Popcorn 4
Popcorn 4
Popcorn 4
Roxio
Popcorn® 4
Legal Information
Copyright ©1994 - 2009 Sonic Solutions. All Rights reserved. Use of this product is subject to
your agreement to all of the terms of each of the license agreements included in this package. This
product may be protected by one or more US and/or foreign patents.
Trademarks
Fit-to-DVD is a trademark owned by Sonic Solutions which may be registered in some
jurisdictions. Roxio, the burning disc logo, Sonic, Sonic Solutions, Toast, the toaster with discs
logo, and Popcorn are registered trademarks owned by Sonic Solutions in the United States, and
other jurisdictions.
Portions of this software ©2009 TiVo Inc. TiVo, the TiVo logo and TiVoToGo are trademarks or
registered trademarks of TiVo Inc. and its subsidiaries worldwide.
PSP, PlayStation 3, and Memory Stick are trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment, Inc.
Palm and Pre are among the trademarks or registered trademarks owned by or licensed to Palm,
Inc.
AVCHD, AVCHD Lite and the AVCHD logo are trademarks of Matsushita Electric Industrial Co.,
Ltd. and Sony Corporation. The AVCHD Logo is used under license.
YouTube and the Powered by YouTube logo are trademarks of Google, Inc.
Adobe and Flash are registered trademarks of Adobe Systems Incorporated in the United States
and/or other countries.
Ogg Vorbis audio compression technology provided courtesy of the Xiph.Org Foundation.
Changes
The material in this document is for information purposes only and is subject to change without
notice. While reasonable efforts have been made in the preparation of this document to assure its
accuracy, Sonic Solutions assumes no liability resulting from errors or omissions in this
document, nor from the use of the information contained herein.
Sonic Solutions reserves the right to make changes in the product design without reservation and
without notification to its users.
Disclaimer
Contents
What is Popcorn? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
System Requirements. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Installing Popcorn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Getting to know the Popcorn window . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
What types of video can Popcorn use? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Popcorn Extras. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Using the Media Browser . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Copying to a DVD. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Creating a disc image file . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Changing copy options for a DVD. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Creating a DVD-Video Disc from Video Files . . . . . . . . . . 19
Changing recording settings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Sharing recorders. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Converting video . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Device Export Profiles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Changing copy options for a portable player . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Troubleshooting tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Support options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Popcorn4_GettingStartedGuide.book Page 6 Wednesday, September 2, 2009 9:37 AM
What is Popcorn?
Popcorn® provides Mac users with the best method yet to copy DVDs and
convert videos.
Using Fit-to-DVD™ compression technology, you can now burn an entire 9
GB DVD-Video onto a 4.7 GB recordable DVD. Popcorn also helps you
extract video clips and music from DVDs, convert AVCHD and MKV
video, publish video directly to YouTube and more.
System Requirements
To use Popcorn, you will need the following hardware and software:
■ Macintosh® computer with an Intel® processor
■ Mac OS X v10.5 (Leopard®) or 10.6 (Snow Leopard™)
■ Up to 800 MB of free disk space to install all components
■ Up to 15 GB of temporary free disk space during usage
■ QuickTime® 7
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Installing Popcorn
To install Popcorn:
1 Insert the installation disc into your drive. Or, if you purchased a
downloadable version of Popcorn, double-click the .dmg file.
The Popcorn window appears on your Desktop.
2 Drag the Popcorn 4 folder to the Applications folder on your hard
disk.
3 In the Applications folder on your hard disk, open the Popcorn 4
folder and double-click the Popcorn icon to launch the software.
4 Follow the on-screen instructions to set up Popcorn the first time.
5 You will be asked to accept the license agreement and enter a CD key.
You can find the CD key in one of the following locations:
■ If you purchased a boxed version of Popcorn, your product key is
printed on the back of the disc sleeve.
■ If you purchased Popcorn via download, your product key is
included with your purchase confirmation e-mail.
If you purchased an upgrade version of Popcorn, you may also be
asked to enter your CD key from a prior version of Toast or Popcorn.
