I Got Tired of Waiting on Transcodes.
So I Built a Tool That Doesn't.
Parallel Media Encoder is a macOS transcoder that runs multiple encodes at once on Apple Silicon. ProRes, DNx, H.264, HEVC, and RAW. 39% faster than single-file tools. No subscription.
Ten Years of Watching Editors Wait on Transcodes
For the last decade, I've been the person in the room when a producer says, "We need 200 dailies by morning." I've sat with assistant editors at 11 p.m. and watched one transcode crawl while seven of eight media engines on a new M2 Ultra sat idle.
That drove me crazy. Apple Silicon includes several dedicated video engines, but most transcoders use only one at a time.
I tried the usual options. Some require another subscription, some are slow, and others need command-line setup. None gave a small post team simple parallel batch transcoding without enterprise infrastructure.
So I built one.
Parallel Media Encoder is the tool I wanted when I was running post. It runs as many simultaneous encodes as your chip can handle, supports the codecs post teams use, and costs $39 once.
Use Every Hardware Engine on Your Mac. At the Same Time.
Your Apple Silicon Mac has dedicated video encode and decode engines built into the chip. An M-series Max has eight. An Ultra has more. Traditional transcoders only feed one engine at a time. PME spreads the work across all of them.
Faster Batch Encoding
On an M4 Max, 8 files took 119 seconds in parallel and 197 seconds sequentially. That saved 78 seconds in one batch.
Simultaneous Encodes
Up to 10 files at once on M-series Ultra chips. PME automatically detects your hardware and configures the optimal number of parallel encodes. No manual tuning.
One-Time. Forever.
No subscription, seat licences, or annual renewal. Pay once for Pro. The free version has no time limit.
Every Codec a Real Post Pipeline Touches
PME supports the formats post production teams use. Deliver mezzanine files for a colourist, proxies for an offline editor, and an H.265 client file from the same app.
Full ProRes Family
Proxy, 422 LT, 422, 422 HQ, 4444, 4444 XQ. Alpha pass-through for graphics and VFX plates.
DNxHR & DNxHD
LB, SQ, HQ, HQX, and 444. Native DNx output without Media Composer.
H.264 & H.265 / HEVC
All profiles. HEVC Main10 4:2:2 for HDR delivery. Hardware accelerated through Apple's media engines.
Camera RAW
Blackmagic RAW, RED R3D, ProRes RAW. Decode, transcode, and apply exposure adjustments before delivery.
3D LUTs & Burn-In
Apply colour LUTs on the way out. Burn in timecode, watermarks, and text overlays for review copies.
Watch Folders
Drop a file on a network share and it transcodes automatically. Watch folders work on local drives and NAS storage.
Custom Presets
Save your delivery specs once. Apply them to every file with one click. Share presets with the rest of your team.
HDR Pass-Through
Preserve HDR metadata or tone-map down to SDR. Frame rate conversion, resolution scaling, and rotation built in.
MXF & Insta360
Read Sony and Panasonic MXF containers and decode Insta360 formats.
Pay Once. Or Don't Pay at All.
Try the free version forever. Upgrade to Pro when you need parallel encoding and the rest of the pipeline.
Free
- ✓ H.264, HEVC, and ProRes output
- ✓ One file at a time
- ✓ Built-in delivery presets
- ✓ Drag-and-drop and video preview
- ✓ Auto-updates
Pro
Early adopter price. Regular $79.
- ✓ Parallel encoding for up to 10 files at once
- ✓ DNxHR and DNxHD output (all variants)
- ✓ BRAW, R3D, and ProRes RAW
- ✓ 3D LUTs and burn-in overlays
- ✓ Custom presets and watch folders
- ✓ HEVC Main10 4:2:2 and ProRes alpha
Stop Waiting on a Single Progress Bar
The free version takes thirty seconds to download. If you've ever delivered a batch of dailies on a Friday night, you already know whether you need this.
Need help wiring it into your team's workflow? Get in touch →