Avid® DVD By Sonic™ User’s Guide
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No part of this document may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, for any purpose without the express written permission of Avid Technology, Inc. Copyright © 2004 Avid Technology, Inc. and its licensors. All rights reserved. Printed in USA. The following disclaimer is required by Sam Leffler and Silicon Graphics, Inc. for the use of their TIFF library:
Copyright © 1988–1997 Sam Leffler Copyright © 1991–1997 Silicon Graphics, Inc.
Permission to use, copy, modify, distribute, and sell this software [i.e., the TIFF library] and its documentation for any purpose is hereby granted without fee, provided that (i) the above copyright notices and this permission notice appear in all copies of the software and related documentation, and (ii) the names of Sam Leffler and Silicon Graphics may not be used in any advertising or publicity relating to the software without the specific, prior written permission of Sam Leffler and Silicon Graphics.
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IN NO EVENT SHALL SAM LEFFLER OR SILICON GRAPHICS BE LIABLE FOR ANY SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, INDIRECT OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OF ANY KIND, OR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER RESULTING FROM LOSS OF USE, DATA OR PROFITS, WHETHER OR NOT ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF DAMAGE, AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE USE OR PERFORMANCE OF THIS SOFTWARE. The following disclaimer is required by the Independent JPEG Group: Portions of this software are based on work of the Independent JPEG Group. The following disclaimer is required by Paradigm Matrix: Portions of this software licensed from Paradigm Matrix. The following disclaimer is required by Ray Sauers Associates, Inc.: “Install-It” is licensed from Ray Sauers Associates, Inc. End-User is prohibited from taking any action to derive a source code equivalent of “Install-It,” including by reverse assembly or reverse compilation, Ray Sauers Associates, Inc. shall in no event be liable for any damages resulting from reseller’s failure to perform reseller’s obligation; or any damages arising from use or operation of reseller’s products or the software; or any other damages, including but not limited to, incidental, direct, indirect, special or consequential Damages including lost profits, or damages resulting from loss of use or inability to use reseller’s products or the software for any reason including copyright or patent infringement, or lost data,
2 even if Ray Sauers Associates has been advised, knew or should have known of the possibility of such damages. The following disclaimer is required by Videomedia, Inc.: “Videomedia, Inc. makes no warranties whatsoever, either express or implied, regarding this product, including warranties with respect to its merchantability or its fitness for any particular purpose.”
“This software contains V-LAN ver. 3.0 Command Protocols which communicate with V-LAN ver. 3.0 products developed by Videomedia, Inc. and V-LAN ver. 3.0 compatible products developed by third parties under license from Videomedia, Inc. Use of this software will allow “frame accurate” editing control of applicable videotape recorder decks, videodisc recorders/players and the like.” The following disclaimer is required by Altura Software, Inc. for the use of its Mac2Win software and Sample Source Code: ©1993–1998 Altura Software, Inc. The following disclaimer is required by 3Prong.com Inc.: Certain waveform and vector monitoring capabilities are provided under a license from 3Prong.com Inc. Attn. Government User(s). Restricted Rights Legend U.S. GOVERNMENT RESTRICTED RIGHTS. This Software and its documentation are “commercial computer software” or “commercial computer software documentation.” In the event that such Software or documentation is acquired by or on behalf of a unit or agency of the U.S. Government, all rights with respect to this Software and documentation are subject to the terms of the License Agreement, pursuant to FAR §12.212(a) and/or DFARS §227.7202-1(a), as applicable. Trademarks 888 I/O, Adrenaline, AirPlay, AirSPACE, AirSPACE HD, AniMatte, AudioSuite, AudioVision, AutoSync, Avid, Avid DNA, AVIDdrive, AVIDdrive Towers, Avid Mojo, AvidNet, AvidNetwork, AVIDstripe, Avid Unity, Avid Xpress, AVoption, AVX, CamCutter, ChromaCurve, ChromaWheel, DAE, D-Fi, D-fx, Digidesign, Digidesign Audio Engine, Digidesign Intelligent Noise Reduction, DigiDrive, Digital Nonlinear Accelerator, DigiTranslator, DINR, D-Verb, Equinox, ExpertRender, FieldPak, Film Composer, FilmScribe, FluidMotion, HIIP, HyperSPACE, HyperSPACE HDCAM, IllusionFX, Image Independence, Intraframe, iS9, iS18, iS23, iS36, Lo-Fi, Magic Mask, make manage move | media, Marquee, Matador, Maxim, MCXpress, Media Composer, MediaDock, MediaDock Shuttle, Media Fusion, Media Illusion, MediaLog, Media Reader, Media Recorder, MEDIArray, MediaShare, Meridien, MetaSync, NaturalMatch, Nearchive, NetReview, NewsCutter, Nitris, OMF, OMF Interchange, OMM, Open Media Framework, Open Media Management, ProEncode, Pro Tools, QuietDrive, Recti-Fi, RetroLoop, rS9, rS18, Sci-Fi, Softimage, Sound Designer II, SPACE, SPACEShift, Symphony, the Avid|DS logo, Trilligent, UnityRAID, Vari-Fi, Video Slave Driver, VideoSPACE, and Xdeck are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Avid Technology, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. iNEWS, iNEWS ControlAir, and Media Browse are trademarks of iNews, LLC.