Copy Projects
This category includes projects for copying DVD-Video sources and video
files to DVD. Optionally, you can compress them to fit on 4.7 GB DVD
discs.
Convert Projects
This category includes projects for converting DVD-Video sources and
video files to DVD. You can also convert video and audio files to other
formats, and choose to convert your project for playback on Mac or
portable devices.
Content area
The content are is located on the left side of the window. For most projects,
this is where you drag your files to add them to the project.
Space Indicator
The space indicator is located along the bottom of the window, and displays
the amount of content that has been added to the current project. For DVD
projects, you can toggle between single- and dual-layer DVDs to calibrate
for your target disc type.
Record Button
Located on the lower right-hand side of the window, the Record button will
begin recording your disc. For video conversion projects, click this button
to begin converting your video.
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Popcorn can convert DVD-Video and other video files for use on portable
players, including:
■ DVD-Video discs created with Toast®, iDVD®, or DVD Studio Pro®
■ Commercial DVD-Video discs that are not copy-protected or
encrypted
■ DVD-Video image files or VIDEO_TS folders from your hard disk
■ Native QuickTime file formats, such as DV, MOV, H.264 and MPEG-4
■ Other non-QuickTime file formats, including, but not limited to:
MPEG-2, AVCHD, AVCHD Lite, MKV and some types of FLV.
Popcorn Extras
Popcorn includes additional applications to help you save, share, and enjoy
your digital media. They can easily be accessed from the Extras menu.
Mac2TiVo
Send standard and HD video from your Mac to your TiVo DVR for viewing
on your television. Publish folders full of compatible video on your Mac
and stream them on-the-fly to your DVR without lengthy video
conversions.
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Preview button
Add button
Tip: When adding these sources to a Popcorn project, you will be able
to browse entire discs, titles and chapters in order to select and
extract clips and/or music from unprotected DVDs.
Note You can also access discs from set-top DVD recorders or
DVD camcorders. Popcorn includes special support for these
discs, which normally are not usable in the Mac OS. Insert these
discs in your recorder while Popcorn is running, and then import
video from them with the Media Browser.
■ Files: Browse files and folders on your local hard disk, external
discs, or connected network volumes.
■ Spotlight: Search for files or folders by entering a search term in
the text field at the bottom of the Media Browser window.
■ AVCHD: Browse high-definition video content stored on your
connected AVCHD camcorder or AVCHD Lite camera.
3 When browsing movies or DVDs, you can filter the media list by
choosing a folder or specific DVD, title or chapter from the second
pop-up menu.
4 Select any item in the file list and drag it to the Content Area to add it
to a project, or click the Add button at the bottom of the Media
Browser.
You can select multiple items by holding down the Command (Apple) key
while clicking, and then drag the entire selection to the Content Area.
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You can select groups of items by clicking on the first item in the group and
then holding down the Shift key while clicking on the last item in the
group, and then drag the entire selection to the Content Area.
You can preview most media files by double-clicking them in the file list or
by clicking the Preview button at the bottom of the Media Browser.
Popcorn will display progress information while the items are being added.
If the content is being added from a disc (such as from a set-top DVD
recorder) this may take several minutes, as it is imported from the disc onto
your hard disk.
Imported items from a disc are temporarily stored in the Roxio Converted
Items folder in your Documents folder and can be very large. The original
source content is not deleted from your disc.
You can configure when Roxio Converted Items is emptied through
Popcorn’s preferences, which can be accessed by choosing Popcorn >
Preferences.
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Copying to a DVD
This section explains how to copy a DVD-Video disc, disc image file, DVD-
Video (or VIDEO_TS) folders, or video files to a blank recordable DVD
disc for playback in a DVD player. Popcorn can copy non-encrypted DVD-
Video content.
To learn more about DVD-Video, refer to:
http://www.dvddemystified.com/dvdfaq.html.
To convert a DVD-Video or other video file for use on an iPod, iPhone,
Apple TV, or other device, see Converting video on page 23.
To copy to a DVD:
1 Launch Popcorn and select one of the following projects from the
Copy project category:
■ Choose DVD Disc to copy a DVD-Video disc in your DVD
drive. If you choose this option, insert the original DVD-Video
disc into your DVD drive.
