Many of us use Apple Compressor for much, most, all of our video compression needs. That is to say when it hasn’t crapped out and stopped working but there are tools to help fix that. As much complaining as I’ve done about Compressor in the past I do use it a lot … for making web clips, stuff for my iPod and, of course, DVDs. And while I do use it a lot I am still no expert at the art of compression. A change or two to a setting often drives up the encode time and doesn’t make the final outcome much better. That’s why CRAMCompressor is such a welcome tool.

CRAMCompressor adds a whole bunch of new presets to the application. From the CRAMCompressor website:

CRAM for Compressor is a group of over 330 presets for Apple’s Compressor that help you leverage the compression power already available to you without having to spend hundreds of additional dollars on other compression software, while still getting better results.

CRAM includes presets for high quality, clean and sharp web videos and superior DVDs. CRAM is customized for getting better results out of your HD footage when outputting for DVD and the web. CRAM also includes settings for presenting your web video in it’s native aspect ratio, adding presets for 1.85:1, 2.35:1, 2.40:1 and RED footage shot in 2:1.

It’s simple in concept really, add a bunch of specific presets to what is already provided by Apple. And there are a lot of useful presets for the current hot devices and video websites:

As the website says that are over 330 presets available in the CRAMCompressor pack and at $39 it’s a great bargain. The developers will be adding new presets as the need arises, like the new 16:9 format on You Tube. Hey, if it makes me like Compressor more then job well done.