All other trademarks contained herein are the property of their respective owners. Footage Arri — Courtesy of Arri/Fauer — John Fauer, Inc. Bell South “Anticipation” — Courtesy of Two Headed Monster — Tucker/Wayne Atlanta/GMS. Canyonlands — Courtesy of the National Park Service/Department of the Interior. Eco Challenge British Columbia — Courtesy of Eco Challenge Lifestyles, Inc., All Rights Reserved. Eco Challenge Morocco — Courtesy of Discovery Communications, Inc. It’s Shuttletime — Courtesy of BCP & Canadian Airlines. Nestlé Coffee Crisp — Courtesy of MacLaren McCann Canada. Saturn “Calvin Egg” — Courtesy of Cossette Communications. “Tigers: Tracking a Legend” — Courtesy of www.wildlifeworlds.com, Carol Amore, Executive Producer. Windhorse — Courtesy of Paul Wagner Productions.
GOT FOOTAGE?
Editors — Filmmakers — Special Effects Artists — Game Developers — Animators — Educators — Broadcasters — Content creators of every genre — Just finished an incredible project and want to share it with the world?
3 Send us your reels and we may use your footage in our show reel or demo!*
For a copy of our release and Avid’s mailing address, go to www.avid.com/footage.
*Note: Avid cannot guarantee the use of materials submitted.
Avid DVD by Sonic User’s Guide •0130-06219-01 • July 2004
4 Contents
Chapter 1 Introduction ...... 13 About the Documentation ...... 13 Accessing the Online Library ...... 14 How to Order Documentation ...... 14 Avid Educational Services...... 14
Chapter 2 Workflow and Work Areas ...... 15 Workflow for Creating DVDs ...... 15 The Palette Window ...... 16 Using the Palette Window ...... 18 The List Window ...... 18 Using the List Window ...... 20 The Movie Timeline Window ...... 20 Using the Movie Timeline Window ...... 21 The Menu Editor Window ...... 23 Using the Menu Editor Window ...... 24 The Avid DVD by Sonic Status Bar...... 25 The Properties Window...... 26 Movie Properties ...... 27 Chapter Point Properties ...... 28 Menu Properties ...... 28 Button Properties ...... 28 The Remote Control Window ...... 29 Chapter 3 Preparing Assets ...... 31 Video Requirements...... 31 NTSC and PAL ...... 32 DVD-Compliant Video Files...... 32 Non-DVD-Compliant Video Files ...... 34 Audio Requirements...... 34 Still Image Requirements ...... 35 Supported Still Image Formats ...... 35 Windows Bitmap Parameters ...... 35 JPEG Parameters...... 35 Macintosh PICT Parameters...... 36 Photoshop Parameters...... 36 PNG (Portable Network Graphic) Parameters ...... 36 TIFF (Tagged Image File Format) Parameters...... 36 Truevision Targa Parameters ...... 37 Recommended Still Image Sizes...... 37 Overlay Image Requirements...... 37 Preparing Sequences in an Avid Editing Application ...... 38 Preparing a Finished Sequence ...... 38 Encoding the Sequence with Sorenson Squeeze ...... 39 Creating Menu Graphics in Photoshop ...... 41 Creating Menu Layers in Photoshop ...... 41 Creating Menu Buttons in Photoshop ...... 43 Calculating Bit Rates ...... 44 Calculating the Bit Budget ...... 44 Media Capacities ...... 45 Sample Bit Budget Calculation ...... 47 The Bit Budget Display...... 48
Chapter 4 Starting a Project...... 49 Creating a New Project ...... 49
6 Working with Assets ...... 50 Importing Assets...... 50 Previewing Assets ...... 51 Deleting Assets ...... 52 Saving and Opening Projects ...... 53 Saving Projects ...... 53 Opening Projects ...... 53 Missing Assets when Opening Projects ...... 54
Chapter 5 Creating Movies...... 55 Creating Movies ...... 55 Editing Video and Audio Tracks ...... 58 Replacing Video Clips in Movies ...... 58 Replacing Audio Clips in Movies ...... 59 Deleting Audio Clips ...... 59 Deleting Audio Tracks ...... 59 Chapter Points ...... 59 Adding Chapter Points ...... 60 Chapter Point Locations and GOP Headers ...... 61 Chapter Point Locations and Subtitles ...... 62 Moving Chapter Points ...... 63 Renaming Chapter Points ...... 64 Deleting Chapter Points ...... 64 Setting the Audio Language for Audio Tracks...... 65 Selecting Audio Tracks ...... 65
Chapter 6 Importing Subtitles ...... 67 Importing Subtitles ...... 67 Subtitle Color Groups ...... 70 Working with Subtitles in the Timeline ...... 71 Setting the Audio Language for Subtitle Tracks ...... 72
7 Selecting Subtitle Tracks ...... 73
