User Guide
Table of Contents
Introduction
Installation
Activation
Setting Preferences
Getting Started
Introduction
Welcome to the Voltaic User Guide. This should tell you everything you need to know about how best to use Voltaic.
Installation
You install Voltaic by dragging it from the disk image to either your Applications folder or your desktop. We recommend placing Voltaic in your Applications folder, then keeping it in your Dock.
Have a look at our Installation video if you need help with this.
Activation
You activate VoltaicHD by purchasing an Activation Key. Once you have completed payment via PayPal, the Activation Key is emailed to your supplied email address immediately. Your key is also displayed on the screen when you click on the 'Return to Systemic' link displayed on the PayPal confirmation screen.
If you do not receive your key withing a minute or two, it is probably in your SPAM folder.
Once you receive your Activation Key, open VoltaicHD and go to the Voltaic->Activate menu option. Enter your key into the text field and click 'Activate'. Voltaic then communicates with the Shedworx activation server to activate VoltaicHD.
Have a look at our Activation video if you need help with this.
Setting Preferences
Like all well-designed applications, you don't have to set any preferences before using Voltaic. If you want to take more control of your conversions, read on!
Preferences can be reviewed at any time by using the menu option or Apple,
Scratch file location
This allows you to specify where the temporary files are placed during each conversion. If you are converting large files from an external storage location, and want to preserve disk space on the machine running the conversions, you should set this location to be on the external storage device.
Output Directory
This allows you to specify where the converted files are placed.
Audio Alert
Plays a sound once the conversion batch is complete.
Popup Alert
Displays a pop-up window once the conversion batch is complete.
Check for updates on startup
Checks for a newer version of VoltaicHD on startup.
Generate Thumbnails
Determines whether thumbnail previews are generated as files are added to the list.
Output Resolution
This option allows you to specify the resolution of the converted clips.
same as source
This ensures that the output from Voltaic is the same resolution as the input clip. If your input is 1440x1080i, the output will be the same. If you input is 1920x1080 (interlaced or progressive), the output will be the same.
720p
This downgrades the output to 1280x720p. This is still a HD resolution, but half the size of Full HD.
540p
This is another downgrade option for editing. Again, still officially high definition, but at the low end of the HD scale.
Restrict to 1440x1080
This option is provided for Final Cut Express users. Final Cut Express prior to version 4.0.1 only supported resolutions up to 1440x1080 natively in the timeline (i.e. not requiring rendering). FCE v3.5 and below users who have 1920x1080 clips to deal with have to have these downgraded to 1440x1080 in order to edit them effectively.
Extract 5.1ch Audio
This allows you to have the audio track from your movie extracted during the conversion process.
Faster conversions
This use a new conversion approach that works with some, but not all cameras.
Use Advanced Export Settings
This option allows you to access the full range of QuickTime export options. This allows you to export from Voltaic using any format supported by QuickTime on your machine.
Getting Started
Once you have either a registered or un-registered version of Voltaic installed on your system, with Preferences set up you are ready to start converting clips.
We have a few suggestions for converting your AVCHD clips:
- Always copy your clips onto a hard drive before converting. It is technically possible to convert the clips in-place on your camera, but this may lead to other problems.
- Keep Voltaic in your Dock. This makes it easier to use (we think)
Now all you need to do is add some AVCHD files to the file list and press Start. Converted files are placed back in the same directory as the source files by default, or wherever you like by setting your Preferences.
Have a look at our Clip Processing video if you need help with this.