■ Choose Image File to copy a DVD-Video disc image file from
your hard disk. If you choose this option, drag a disc image from
your hard disk into the content area.
■ Choose VIDEO_TS Folders to copy one or more valid DVD-
Video (or VIDEO_TS) folders from your hard disk to DVD. If
you choose this option, drag one or more VIDEO_TS folders
from your hard disk into the content area. If you have added
multiple VIDEO_TS folders, you can choose to save as an image
file and they will be batch-processed.
■ Choose VIDEO_TS Compilation to copy one or more valid
DVD-video (or VIDEO_TS) folders from your hard disk to a
single DVD.
2 A summary of the content that will be copied appears in the content
area. In the case of video files, each of your video files will be listed.
If your DVD-Video source is greater than 4.7 GB in size, a message in
the Summary area indicates that automatic compression may be
needed. After you insert a blank DVD, Popcorn determines if you are
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Note You can use the same recorder to read the source DVD and
burn to the blank DVD. Popcorn will copy the original disc to a
temporary location on your hard disk.
3 Enter a name in the Save As field and browse to the location on your
hard disk where you want the disc image file to be saved.
4 Click Save to continue.
5 A dialog box may appear asking whether you want to create single-
layer or double-layer discs from the image file. The best choice
depends on the type of drive you have, your plans for the image file
and the size of its contents. If you choose double-layer, compression
will be minimized, but the file may not fit on a single-layer disc. If you
choose single-layer, compression will be set automatically to the level
needed to fit the contents on a single-layer disc. Choose the option
that best meets your needs.
Popcorn displays a progress bar as it saves your disc image.
To copy this disc image at a later time, see Copying to a DVD on
page 15.
Note Do not drag the disc image file to the Trash unless you
want to delete the image file from your hard disk.
Note If you choose Main or Custom, the copied disc will not
have a menu, but the first video will play automatically when the
disc is inserted. If the disc contains multiple videos, all videos will
play continuously, in sequence. You may be able to use the Title
menu in your DVD player to select a video.
Note If you have set the Video option to Custom, the Audio
pop-up does not appear. Instead, you will be able to select Audio
and Language options for each video.
content on the disc. Variable bit rate encoding is used for video,
Dolby Digital 192 Kbps is used for audio, and aspect ratio is
determined automatically from the source videos.
■ Custom Encoding: Choose this option to manually set video and
audio encoding options. Click on the current settings to modify
them.
■ Video Quality: Popcorn must compress video to fit onto the
DVD. Choose the quality you want. Better quality takes longer to
process.
– Good: Suitable for simple video, such as people talking – fastest
processing time.
– Better: Suitable for most video – average processing time.
– Best: Suitable for complex video, such as fast motion – lowest
processing time.
■ Menu Style: Choose the style for the menu background image,
text, and buttons.
■ Auto-Play disc on insert: Select this option to automatically
play the first video or slideshow when this disc is inserted into a
DVD player. The DVD main menu is not displayed, but is
accessible by choosing the Menu button on the DVD player
remote control. Some players may not support Auto-Play.
■ Play all items continuously: Select this option to automatically
play each video or slideshow on the DVD without first returning
to the DVD’s main menu.
Additional options are available by clicking the More button.
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Sharing recorders
Popcorn includes ToastAnywhere™ recorder sharing technology, which lets
you record to an available DVD recorder from Toast users on your local
network.
To use a shared recorder:
1 Click the red Copy button.
2 In the Recorder Settings dialog, choose a recorder from the list and
click Record to continue.
3 The person using the computer with the shared recorder you have
selected will be prompted to insert a blank disc.
Popcorn displays a progress bar as it records your disc over the
network.
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Converting video
This section explains how to convert DVD-Video and other video files into
other formats for playback on your Mac or portable devices (i.e. iPods,
iPhones, etc...).
Once Popcorn has converted video to the selected format, such as MPEG-4,
H.264, you can then transfer it to your portable device.
To copy a DVD-Video to a blank recordable DVD, see Copying to a DVD on
page 15.