Chapter 7 Creating Menus ...... 75 About Menus ...... 75 Creating Menus ...... 78 Creating Still Menus from Single-Layer Images ...... 79 Creating Still Menus from Photoshop Layers ...... 81 Creating Motion Menus ...... 83 Replacing Background and Overlay Layers ...... 85 Replacing Background Layers...... 85 Replacing Overlay Layers ...... 86 Removing Overlay Layers ...... 86 Menu Audio ...... 87 Adding Menu Objects ...... 88 Adding Graphics to Menus ...... 88 Adding Text to Menus ...... 89 Creating Buttons from Menus ...... 91 Creating Buttons from Movies ...... 92 Displaying Menu Objects with Drop Shadow ...... 94 Creating Button Highlights ...... 95 Editing Menu Objects ...... 97 The Safe Zone...... 97 Selecting, Moving, and Resizing Menu Objects ...... 98 Aligning Menu Objects...... 101 Distributing Menu Objects ...... 102 Moving Menu Objects to Front or Back ...... 103 Locking Menu Objects ...... 103 Copying, Duplicating, and Deleting Menu Objects ...... 104
Chapter 8 Button Links and Button Properties ...... 107 Creating Button Links ...... 107
8 Adding Links with Drag and Drop...... 108 Adding Links by Right-Clicking...... 109 Removing Links ...... 110 Button Link Properties...... 110 Playlists ...... 112 Highlight Colors...... 115 Setting Highlight Colors ...... 115 Button Numbers ...... 116 Button Routing ...... 117 Button Routing with Auto Route ...... 118 Manual Button Routing...... 119 Auto Activate ...... 120 Forced Selection ...... 121
Chapter 9 Adding Navigation...... 123 Setting the First Play ...... 123 Reassigning First Play ...... 124 Removing First Play ...... 124 End Actions and End Frame Stills...... 125 Setting End Actions and End Frame Stills for Movies ...... 125 Movie End Actions and Playlists ...... 127 Setting End Actions and End Frame Stills for Menus...... 127 Setting the Project’s Title Menu ...... 129 Setting a Movie’s Root Menu ...... 129 Setting the Jacket Picture ...... 129
Chapter 10 Proofing the Project ...... 131 Video Output for Simulation Mode ...... 131 Configuring AV Setup ...... 132 Proofing with Simulation Mode ...... 134 Using the Remote Control ...... 134
9 Chapter 11 Creating DVDs ...... 137 Project Settings ...... 137 Volume Info ...... 138 Region Coding...... 139 Copy Protection ...... 140 ROM Data ...... 142 OpenDVD ...... 143 Writing OpenDVD Discs ...... 143 Opening an OpenDVD Disc...... 144 Creating DVD Volumes ...... 145 Creating Disc Images ...... 146 Creating DVD Discs ...... 147 Creating DLTs ...... 149 Viewing the DDP Report...... 151 Dual-Layer Projects ...... 151 Creating DVD-ROM Backups...... 153
Appendix A Video Standards and DVD Regions ...... 155 Television Video Standards ...... 155 DVD Regions ...... 156 Video Standards and DVD Regions for Countries/Territories ...... 156
Appendix B Shortcuts ...... 167 File Menu Shortcuts ...... 167 Edit Menu Shortcuts ...... 168 Windows Menu Shortcuts...... 168 Palette Window Shortcuts ...... 169 List Window Shortcuts ...... 169 Menu Editor Shortcuts ...... 169 Movie Timeline Shortcuts ...... 169 Remote Control Shortcuts ...... 170
10 Glossary ...... 171
Index ...... 187
11 12 Chapter 1 Introduction
Welcome to Avid DVD by Sonic, a professional DVD production system that integrates authoring and disc creation into a single, easy-to-use application. Avid DVD by Sonic takes MPEG video, graphics, and PCM, Dolby Digital and MPEG sound files, and lets you quickly build stunning, professional DVD presentations.
This chapter includes the following: • About the Documentation • Accessing the Online Library • How to Order Documentation • Avid Educational Services
About the Documentation
Avid DVD by Sonic includes the following documentation: • Avid DVD by Sonic User Guide Documents how to use Avid DVD by Sonic to author DVD discs, which includes project planning, asset preparation and importing, building and authoring projects, proofing, and writing to disc and DLT. • Avid DVD by Sonic Tutorial Takes you step-by-step through the authoring process of importing media assets, creating movies and menus, adding links between the content, setting playback order, and outputting to disc. Chapter 1 Introduction
Accessing the Online Library
The Avid Xpress Studio Online Library DVD contains all the product documentation in PDF format and tutorials. Avid recommends the tutorials as your first resource for learning how to use your application. You can access the documentation and tutorial from the Online Library DVD or from the Help menu. n You will need Adobe® Acrobat® Reader® installed to view the documentation online. The Acrobat folder on the CD-ROM contains an installer for Acrobat Reader. The tutorial and the effects reference guide requires Apples’ QuickTime® application to view the QuickTime movies. You can download the latest version of QuickTime from the Apple® Web site.
