Parallel Media Encoder Parallel Media Encoder

Every feature, built for professionals

From parallel encoding to camera RAW support, Parallel Media Encoder is designed for high-volume post-production workflows.

Key Feature

Parallel Encoding

Traditional transcoders process one file at a time, leaving your Apple Silicon hardware media engines idle. Parallel Media Encoder detects your chip tier and runs the optimal number of simultaneous encodes.

On an M5 Ultra, that means up to 10 files encoding at once, turning hours of sequential processing into a fraction of the time. Even the MacBook Neo with its A18 Pro chip supports 2 simultaneous encodes.

Deep dive into parallel encoding
MacBook Neo / M1–M6 Base
Up to 2 simultaneous encodes
M1–M5 Pro
Up to 4 simultaneous encodes
M1–M5 Max
Up to 8 simultaneous encodes
M1–M5 Ultra
Up to 10 simultaneous encodes

Every codec you need

Output to any industry-standard format. Whether you need lightweight H.264 for web delivery or ProRes 4444 XQ for color grading, it's all here.

Delivery

H.264H.265 / HEVC HEVC Main10 4:2:2 Pro

ProRes

422 Proxy422 LT422422 HQ44444444 XQ

DNxHR / DNxHD (Pro)

DNxHR LBDNxHR SQDNxHR HQDNxHR HQXDNxHR 444DNxHD LBDNxHD SQDNxHD HQDNxHD HQXDNxHD 444

Image Sequences

JPEG DPX 8/10/12/16-bit ProTIFF 8/16-bit & float ProOpenEXR half & float Pro

One still per frame in a folder per clip, numbered from 1, 0, a custom frame or the source timecode. DPX carries per-frame timecode, Blackmagic RAW and RED R3D develop straight to 16-bit RGB with no YCbCr step, and ProRes 4444 keeps its full 4:4:4 chroma and its alpha in TIFF and OpenEXR.

Camera RAW & beyond

Import directly from your camera media. Parallel Media Encoder supports professional RAW formats alongside standard video containers.

Standard Formats

  • ProRes (all variants)
  • H.264 / H.265 (GoPro, DJI, Canon, iPhone)
  • MXF containers (Sony FX3, FX6, FX9, Panasonic P2)
  • Insta360 (.insv / .lrv)

RAW Formats

Pro

Import and preview in Free. Encoding, metadata extraction, and color science controls require Pro.

Deep encoding controls

Every parameter at your fingertips. Fine-tune your encodes with professional-grade settings.

Quality modes: Automatic, Manual Bitrate, VBR 1-Pass, VBR 2-Pass
Resolution & rotation: As-source or custom scaling, with 90/180/270° rotation
Frame rate: Source-match or custom (up to 120 fps)
Advanced: B-frames, keyframe interval, profile selection
HDR: Pass-through with automatic Main10 profile upgrade
Output and encoding settings for a Blackmagic RAW clip: H.265 hardware encode, bitrate, profile, estimated output size, resolution, and frame rate

Full control over every encode

Dial in the exact output you need. Every encode exposes codec, quality, resolution, and audio settings, with no guessing or hidden defaults.

Codec selection: H.264, H.265, ProRes, DNx, or DPX, TIFF, OpenEXR and JPEG image sequences
Quality control: automatic bitrate or VBR with real-time size estimates
Profile & encoding: Main10, B-Frames, keyframe interval for precise control
Resolution & frame rate: match source or scale to custom sizes
Audio handling: pass through, re-encode to AAC, or strip audio entirely
Temporal denoise, audit report, audio re-encode, and source timecode settings for an encode
Built-in MCP server

Encode by asking

The first media encoder MCP built for professional post-production. Connect Claude Code, Claude Desktop, Codex or Gemini CLI, and your assistant can inspect footage, choose settings and queue encodes in Parallel Media Encoder.

Probe and inspect: codec, frame rate, timecode and audio tracks for any file, plus still frames when the assistant needs to see a clip
Settings per clip: every pme transcode option, chosen by resolution, file name or audio layout from one prompt
Visible in the queue: AI jobs are tagged with the client that sent them, and you can pause, reorder or cancel them
Audits and watch folders: audited outputs reported back, and watch folders and presets set up by asking (Pro)
Free to use: the MCP server is free, and encodes follow the same Free and Pro rules as the app

PME processes media locally and never returns full media files or audio. Your AI client receives paths, technical metadata, job details and, when it asks, downscaled still frames, and its provider’s data policies apply. Data security

See what it can do Setup guide
Claude Code in Terminal asking PME to make audited ProRes proxies of Blackmagic RAW clips, with the jobs tagged Claude in the Parallel Media Encoder queue

Built-in metadata viewer

Inspect every detail of your source files before encoding. The metadata viewer shows codec, resolution, frame rate, bit depth, color space, camera model, and more without leaving the app.

Full file inspection: codec, resolution, frame rate, bit depth, color space, duration, and file size
Camera details: see the camera model, lens, and recording settings from the original shoot
Quick reference: verify your source properties before choosing encode settings
Metadata viewer for a Blackmagic RAW clip: file, video, audio, camera, color science, exposure, and timecode details

Metadata that travels with your files

Parallel Media Encoder preserves the original metadata from your source files and embeds it in the output, so you always have a record of where a file came from and who created it.

