Amarok/Manual/Organization/Transcoding

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Transcoding

Transcoding allows you to encode media files to a variety of formats while copying or moving them to a collection (Local Collection, USB Universal Mass Storage Collection and iPod, iPad & iPhone Collection support transcoding as of Amarok 2.8). A word of warning: be careful when you use this feature, as you are working with actual files on your hard drive. Have a backup!

Interface

The Transcoding dialog will appear whenever you copy or move tracks to one of the collections that support transcoding. You can also transcode tracks within the Local Collection by using the Organize files functionality.

Transcode Tracks Dialog

If you choose to copy or move files to a supported collection, the following dialog will pop up:

Menu Item	Description
Copy	Selected media files will be copied to your collection without re-encoding.
Encoder list	List of all your installed codecs; choose among them to be able to transcode. If this list is empty, you need to install FFmpeg.
Transcode all tracks	Transcode every selected track to the chosen codec
Transcode only when needed for playability	Only transcode tracks which need to be transcoded to play in the destination system
Transcode only if source and destination formats are different	Transcode only if source and destination file formats are different
Remember this choice for the next time	Save the preference for the current destination collection. This includes the copy/transcode preference and transcoding parameters.
Cancel	Exits the Transcode Tracks dialog.

Custom Encoding

Whether to save space, to make your files readable by a portable music player or a particular software program, Amarok can handle it. Choose a codec from the list and a custom setting and click Transcode.

Menu Item	Description
Transcode	Begins encoding with the selected codecs and parameters. In case of the Local Collection the Organize tracks dialog will pop up. More about Organize tracks.
Cancel	Exits the Transcode Tracks dialog.

Saving Transcoding Preferences

As mentioned in the Remember this choice for the next time description, Amarok can remember transcoding preference per each of your collections. The preference can be changed any time in the Configure Local Collection Configure Amarok dialog page for the Local Collection and in the configure dialogs of iPod, iPad & iPhone and Universal Mass Storage collections.

Pro Tip: Strip Audio out of Video Files

Amarok's transcoding capabilities can be used to extract audio from video files while copying or moving them into a collection. Just select video file(s) in Amarok embedded file browser, right-click and choose Copy to Collection. Standard Transcode Tracks dialog will appear. Choose one of the encoders, hit Transcode and transcoding will begin.