To access the online library and tutorial from the Online Library DVD: 1. Insert the Online Library DVD into the drive. 2. Double-click the Mainmenu file.
To access the online library and tutorial from the Help: 1. Insert the Online Library DVD into the drive. 2. In your Avid application, select Help > Online Library.
How to Order Documentation
To order additional copies of this documentation from within the United States, call Avid Sales at 800-949-AVID (800-949-2843). If you are placing an order from outside the United States, contact your local Avid representative.
Avid Educational Services
For information on courses/schedules, training centers, certifications, courseware, and books, please visit www.avid.com/training or call Avid Sales at 800-949-AVID (800-949-2843).
14 Avid DVD by Sonic Chapter 2 Workflow and Work Areas
This chapter documents the basic workflow for creating DVDs with Avid DVD by Sonic and provides an overview of the different windows in Avid DVD by Sonic. It includes the following topics: • Workflow for Creating DVDs • The Palette Window • The List Window • The Movie Timeline Window • The Menu Editor Window • The Avid DVD by Sonic Status Bar • The Properties Window • The Remote Control Window
Workflow for Creating DVDs
The following procedure outlines the basic workflow for creating DVDs with Avid DVD by Sonic. These steps are documented in greater detail in the remaining chapters.
To create a DVD with Avid DVD by Sonic: 1. Prepare and encode audio, video, still image, and subtitle assets required by the project. 2. In Avid DVD by Sonic, create a new project and import the assets. 3. Create movies by dragging video clips from the Palette window to the Movies column in the List window. Chapter 2 Workflow and Work Areas
4. In the Movie Timeline window, add audio tracks, import subtitles, and define chapter points. 5. Import metadata that was created when you exported your sequence from the Avid editing application. 6. Create menus by dragging still images, Photoshop layers, or video clips to the Menus column in the List window. 7. In the Menu Editor window, add graphics and text objects to menus. 8. Link movies and chapter points to menus by dragging them to the Menu Editor window. 9. For each menu, set button highlight colors and routing in the Properties window. 10. Select a movie or menu that will play first by defining First Play in the List window. 11. Set the playback order for movies and menus by defining their end actions in the Properties window. 12. Define the project’s title menu and root menus in the Properties window. 13. Proof the project in Simulation mode, using the Remote Control window to test playback order, remote control interaction, button navigation, and link destinations. 14. Output the project to a DVD Volume, disc image, CD- or DVD- recordable, or digital linear tape (DLT).
The Palette Window
The Palette window displays the project’s assets, which can include video and audio clips, still images, and Photoshop layers. Assets can be added to the project with the Add Files To Project command or by dragging them from Windows Explorer directly into the Palette window.
16 Avid DVD by Sonic The Palette Window
Palette Window
Image asset
Video asset
Click column head to sort Audio asset by that column’s attribute. Click again to sort in Photoshop reverse order. asset with menu layers
Photoshop asset with button layers
Palette Preview: Play/Stop
Assets in the Palette window can be displayed with or without thumbnails, sorted, and previewed. Assets can be dragged from the Palette window into the List window to create menus and movies, into the Movie Timeline window to add audio to movies, or into the Menu Editor window to add graphics to menus.
Avid DVD by Sonic 17 Chapter 2 Workflow and Work Areas
Using the Palette Window
To show or hide the Palette window: t Choose Window > Show/Hide Palette Window or press F7.
To view assets with small icons in the Palette window: 1. Right-click in the Palette window and choose Small Icons View from the pop-up menu. 2. To return to displaying large icons, Right-click in the Palette window and choose Large Icons View from the pop-up menu.
To sort the assets in the Palette window: t Click a column head to sort by that column’s attribute (Name, Duration, Category, Type, and Size). Click again to sort in reverse order. Clicking the Image column has no effect.
The List Window
The List window displays the project’s menus and movies in their respective columns. Movies and menus are created by dragging video clips and still images from the Palette window into the List window.
18 Avid DVD by Sonic The List Window
List Window
First Play indicator
Menus Movies
You can arrange the movies and menus in the List window by dragging them up or down within their columns. This lets you organize them for your needs, and lets you specify a title menu (the menu displayed when the viewer presses the TITLE button on the remote control) by dragging a menu to the top of the Menus column.
Selecting a menu in the List window displays it in the Menu Editor window; selecting a movie displays it in the Movie Timeline window. You can drag menus and movies into the Menu Editor window to create buttons that link to them, or you can drag them onto a graphic or text object in the Menu editor to add links to them.