To convert video for a portable player:
1 Launch Popcorn and select one of the following projects from the
Convert project category:
■ Choose DVD Disc to convert an unprotected DVD-Video disc in
your DVD drive. If you choose this option, insert the original
DVD-Video disc into your DVD drive.
■ Choose Image File to convert a DVD-Video disc image file from
your hard disk. If you choose this option, drag a disc image from
your hard disk into the content area.
■ Choose VIDEO_TS Folders to convert a valid DVD-Video (or
VIDEO_TS) folder from your hard disk. If you choose this
option, drag one or more VIDEO_TS folders from your hard disk
into the content area.
■ Choose Video Files to convert one or more individual video files
from your hard disk. If you choose this option, drag and drop the
video files from your hard disk or Media Browser into the content
area. If you add multiple files for conversion, Popcorn will
convert them in batch mode, successively.
A summary of the information that will be converted appears in the
content area.
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Note You may wish to use the preview option on this screen.
The Video Quality Preview encodes a small portion of your video
so you can assess the conversion quality. You can also save the
preview to your hard disk for playback on another video player or
portable device.
remains open. If you close the Popcorn application, even when video
encoding is paused, you must restart the process from the beginning.
Tip: Schedule video conversions to run at a later time through the
Player Setup window. Once you’ve selected the device, video
quality, and Save To destination, click the Schedule button.
Note Videos converted for portable players can only have one
audio track and do not contain subtitles or menus. Multi-channel
audio tracks will also be downsampled to two channels.
Converting Audio
The Audio Files project will allow you to convert one or more audio files
into another format.
1 To convert audio, launch Popcorn and select the Audio Files project
Convert project category.
2 Add audio files to the project by dragging and dropping them into the
Content Area from a Finder window or the Media Browser.
3 Click the red Record button.
4 Choose one of the available conversion formats:
■ AIFF: Creates a full quality uncompressed audio file for use on a
Mac.
■ WAV: Creates a full quality uncompressed audio file for use on a
PC.
■ AAC: Creates a high quality compressed audio file supported by
iTunes.
■ Apple Lossless: Creates a full quality compressed audio file
supported by iTunes.
■ OGG: Creates a high quality compressed audio file, similar to
MP3. Your player will need Ogg Vorbis support. iTunes does not
support Ogg Vorbis.
■ FLAC: Creates a full quality compressed audio file. Your player
will need FLAC support. iTunes does not support FLAC.
5 Select a destination for your converted audio.
6 Click Save and your audio will be converted.
Tip: You can add most supported video files to an Audio Files project.
Instead of your video being converted to a video format, the
sound from your video will be converted to an audio file.
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Troubleshooting tips
If you receive errors while recording using Popcorn, try any of the following
tips to resolve the problem:
■ Save your project as a disc image file on your hard disk. After you
create the image file, you can copy it to a disc.
For more information, see Creating a disc image file on page 16.
■ Make sure that your computer is not going to “sleep” before Popcorn's
compression process is completed. Adjust the Sleep options in the
Energy Saver System Preference.
■ Burn at a slower speed. In the Recording Settings dialog, choose “1x”
as the Write Speed. If the disc burns successfully, try choosing “2x” the
next time, then “4x,” and so on.
■ Try a different brand of blank DVDs. Make sure to use reliable media
from a leading manufacturer.
See http://www.nomorecoasters.com for suggestions.
■ Try a different recorder. If your recorder is consistently giving errors, it
may be failing. Choosing a different recorder may give better results.
■ Try running fewer applications on your computer while burning.
Avoid processor-intensive tasks while burning.
■ Do not modify the source files while preparing the disc or recording it.
For example, do not move or rename the files.
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Support options
Unlimited self-help options
Roxio provides a variety of self-help tools, including our virtual agent, a
searchable knowledge base of support articles with troubleshooting tips,
and discussion forums with other users that can help you get the most out
of your Roxio products.
You'll find answers to most of your questions at http://support.roxio.com,
or you can choose Help > Product Support from within Popcorn.
Contacting Roxio
Log in to our Customer Web portal to submit a request for assistance or to
find support contact information for your location.
You can find the customer Web portal at http://selfserve.roxio.com.