Source metadata pass-through: original resolution, codec, frame rate, and creation date embedded in the output
Source filename tracking: the original filename is stored so you always know where a file came from
"Transcoded By" field: set your name or team in Settings, and it's embedded in every output file
PME metadata embedded in a ProRes proxy: source file, original resolution and frame rate, Transcoded By, and Blackmagic RAW camera details

Flexible audio handling

Keep your audio untouched with pass-through mode, or re-encode to the format you need.

Pass-Through AAC FLAC Opus Vorbis

Configure target bitrate, channel count, sample rate, and bit depth per encode.

Streamlined workflow

A clean three-panel layout puts your sources, settings, and encode queue in one view. Drag and drop files or scan entire folders.

Drag & drop: import individual files or entire folders
Built-in presets: apply included encoding presets (custom presets in Pro)
Batch settings: apply the same settings across multiple files
Video preview: scrub through your source before encoding
Folder structure: recreate source directory layout in output
Sources, Presets panel, LUT preview, and encode queue in one Parallel Media Encoder window

Presets that work your way

Start with dozens of built-in presets for common workflows, including Social Media, ProRes, DNxHR, Delivery, and more. With Pro, build your own.

Built-in presets: YouTube, Vimeo, ProRes, DNxHR, and more ready to go
Custom presets: save codec, quality, resolution, frame rate, and audio settings (Pro)
Attach a LUT: bake a 3D LUT into a preset so it auto-applies every time (Pro)
Export & import: share presets across machines or with your team (Pro)
Presets sidebar showing built-in and custom encoding presets
Pro

Watch folders

Set up folders that automatically transcode new files as they arrive. Pick a preset, set a polling interval, and walk away. Parallel Media Encoder handles the rest.

Automatic scanning: monitors folders recursively, including subfolders
Preset-driven: assign any preset to a watch folder for consistent output
Configurable polling: scan every 1 to 60 minutes
PickedUp tracking: processed files are moved to a PickedUp subfolder to prevent re-encoding
Learn more about watch folder encoding
Watch Folders panel showing active folder monitoring with preset and scan interval

Color science, built in

Apply 3D LUTs during transcode, preserve HDR metadata, or tone map HDR to SDR without round-tripping through a color grading application.

3D LUT Application

Pro

Apply .cube LUTs during transcode for color grading in a single pass.

HDR Support

Pass through HDR metadata or tone map to SDR with automatic profile handling.

Exposure Control

Pro

Fine-tune exposure on RAW footage before encoding with real-time preview.

Insta360 support

Transcode Insta360 footage while preserving the metadata that keeps it recognized as 360 media in Insta360 Studio and other tools.

  • Preserve Insta360 metadata
  • Optional .insv/.lrv file extension preservation
Learn more about Insta360 compression
Insta360 metadata preservation settings

Start free, upgrade when you're ready

Free for personal, educational, and evaluation use. Pro for paid work, with full parallel encoding, RAW, DNx, and more.

Free

$0

For personal, educational, and evaluation use

  • H.264 / HEVC / ProRes output
  • JPEG image sequences
  • Batch queue (up to 8 files)
  • 2 simultaneous encodes
  • Built-in presets
  • Video preview & drag-and-drop
  • Auto-updates
  • No DNx, DPX/TIFF/EXR sequences, RAW encode, LUTs, or overlays
Download Free
Early Adopter Price

Pro

$39 $79

Per Mac · Commercial use · One-time

  • Everything in Free, plus:
  • Parallel encoding (2–10 simultaneous)
  • DNxHR & DNxHD output (all variants)
  • DPX, TIFF & OpenEXR image sequences
  • RAW encode (BRAW, R3D, N-RAW, ProRes RAW, ARRI, Canon CRM)
  • HEVC Main10 4:2:2 & ProRes alpha
  • 3D LUT & overlay burn-in
  • Custom presets (save/edit/export/import)
  • Watch folders (auto-transcode new files)
  • RAW exposure control
Buy Now for $39

One-time purchase. No subscription.

Already have a key? Add seats to it

Requires internet access for activation and periodic license validation. Pro features may be restricted after 30 days without a successful check.

License Terms · Refund Policy · Privacy Policy

Studios, teams, and schools. One license per Mac; a volume license covers several Macs with one key. Five or more on one invoice, volume pricing from ten. Schools license free. Licensing for teams →

Full feature comparison

Feature Free Pro
Permitted use Personal, educational, evaluation Any, including commercial
Batch transcode queue 8 queued, 2 concurrent Full chip-tier concurrency
H.264 (all profiles)
HEVC Main / Main10
HEVC Main10 4:2:2
ProRes (Proxy–4444 XQ)
ProRes alpha pass-through
DNx (all variants)
Image sequences JPEG only DPX, TIFF, OpenEXR, JPEG
RAW codecs (BRAW, R3D, N-RAW, ProRes RAW, ARRI, Canon CRM) Import & preview only
LUT support
Timecode/text overlay burn-in
Custom presets
Watch folders
Built-in presets
RAW exposure control
Auto-updates

Ready to encode faster?

Download Parallel Media Encoder for free and upgrade when you need parallel power.

Download Free

Requires macOS 14.5 or later. Apple Silicon required.