flvplayer.html (Mac)
http://download.cnet.com/SWF-FLV-Pla...html?tag=mncol (PC)
Martijn Devisser FLV Player (Win)
Plays FLV and F4V files
http://www.martijndevisser.com/blog/flv-player/
or
http://www.download.com/FLV-Player/3...-10467081.html
If you have Flash Player 9.2 and above it can play all versions of Flash video - Spark, VP6, and H.264 encoded videos. Adobe Flash 8 and above can only player Spark and VP6 encoded FLV files. Adobe Flash 6 and above can play back on Spark encoded FLVs
The MP4 and MOV container formats support H.264 video in Squeeze 6.
Blu-ray has become the standard for high-definition encoding and playback; as such, Squeeze can create Blu-ray discs only. The HD-DVD format is not supported in Squeeze as of version 5.0. VOB File Support
You can find out all sorts of useful information from the (free) program called Media Info. You can download and install it here:
http://mediainfo.sourceforge.net/en/Download
Sorenson Video 3 is an advanced proprietary video compression technology exclusively distributed with QuickTime. Sorenson Video 3 produces better quality video than MPEG-4 and has many advanced features. MPEG-4 is the international standard for interactive media.
Sorenson Video is a QuickTime codec and is only available on OS's which support QuickTime.
QuickTime is available for all current Macintosh and Windows operating systems. For more information on QuickTime system requirements, check the QuickTime web site at http://www.quicktime.com.
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