Avid DVD by Sonic 19 Chapter 2 Workflow and Work Areas
Using the List Window
To show or hide the List window: t Choose Windows > Show/Hide List Window or press F9.
To rename a menu or movie: t Click its title so it becomes selected and enter the new name, then press Enter.
To delete a menu or movie: 1. In the List window, select the menu or movie you want to delete. 2. Do one of the following: - Choose Edit > Clear. - Press Delete. - Right-click a menu or movie and choose Delete from the pop-up menu. 3. If you deleted the First Play menu or movie, click OK to confirm the operation. Avid DVD by Sonic deletes the menu or movie and removes it from the List window. If any menu buttons were linked to the menu or movie, they are deleted.
The Movie Timeline Window
Movies in Avid DVD by Sonic contain one video track, up to eight audio tracks with stereo or surround audio, and up to 32 subtitle tracks for multi- language DVDs and text captions. Movies can also contain chapter points (pointing to scenes within the movie), to which the viewer can navigate with the NEXT and PREVIOUS buttons on the remote control; chapter points can also be linked to menu buttons. Movies play until their video track ends or the viewer jumps somewhere else using the remote control. When a movie finishes playing, its end action specifies which menu or movie will play next.
The Movie Timeline window displays the tracks for the movie selected in the List window. You can use this window to replace the video track, add or replace audio tracks, create and edit chapter points, and import subtitles.
20 Avid DVD by Sonic The Movie Timeline Window
Movie Timeline Window
Zoom controls Chapter point Timeline ruler
Audio track Subtitle track Video track
The Movie Timeline window can be zoomed to display finer resolution in the Timeline ruler, which is useful when inserting and editing chapter points.
Using the Movie Timeline Window
To show or hide the Movie Timeline window: t Choose Windows > Show/Hide Movie Timeline Window or press F7.
You can also open the Movie Timeline window by double--clicking a movie in the List window.
To display a different movie in the Movie Timeline window: t In the List window, select the movie you want to display in the Movie Timeline window.
To zoom the Movie Timeline window: • To zoom in by one step, choose Menu Editor > Zoom In or press Ctrl+Plus. You can also click the Zoom In button in the Movie Timeline window.
Avid DVD by Sonic 21 Chapter 2 Workflow and Work Areas
• To zoom out by one step, choose Menu Editor > Zoom Out or press Ctrl+Minus. You can also click the Zoom Out button in the Movie Timeline window.
• To zoom all the way out, choose Timeline > Zoom Entire or press Ctrl+0. • To zoom so that the movie’s track content fills the Movie Timeline window, choose Timeline > Fit On Screen. • To zoom to a specific zoom value, click to the right of the Zoom In button and select a zoom value from the Zoom menu.
To display the minimum number of track in the Movie Timeline window: 1. Choose Timeline > Show Minimum Tracks or press Ctrl+M. The Movie Timeline window is resized so that only the video track and one each of the audio and subtitle tracks are displayed (with no empty space at the bottom of the window). The window can no longer be vertically resized. 2. To select which audio or subtitle track is displayed, click the track name and select the track you want to display. 3. To return to normal display, choose Timeline > Show Normal Tracks or press Ctrl +M. All tracks are displayed in the Movie Timeline window, which can now be vertically resized.
22 Avid DVD by Sonic The Menu Editor Window
The Menu Editor Window
A menu is a still image or video clip that includes one or more buttons (up to 36). Menus provide interactivity and can be used to navigate the disc’s content or make decisions about how the content is played. Menus are comprised of three layers: background, overlay, and highlight (for more information, see “About Menus” on page 75).
The Menu Editor window is where you display and edit menus. In this window, you can add or replace menu layers, and add graphics, text objects, and button highlights. When you drag menus or movies from the List window, or chapter points from the Movie Timeline window, into the Menu Editor window, buttons are automatically created that link to the dragged item. When working with menus in the Menu Editor window, you can hide or show any of the three layers.
Avid DVD by Sonic 23 Chapter 2 Workflow and Work Areas
Menu Editor Window
Highlight Text Background Show Show tool tool Target Background Highlight Layer Layer Select Overlay Show tool Target Overlay Layer
Using the Menu Editor Window
To show or hide the Menu Editor window: t Choose Windows > Show/Hide Menu Editor Window or press F4. n You can also open the Menu Editor window by double--clicking a menu in the List window.
24 Avid DVD by Sonic The Avid DVD by Sonic Status Bar
To display a different menu in the Menu Editor window: t In the List window, select the menu you want to display in the Menu Editor window.
To show or hide the menu layers in the Palette window, do one of the following: • Choose Menu Editor > View > Show/Hide Background Layer, or click the Show Background Layer button at the bottom of the Menu Editor window.
• Choose Menu Editor > View > Show/Hide Overlay Layer, or click the Show Overlay Layer button at the bottom of the Menu Editor window.
• Choose Menu Editor > View > Show/Hide Highlight Layer, or click the Show Highlight Layer button at the bottom of the Menu Editor window.
