Compressor 3. Distributed Encoding.
Get encoding done faster — without interrupting other work — through the power of distributed encoding. The Qmaster application included in Compressor 3 distributes encoding jobs among multiple computers and it even segments files for faster results. Configure Qmaster to manage individual processors in a single computer to turn any Mac Pro into a virtual render farm. When you’re ready to take distributed encoding to the next level, use Xsan.
AutoCluster
A cluster is a group of networked computers used for distributed encoding. The AutoCluster feature in Qmaster dynamically configures a cluster of computers or processors based on available resources. Each computer user makes processing resources available to Qmaster on an opt-in basis. AutoCluster polls the network for available resources and dispatches encoding tasks to computers that have opted in. This means that users doing processor-intensive work can elect to make their computers unavailable for encoding, then release resources at the end of the task or work day.
Clusters for encoding and rendering
Qmaster uses the processing capacity of your network computers for a wide range of tasks, including encoding and rendering for motion graphics produced by applications such as Apple Shake, Adobe After Effects and Autodesk Maya. Configure Qmaster clusters to run jobs for encoding, rendering or both, and change the configuration in a few simple steps. You can output files faster than ever by configuring clusters to take advantage of multiple processors, or “services”, as well as multiple computers. For even faster throughput, configure Qmaster to manage individual processors in each computer, turning any Mac Pro into a virtual render farm. To further optimise your workflow, create clusters to be used for specific jobs, users or applications.
Scheduling and load balancing
Create your content during peak hours, then schedule your encoding and video processing for off-hours. Qmaster lets you define which resources to use and when to use them for each encoding task. Using an intelligent, weighted load-balancing system, Qmaster makes efficient use of your computing resources. Automatic detection identifies the fastest Mac computers available for encoding work; load balancing sends more work to the faster computers and less work to the slower ones. Fault-tolerance algorithms automatically redistribute the work to other computers if an assigned system is not online.
Distributed encoding with Xsan
Distributed encoding works over any standard network and can include an unlimited number of client nodes. To further accelerate the process, use Xsan, the SAN file system for Mac OS X, to connect encoding nodes on a Fibre Channel network. Because your media files are accessed over a high-speed network, large files never have to be copied to individual workstations.
