Parallel Media Encoder Parallel Media Encoder
Key Feature

Why wait for one file when you can encode 10?

Your Apple Silicon Mac has dedicated hardware media engines. Parallel Media Encoder is the only transcoder that uses them all — simultaneously.

Multiple files encoding simultaneously in Parallel Media Encoder

The problem with traditional transcoders

Every other transcoder on macOS processes files one at a time. Even on a machine with multiple hardware media engines, they sit idle — wasting the silicon you paid for.

Traditional (Sequential)

Slow
File 1
File 2
File 3
File 4
File 5
File 6
File 7
File 8
File 9
File 10

Each file waits for the previous one to finish

Parallel Media Encoder

Fast
File 1
File 2
File 3
File 4
File 5
File 6
File 7
File 8
File 9
File 10

All 10 files encode at the same time

Hardware-aware scheduling

Parallel Media Encoder reads your Apple Silicon chip configuration and automatically sets the optimal number of simultaneous encodes. No tuning required.

Detect

Identifies your chip model and media engine count at launch

Configure

Sets the maximum concurrent encodes for your hardware

Encode

Runs files in parallel, managing the queue automatically

MacBook Neo / M1–M5 Base
Up to 2 simultaneous encodes
M1–M5 Pro
Up to 4 simultaneous encodes
M1–M5 Max
Up to 8 simultaneous encodes
M1–M3 Ultra
Up to 10 simultaneous encodes
Performance

Batch faster. Not just faster.

Parallel Media Encoder doesn't speed up individual encodes — it eliminates the dead time between them. Every sequential transcoder has a gap: one file finishes, the hardware idles, the next file starts. When you're generating proxies for an entire project, that compounds fast.

Measured
8-file batch · Apple M4 Max
Sequential — one at a time 197.5s
197.5s
Parallel — 8 at a time 119.5s
119.5s

We tested both modes on an M4 Max with 8 identical 4K clips. Sequential took 197 seconds. Parallel took 119. Same machine, same files, same output — 78 seconds faster just by keeping the hardware busy.

Estimated
Projection

100 clips. 16 minutes back.

A 100-clip proxy batch takes about 41 minutes on a sequential transcoder. On an M4 Max running Parallel Media Encoder, that same batch finishes in about 25 minutes. That's 16 minutes back in your edit session — per batch.

Sequential — one at a time ~41 min
~41 min
Parallel — 8 at a time ~25 min
~25 min

41 min

sequential, one at a time

25 min

parallel, 8 at a time

~16 min

saved per 100-clip batch

Measured: Apple M4 Max · 8 × 60s 4K UHD MXF source (H.264 10-bit 4:2:2) → H.265 HEVC · Wall-clock time, start to last file complete. Estimated projection extrapolated from measured data: Projection based on 100 clips at measured per-file average, 12 full rounds of 8 + 1 final round of 4. Assumes consistent thermal performance and drive throughput. Actual results vary by source format, clip length, output settings, and chip configuration.

Parallel encoding comparison

PME HandBrake EditReady
Parallel encoding Yes No Yes
Max simultaneous encodes Up to 10 1 2
Hardware-aware scheduling Yes No No
Chip tier detection Yes No No
Queue management Automatic Manual Manual

Start encoding in parallel

Download Parallel Media Encoder free. Unlock parallel encoding for $39.

Download Free

Requires macOS 14.5 or later. Apple Silicon required.