To show or hide the safe zone in the Menu Editor window: • Choose Menu Editor > View > Show/Hide Safe Zone.
The Avid DVD by Sonic Status Bar
The Status Bar at the bottom of the Avid DVD by Sonic main window contains the following items:
Avid DVD by Sonic 25 Chapter 2 Workflow and Work Areas
Status Bar
Bit Budget Bit Budget OpenDVD Project’s TV Last Saved menu meter option standard
Bit Budget Menu Determines the project’s output media and maximum capacity. Choices include DVD-9 (8.54 GB), DVD-5 (4.7 GB), DVD-RAM (2.6 GB), and CD (650 MB).
Bit Budget Meter Displays the project’s remaining and used space. Click to the right of the meter to toggle the display between Remaining and Used space. The capacity for the project is determined by the media format selected in the Bit Budget menu. When the project has exceeded the capacity for the selected media, the Bit Budget meter is displayed in red.
OpenDVD Determines whether the project will be OpenDVD compliant when written to disc. OpenDVD discs can later be opened and edited. For more information, see “OpenDVD” on page 143.
TV Standard Displays the project’s TV standard (NTSC or PAL).
Last Saved Displays the date and time when the project was last saved.
The Properties Window
The Properties window displays properties for movies, chapter points, menus, and menu buttons. The properties displayed in the window change depending on the currently selected item in the List window, Movie Timeline window, or Menu Editor window.
26 Avid DVD by Sonic The Properties Window
Properties window displaying menu properties
To show or hide the Properties window: t Choose Windows > Show/Hide Properties Window or press F3. The Properties window displays the properties for the currently selected item.
Movie Properties
With movie properties you can: • Rename movies. • Force movies to freeze on the last frame, either indefinitely or for a set duration.
Avid DVD by Sonic 27 Chapter 2 Workflow and Work Areas
• Specify a unique menu (the root menu) for a movie that will appear when the viewer presses the MENU button on the remote control during playback of the movie. • Set a movie’s end action, which tells the DVD player what to do when the movie finishes playing—display a menu or play another movie. • Display information about a movie’s video clip. • Display information about a movie’s audio clip.
Chapter Point Properties
With chapter point properties you can: • Rename chapter points. • Change chapter point locations (except for the first chapter point).
Menu Properties
With menu properties you can: • Rename menus. • Choose which button will be automatically selected when arriving at the menu. • Specify whether the menu’s movie buttons will be animated. • Change a menu’s duration (display indefinitely, or time out). • View the menu’s audio file, if it has one. • For timed menus, set the end action, which will determine what happens when the menu times out—loop, display another menu, or play a movie from a specific chapter point. • Specify the highlight colors (including an opacity percentage) that will be used when displaying buttons as normal, selected, and activated. • Change the formatting for text objects.
Button Properties
With button properties you can: • Reassign a button’s number, which is used to select the button when pressing a number on the remote control.
28 Avid DVD by Sonic The Remote Control Window
• Specify a button’s routings, which determines which neighboring buttons become selected when the viewer presses the Arrow keys on the remote control. • Specify whether a button will be automatically activated when it is selected. • Change the movie or menu to which a button is linked and, for buttons that link to a menu, specify which button should be highlighted when the linked menu is displayed.
The Remote Control Window
When Simulation mode is enabled, the Remote Control window provides controls for playing and interacting with the project, similar to the remote control for a DVD player. Video output can be routed to the Video Preview window. For a complete description of each button in the Remote Control window, see “Using the Remote Control” on page 134.
Remote Control Window
Title button Menu button
Selection Arrows Enter button
Previous button Next button
Movie playback controls
Click to show/hide numeric keypad
Avid DVD by Sonic 29 Chapter 2 Workflow and Work Areas
To enter Simulation window: t Choose File > Simulation or press F10. The Remote Control window opens. If the project contains a First Play menu or movie, playback begins.
30 Avid DVD by Sonic Chapter 3 Preparing Assets
This chapter documents the encoding and file requirements for video, audio, and still image assets and includes the following topics: • Video Requirements • Audio Requirements • Still Image Requirements • Overlay Image Requirements • Preparing Sequences in an Avid Editing Application • Creating Menu Graphics in Photoshop • Calculating Bit Rates • The Bit Budget Display
Video Requirements
Supported video formats in Avid DVD by Sonic include MPEG-1, MPEG-2, AVI, and QuickTime. In fact, you can use any combination of these video file formats in Avid DVD by Sonic. However, if the video assets are not DVD- compliant, they will automatically be transcoded when building the project.
This section includes the following topics: • NTSC and PAL • DVD-Compliant Video Files • Non-DVD-Compliant Video Files Chapter 3 Preparing Assets
NTSC and PAL
DVD projects can be either NTSC or PAL format, but not both. The choice of video format depends on the countries where you expect the disc to be used. Appendix A lists the countries and territories that use each system. Most PAL DVD players can handle both formats, but few NTSC players can handle PAL. If the disc is intended only for playback on computers, the video format is not important. Software-based DVD players can handle either format.
