Transcoding

FloSync includes a built-in transcode panel that converts your videos to sync-friendly formats without leaving the app. No command-line tools, no external software — just drag in your files, pick a format, and go.

If you're not sure whether you need to transcode your videos, see Video Preparation first.

Opening the Transcode Panel #

The transcode panel lives in the right sidebar of the composer window. Open it from:

• View menu → Show Transcode Panel
• Toolbar → click the transcode icon

The transcode panel and log panel share the same sidebar space — showing one hides the other.

Available Formats #

All three formats are designed for reliable multi-screen playback, with different tradeoffs for file size and workflow.

H.264 All-Intra is the default and a great starting point. It offers reliable sync performance with the smallest file sizes of the three options.

ProRes LT and DNxHR HQ are professional formats that produce larger files and are popular for demanding multi-screen setups. See our format recommendations for platform-specific guidance.

Performance Notes #

Transcode speed varies by format, file size, and your system hardware. In general, smaller output formats complete faster, while higher-quality formats take longer.

Adding Files #

Add video files to the transcode queue by:

• Clicking the + button in the panel header
• Dragging files into the panel

You can queue the same file multiple times with different formats — useful if you want both a ProRes and an H.264 All-Intra version.

Choosing a Format Per File #

Each file in the queue has its own format selector. When you change a file's format, that choice becomes the new default for any files you add afterward.

This means you can set your preferred format once, then add all your files — they'll all use that format automatically.

Audio Options #

Each queued file has a speaker icon toggle to include or exclude audio from the output.

When audio is included, FloSync handles it intelligently:

• Compatible audio (AAC, MP3, AC3 in MP4 containers) is copied directly — no re-encoding, no quality loss
• Incompatible audio is re-encoded to AAC 256 kbps
• MOV containers (ProRes, DNxHR) always copy the original audio stream

Audio is enabled by default. If your content doesn't need audio (signage, video walls), toggle it off for slightly faster transcoding.

Output Location and File Naming #

By default, transcoded files are saved alongside the original. You can set a custom output folder in the panel header menu.

Output files are named using the pattern:

originalname_Format.ext

For example, my_video.mp4 transcoded to ProRes LT becomes my_video_ProResLT.mov. If a file with that name already exists, a counter is appended: my_video_ProResLT_2.mov.

Managing the Queue #

Job States #

• Pending — waiting to be processed. You can toggle audio or remove the job.
• Running — shows a progress percentage and a stop button.
• Completed — click to reveal the output file in Finder or Explorer. Remove with the X button.
• Failed / Cancelled — remove with the X button.

Stopping Jobs #

• The stop button in the header cancels the current job and all remaining pending jobs.
• The stop button on an individual job cancels only that job; pending jobs continue.

Queue Persistence #

Your transcode queue is saved automatically. If you close and reopen FloSync, pending and completed jobs are still there. Jobs that were running when FloSync quit are reset to pending.

The queue is cleared only when you explicitly remove jobs using the X button or the Clear action.

Tips #

• Transcode overnight for large libraries — the queue processes jobs sequentially and picks up where it left off.
• Test with one file first to verify the format and quality meet your needs before queuing your entire library.
• Check file sizes — ProRes and DNxHR files are significantly larger than H.264 All-Intra. See file size expectations for estimates.
• Use the same format on all computers in a network sync setup — don't mix formats across machines.

Related #

• Video Preparation — Format recommendations, sample files, and manual FFmpeg commands
• Optimizing for Sync — Complete guide to achieving the best sync
• Network Sync — Setting up multi-computer sync