DVDSP 101: An Introduction to DVD Studio Pro

Objectives

Students will learn everything they need to create a professional DVD title and will be guided through every aspect of DVD authoring, from initial storyboarding to burning and replication. Students will also learn how to create amazing MPEG 2 video with Compressor as well as create eye-popping motion menus directly in DVD Studio Pro 4. Students will also "author" a DVD by creating buttons, interactive links, slideshows, playlists and even adding alternate audio stream and camera angles.


Pre-requisites:

A Basic knowledge of Mac OS X and some knowledge of Final Cut Pro is recommended


Course Includes:

A comprehensive set of reference notes covering course topics, follow-up telephone support and, for training on Transmedia premises, lunch and refreshments.


Course Outline


Preparing Your First DVD Project


DVD Creation Process, DVD Specification Basics, Exploring the Interface, Creating a Simple DVD in Basic View, Creating a Menu, Connecting Assets to the Menu, Simulating a Disc, Building a Project and Burning a Disc


Exploring the Full Interface


Opening the Project, Exploring Window Configurations, and Adjusting the Project


Setting Up a Simple DVD


Storyboarding a DVD, Creating a Storyboard Using the Graphical Tab, Previewing the Finished Project with Apple's DVD Player, Identifying Source Video Settings, Setting DVD Studio Pro Preferences, Setting Up Disc Properties, Importing Audio and Video, and Setting Chapter Markers


Creating Menus within DVD Studio Pro


The Menu Creation Process, Importing Assets, Adding a Background Graphic, Using the Safe Title and Action Safe Features, Creating Buttons on a Still Menu, Making Connections from Buttons to Video, Adding Title and Text to the Menu, Adding Sound to the Menu, Creating an Intro Menu, Targeting Navigation on your DVD and Using a Drop Zone to Create a Motion Menu


Creating a Chapter Index Menu


Customising Default Chapter Index Menu, Setting Up the Chapter Index Navigation Buttons, Adding a Drop Zone Shape, and Automating the Chapter Index Menu Creation Process


Creating a Slideshow


Using Slideshows, File Formats for Slideshows, Adding a Slideshow, Modifying Your Slideshow, Slideshow transitions and Converting a Slideshow to a Track


Adding Subtitles


Creating Subtitles in DVD Studio Pro, Modifying the Font and Colour of Subtitles, Importing Subtitles from a Text File, Previewing Subtitles, Creating Buttons over Video, and Understanding Closed Captioning


Finishing Your DVD


Adding DVD-ROM Content to a DVD-Video Disc, Testing Your Project, Building and Formatting a DVD, Using the Apple DVD Player, Burning a Disc Using the Burn Command, Choosing Recordable DVD Media, and Distributing your Completed DVD






Encoding with Compressor

Understanding Compression, Importing a File into Compressor from Final Cut Pro, Applying Preset Settings, Creating Custom Settings, Setting Compression Markers in Compressor, Creating Chapter Markers, Submitting Files for Encoding, and Creating a Compressor Droplet


Designing Advanced Menus


Maintaining the Look of Menu Graphics, Creating Standard Menus, Adding a Simple Overlay, Creating Buttons for the Overlay, Choosing Highlights for Button States, Using Advanced Overlays with Grayscale Color Mapping, Customizing Button Colors, Saving Default Colors, Adding a Motion Background, Setting a Loop Point, Working with Motion Menus, Advantages of Layered Menus, Adding a Layered Menu, Creating Layered Menu Buttons, and Linking your Assets


Markers, Stories and Connections


Working with Chapter Markers, Creating Markers in Final Cut Pro, Setting Encoding Preferences, Using Stories as Playlists, Creating and Working with Stories, Establishing Connections, and Finding the Unconnected Elements


Markers, Stories and Connections


Applying a Transition, Using a Video Transition, Using Alpha Transitions, Exploring the Asset Movie, Exploring the Background Matte Movie


Scripting


Building Menu Loop Scripts, and Creating Return to Menu Scripts


Creating Transitions


Applying a Transition, using a Video Transition, Using Alpha Transitions, Exploring the Asset Movie, and Exploring the Background Matte Movie


Using Alternate Angles


Setting Up the Project, About Alternate Angles, Creating Multi-Angle Tracks, Creating Mixed-Angle Tracks, Targeting Alternate Angle Streams, Simulating Alternate Angle Errors, and Exploring Final Cut Pro Markers


Converting SD To HD


HD to SD Downconversions, Encoding HD Assets, and Converting SD Projects to HD Projects