If you want to create a disc containing both NTSC and PAL formats, you can create a separate project for each format, then have the replication plant master a double-sided (DVD-10) disc with the NTSC project on one side and the PAL project on the other side. The viewer will have to place the disc in the player with the appropriate side up, so you must ensure that the viewer knows that one side is for PAL and the other is for NTSC.
DVD-Compliant Video Files
MPEG (Moving Pictures Export Group) is a set of international standards for compressing video and audio. The MPEG video standards support a wide range of image sizes, aspect ratios, bit rates, and frame rates. There are approximately 40 different parameters than can be set when encoding MPEG video.
DVD-Video supports only a subset of the MPEG parameters. DVD-compliant video parameters for MPEG-1 and MPEG-2 are listed in the following tables. Avid DVD by Sonic can import and use these files without having to transcode them.
DVD-compliant MPEG-1 video requirements
Parameter NTSC (525 lines/60 Hz) PAL (625 lines/50 Hz)
Picture size (width x height) 352 x 240 352 x 288
Output frame rate 29.97 fps 25 fps
GOP size 18 frames maximum 15 frames maximum 15 frame recommended 13 frames recommended
Aspect ratio 4:3
32 Avid DVD by Sonic Video Requirements
DVD-compliant MPEG-1 video requirements (Continued)
Parameter NTSC (525 lines/60 Hz) PAL (625 lines/50 Hz)
Bit rate (CBR or VBR) 1.15 – 1.856 Mbps
GOP Sequence header 1 GOP interval
Filename extension .m1p, .m1v, .mp1, .mpg, .mpeg, .mpv
DVD-compliant MPEG-2 video requirements
Parameter NTSC (525 lines/60 Hz) PAL (625 lines/50 Hz)
Picture size (width x 720 x 480 720 x 576 height)
Output frame rate 29.97 fps 25 fps
GOP size (see Note) 36 fields/18 frames maximum 30 fields/15 frames maximum 30 fields/15 frame recommended 26 fields/13 frames recommended
Aspect ratio 4:3 (standard TV) or 16:9 anamorphic (widescreen TV).
Bit rate Minimum 2.0 Mbps. (CBR or VBR) Maximum 9.8 Mbps for combined video and audio streams. If you use PCM audio, the maximum video bit rate is 8 Mbps. If you use Dolby Digital or MPEG audio, the maximum video bit rate is 9.4 Mbps.
Profile and level Main profile and main level (MP@ML)
VBV buffer size 224 KB (1,835,008 bits)
GOP Sequence header 1 GOP (1 sequence header before every GOP) interval
Filename extension .m2p, .m2v, .mp2, .mpg, .mpeg, .mpv
Avid DVD by Sonic 33 Chapter 3 Preparing Assets
Non-DVD-Compliant Video Files
Avid DVD by Sonic can import and use video assets that are not DVD compliant. These include AVI and QuickTime files, as well as MPEG-1 and MPEG-2 files that do not meet the requirements listed in “DVD-Compliant Video Files” on page 32. When importing these video assets, you will be prompted that the files will be transcoded, when the final project is built, so they are DVD-compliant (to the MPEG-2 format using a constant bit rate of 7Mbps).
Audio Requirements
Supported audio formats in Avid DVD by Sonic include PCM (WAV and AIFF), MPEG-1 Layer 2 (PAL titles only), and Dolby Digital (AC-3). When preparing audio assets for DVD-Video titles, you must balance the disc space and audio bandwidth against the video quality and play time. The following table lists the encoding requirements for the supported audio formats. Avid DVD by Sonic audio requirements
File Channel Encoding Audio Format Extension NTSC PAL sRateBitsBit Rate
PCM (WAV,AIFF) .wav, aif yes yes Mono 48 kHz 16 .768 Mbps
Mono 48 kHz 20 .960 Mbps
Stereo 48 kHz 16 1.536 Mbps
Stereo 48 kHz 20 1.920 Mbps
MPEG-1 Layer 2 .abs, .mpa no yes Mono 48 kHz – 96–448 kbps
Stereo 48 kHz – 96–448 kbps
Dolby Digital (AC- .ac3 yes yes Mono 48 kHz – 56–448 kbps 3) Stereo 48 kHz – 96–448 kbps
5.1 48 kHz – 384–448 kbps
34 Avid DVD by Sonic Still Image Requirements
n Avid DVD by Sonic includes Audio Transcoder, a utility for transcoding audio files to the stereo Dolby Digital audio format. Audio Transcoder can be launched from Avid DVD by Sonic (with the Convert to Dolby Digital command) to transcode the selected audio asset in the Palette window. For more information, see Audio Transcoder in the Avid DVD by Sonic Help.
