Authoring Professional DVDs in Final Cut Studio

DVD Studio Pro 101: An Introduction to DVD Studio Pro 4

Duration: 3 days
Time: 10am - 5pm. Breaks are scheduled throughout the day and lunch is typically scheduled between 12-1pm
Course Materials: Vendor Authorized Courseware provided
Locations: Reston, VA / On-Site
Related Courses:
Cost: $1295
Registration: Click Here to Register

Course Description
This three day hands-on course delves into the world of DVD authoring using DVD Studio Pro 4. In this comprehensive course students will learn everything they need to create a professional DVD title. This course guides students through every aspect of DVD authoring, from initial storyboarding to burning and replication.

Using compelling media and a real-world production workflow, students will 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.

Who Should Attend?
This course is designed for those that want to learn the basics of authoring professional quality DVDs using DVD Studio Pro 4. The course is designed for those who prefer hands-on and interactive instruction to best explore the full functionality of DVD Studio Pro.

Prerequisites
Students should have the following prerequisite knowledge prior to attending the course:
Basic knowledge of the Macintosh OS

Course Outline - Day 1

Lesson 1
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, and Building a Project and Burning a Disc

Lesson 2
Exploring the Full Interface
Opening the Project, Exploring Window Configurations, and Adjusting the Project

Lesson 3
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

Lesson 4
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

Lesson 5
Creating a Chapter Index Menu
Customizing Default Chapter Index Menu, Setting Up the Chapter Index Navigation Buttons, Adding a Drop Zone Shape, and Automating the Chapter Index Menu Creation Process

Course Outline - Day 2

Lesson 6
Creating a Slideshow
Using Slideshows, File Formats for Slideshows, Adding a Slideshow, Modifying Your Slideshow, Slideshow Transitions and Converting a Slideshow to a Track

Lesson 7
Adding Subtitles
Creating Subtitles in DVD Studio Pro, Modifying the Font and Color of Subtitles, Importing Subtitles from a Text File, Previewing Subtitles, Creating Buttons over Video, and Understanding Closed Captioning

Lesson 8
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

Lesson 9
Finishing Your DVD
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

Lesson 10
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, Adding a Layered Menu, Creating Layered Menu Buttons, and Linking Assets

Course Outline - Day 3

Lesson 11
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

Lesson 12
Scripting
Building Menu Loop Scripts, and Creating Return to Menu Scripts

Lesson 13
Transitions
Applying a Transition, Using a Video Transition, Using Alpha Transitions, Exploring the Asset Movie, and Exploring the Background Matte Movie

Lesson 14
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

Lesson 15
Converting SD TO HD
HD to SD Downconversions, Encoding HD Assets, and Converting SD Projects to HD Projects