Cleaner Than Before

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Discreet introduces its new Cleaner XL Windows-based encoder atNAB. The revamped version features better performance, streamlinedworkflow, and new format capabilities.

One improvement over Cleaner 5 is the addition of a "before andafter" split-screen view of filter changes applied to footage.

There has been a lot of speculation about when the new Windowsversion of Discreet Cleaner would be announced, since the Mac versionwas announced at MacWorld New York last July. I can assure you that thewait has been worth it.

Discreet decided to split the code base and completely rewrite thecode for the new Windows version, Cleaner XL, in order to tailor theproduct specifically for the Windows OS. John Worthington, Discreet'sdirector of product management for desktop video, explains it bysaying, “We've implemented a new development philosophy —we are splitting the code bases.

“In the past, Cleaner for the Mac and PC were both built offof the same source code. Doing that sort of creates aleast-common-denominator product. You end up with a product thatdoesn't really excel as a Mac product and it doesn't really performwell as a PC product.

Besides, Microsoft and Apple don't release their new videotechnologies at the same time, so it's hard to keep up with the latestand greatest tools. You just don't really satisfy anyone.

“We decided to address that by … having a team thatworks on the Mac and another team that works on the PC. Each is tryingto deliver the best encoding product possible for theirplatform.”

Discreet has made major improvements in Cleaner's performance andworkflow operations, and added the ability to input and output newformats.

To be frank, Windows Cleaner 5 had some serious performance issues.It was slow! Discreet has remedied this with the new release. Itupdated the application to take advantage of technologies that haveemerged since the last release, such as Intel's hyper-threadingtechnology. It also now supports multiple-processor platforms andnetwork rendering.

There are so many variables to consider when looking at the speed ofa software encoder — platform and processor, type of format beingencoded, and applied filters, to name just a few.

Discreet claims that in certain tests, Cleaner XL performed fivetimes faster than its leading competitor when encoding a Real mediafile on a Pentium 4 3GHz workstation with hyper-threading. A more solidbenchmark is that it is two to five times faster than Cleaner 5,generally faster than Cleaner 6, and no longer the slowpoke users havecome to expect.

While improvements in speed are important, other parts of theWindows Cleaner XL release also stand out. Changes in the userinterface and the operations workflow are impressive. The designersobviously learned from previous products, including CleanerCentral.

Users of Cleaner 5 and earlier versions have explained that theywere frustrated by certain redundant processes. These included the needto add a source file multiple times to the batch if you wanted toencode that clip to several outputs and multiple destinations, or theredundant processes required when tweaking your source filesettings.

With Cleaner XL, Discreet engineers designed a new workflow based onthe idea of a “job document.” Unlike the previous batchprocess, a job is centered on a particular type of input media. Theengineers realized most users capture their video with the same gear,so input settings for a specific media type rarely change. Theydesigned a new, more automated interface where content sources arelisted and the Output Profile and Destination locations aredisplayed.

The Output Profiles store all the encoding parameters, including allthe filtering parameters. When you encode that job, it will encode eachOutput Profile with each source file. So if you have three source filesand you are making three outputs, all you have to do is take thesethree source files and link these outputs. You'll end up with ninefiles. This is a far more streamlined process than the previousmethod.

And you can create templates so setups can be used repeatedly— another streamlining of the process. You can use a previous jobas a template as well. It is not uncommon for jobs to be similar inoutput file types and destinations, so this provides savings inworkflow.

“Now each Output Profile can have multiple Destinations withit,” says Worthington. “Previously we offered streampublishing functionality where we could write the output to a localdirectory or FTP. Those Destinations are now specific to an OutputProfile and you can have more than one.”

Cleaner XL features a Job Queue that lists job documents. You canset up one project, have Cleaner encode in the background, and startworking on the next job. If necessary, you can turn it off if you needmore power for other tasks.

Another feature, which came from the Mac-based Cleaner 6, is WatchFolders. Using Watch Folders, Cleaner assigns a setting and output to alocation rather than a specific file. This allows users to createfolders on a network and have Cleaner use content that is dragged intothe folders. (You can have a separate machine on the network encode thecontent and allow users to get back to work.) Multiple outputs andformats can be created from a single Watch Folder.

The last feature I want to mention is the ability to prioritizejobs. How many times have you had a large project rendering that needsto be stopped because you urgently need to do something else? CleanerXL lets you prioritize jobs by putting higher-priority files in aPriority Folder. This folder automatically places priority jobs firstin the queue. Rush jobs are finished without deleting the rest of thejob folders in line for rendering.

Cleaner XL has updated tools and filters as well. For example, thereis a new spline-based color correction tool. (It was obviouslyinfluenced by having the Discreet Combustion group as part of thedesktop video team.) Also new are several audio filters, including asix-band parametric EQ; a real compressor/limiter; and proprietaryadaptive noise removal, including a de-clipper filter. The interfaceoffers a split-screen view of the filter changes. These tools arebetter integrated into a more cohesive workflow.

Discreet has added MPEG-4 (with or without AC3 embedded audio) tothe list of files Cleaner can output. It has also added Kinoma fileoutput for the Palm OS, including Palm OS 5.

In previous columns, I discussed the effect that Microsoft may havewith its Windows Media files. Cleaner XL offers full support forWindows Media 9 files, including support of two-pass modes. Moreimportantly, this Cleaner can input as well as output all Windows Media9 files. It also supports Real 9 media output, but Real prohibits theability to import media files. (For Cleaner XL compatible files, seethe chart on page 32.)

Cleaner XL is currently delivering and will be on display inDiscreet's NAB booth. The price is $599 MSRP.

Discreet says it will not comment on questions pertaining to CleanerXL's possible integration with other Discreet products. Nor, it said,will it comment on the possibility of offering a client review andapproval software applet similar to the 3D applet Autodesk offers.

I was told that Discreet's policy is “not to comment onproducts before they deliver.” (Interesting choice of words.)

Cleaner XL appears to be fast, stable, and streamlined. It includesthe latest formats, including those for wireless telephone and PDAdistribution, and Microsoft Windows Media 9. If it is not the fastestsoftware encoder, as Discreet claims, it is still a major performanceimprovement over Cleaner 5 and Mac-based Cleaner 6. Anyone needing anencoding solution should put this on their list of things to see atNAB.

And speaking of NAB, check out my list of NLEs to see in the NABsection of this issue, which starts on page 83.

To comment on this article, email the Video Systems editorialstaff at vsfeedback@primediabusiness.com.