Compressor: Unable to connect to background process

In some situations submitting a job in Compressor fails even though a valid source, preset, and destination have been added.

Symptom

The Submit button is dimmed in Compressor's Batch window, or a message appears stating "Unable to connect to background process" when submitting a job. This can occur due to an issue during Compressor's installation.

To prevent this, either completely disable or temporarily remove third-party antivirus software or disk utilities which may run background processes during Compressor's installation.

Solution

Compressor 2

If this issue occurs with Compressor 2, go to /Library/Receipts and, if found, drag the following files to the Trash:

• Compressor.pkg
• Qmaster_Applications.pkg
• Qmaster_Frameworks.pkg
• Qmaster_Plugins.pkg
• Qmaster_Services.pkg

Then, go to /Applications and, if found, drag the following files to the Trash:

• Compressor
• Apple QMaster
• Apple Qadministrator

From your install disc, reinstall Compressor and Apple Qmaster (in custom install window, make sure that Compressor and Apple Qmaster items are checked). Once you have reinstalled the Compressor and QMaster applications and services, install all updates using Software Update and restart your computer.

Compressor 1

If you see the security alert described in "Qmaster startup item evokes security message in Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger," click "Fix" and restart your computer.

If you have Mac OS X 10.3 or Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger, update to Compressor 1.2.1.

If the issue continues:

1. Click the Finder in the Dock.
2. From the Go menu, choose Go To Folder.
3. Enter "/Library/Receipts" and click Go.
4. If present, drag files which contain the name "CompressorUpdate" to the Trash.
5. From the Go menu, choose Go To Folder.
6. Enter "/Library/Frameworks" and click Go.
7. Drag the file "Compressor.framework" to the Trash.
8. Install Compressor from your original software discs.
9. Use Software Update to update Compressor to version 1.2.1.

If this does not resolve the issue and you have both Final Cut Pro 4 and DVD Studio Pro 3 then do the following:

1. Reinstall Final Cut Pro 4 and download and install all updates.
   
2. Install DVD Studio Pro 3 making sure to select "Custom" and uncheck Compressor to install only DVD Studio Pro and A.Pack.
   

Note: If you have only one of these applications, then reinstalling the single application should resolve the issue.

For Mac OS X 10.2 to 10.2.8

In most situations, updating to Compressor 1.1 should resolve this. You can use Software Update in System Preferences to install the updates. Note: The Pro Apps Support package (ProKit Framework) must be installed first. Once the Pro Apps Support Package is installed, then click Check Now in Software Update again to see the Compressor update.

If the issue continues, it may be because DVD Studio Pro 2 was installed after installing Compressor 1.1. DVD Studio Pro 2 installs some components that do not work with Compressor 1.1. To resolve this, follow these steps:

1. Click the Finder in the Dock.
   
2. From the Go menu, choose Go To Folder.
   
3. Enter "/Library/Receipts" and click Go.
   
4. Drag the file "CompressorUpdate1.1.pkg" to the Trash.
   
5. From the Go menu, choose Go To Folder.
   
6. Enter "/Library/Frameworks" and click Go.
   
7. Drag the file "Compressor.framework" to the Trash.
   
8. Install Compressor from your original software discs.
9. Use Software Update to update Compressor to version 1.2.1.

See "Compressor: Troubleshooting basics" for other troubleshooting information.