Still Image Requirements
Supported still image formats in Avid DVD by Sonic include BMP, MPEG, PICT, Photoshop, PNG, TIFF, and Targa. This section documents the requirements for still image assets and includes the following topics: • Supported Still Image Formats • Recommended Still Image Sizes
Supported Still Image Formats
Windows Bitmap Parameters
Bit depth 1, 4, 8, 16, 24, or 32 bits per pixel uncompressed 1, 4, or 8 bits per pixel RLE compressed
Color mode RGB, indexed, grayscale, and monochrome
Filename extension .bmp, .rle
JPEG Parameters
Bit depth Grayscale: 8 bits per pixel Color: 24 and 32 bits per pixel
Color mode RGB, grayscale and CMYK
Filename extension .jpg, .jpeg
Avid DVD by Sonic 35 Chapter 3 Preparing Assets
Macintosh PICT Parameters
Bit depth 1, 4, 8, 16, 24, and 32 bits per pixel
Color mode RGB, indexed, grayscale and monochrome
Filename extension .pct, .pic, .pict
Photoshop Parameters
Bit depth 24 and 32 bits per pixel
Color mode RGB and CMYK
Filename extension .psd
You can use the layers in Photoshop files to prepare menu layers. You can also create button artwork on separate layers within a single file, and use each layer separately within Avid DVD by Sonic. See “Creating Menu Graphics in Photoshop” on page 41 for details.
PNG (Portable Network Graphic) Parameters
Bit depth 1, 4, 8, 16, 24, and 32 bits per pixel
Color mode RGB, indexed, grayscale, and monochrome
Filename extension .png
PNG files can contain an alpha channel (mask) for transparency effects. You can use the alpha channel to create non-rectangular buttons.
TIFF (Tagged Image File Format) Parameters
Bit depth 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 16, 24, and 32 bits per pixel
Color mode RGB, CMYK, Lab, indexed, grayscale, and monochrome
LZW compression Not supported
Filename extension .tif, .tiff
TIFF files can contain an alpha channel (mask). You can use the alpha channel to create non-rectangular buttons.
36 Avid DVD by Sonic Overlay Image Requirements
Truevision Targa Parameters
Bit depth 8, 16, 24, and 32 bits per pixel
Color mode RGB, indexed, grayscale, and monochrome
Filename extension .tga, .vda, .icb, .vst
Recommended Still Image Sizes
Images used for menu backgrounds and overlays should be 720 x 480 pixels for NTSC, or 720 x 576 pixels for PAL. This is the 4:3 aspect ratio of standard TV. The pixels on a TV screen are not square, like they are on a computer monitor; NTSC pixels are taller than they are wide, whereas PAL pixels are wider than they are tall.
The best way to create background images is to first create the artwork at 720 x 540 pixels, then resize the image to the appropriate resolution in your graphics program before importing it to Avid DVD by Sonic. This ensures that the image proportions are maintained when viewing them on television. If you use other image sizes, Avid DVD by Sonic scales the image to fit the screen, which can lead to unwanted stretching, shrinking, or artifacts.
Images used as buttons and other graphic elements should be at least 70 x 60 pixels.
Overlay Image Requirements
Menus consist of a motion or still video background image with overlay and highlight layers. The overlay layer is a four color image where each color serves as a mask to define an area of the screen that can be mapped to Highlight Colors in Avid DVD by Sonic. When preparing overlay images, the following guidelines must be observed: • Create overlay images in a graphics program such as Photoshop. • Like background layers, overlay layers should be 720 x 480 pixels for NTSC, or 720 x 576 pixels for PAL. • Use a maximum of four colors. • Disable anti-aliasing.
Avid DVD by Sonic 37 Chapter 3 Preparing Assets
• Create overlay text and shapes in pure black, red, or blue, and backgrounds in white (or transparent), with the following RGB values: Red Red 255, Green 0, Blue 0 Blue Red 0, Green 0, Blue 255 Black Red 0, Green 0, Blue 0 White Red 255, Green 255, Blue 255 • Save the overlay image in BPM, PICT, Photoshop (PSD), PNG, TIFF, or TGA (Targa) format. n JPEG compression is a lossy algorithm and is therefore not recommended for overlay images.
Preparing Sequences in an Avid Editing Application
You can prepare a sequence in a qualified Avid editing application for import into Avid DVD by Sonic. For information on qualified Avid editing applications, see www.avid.com. This section includes the following topics: • Preparing a Finished Sequence • Encoding the Sequence with Sorenson Squeeze
Preparing a Finished Sequence
To prepare a finished sequence: 1. Select your finished sequence in the Avid editing application. 2. Select Clip > New Meta Track. A new MetaSync track is added to the sequence. 3. Select File > Import. 4. Make sure Files of Type is set to MetaSync files, and then navigate to the folder where the DVD Producer .aeo file is located. For example, in the Avid Xpress Pro application, the file is located in: \Program Files\Avid\AvidXpress Pro\Avid AEOs\Avid DVD Producer.aeo 5. Select the DVD Producer aeo file.
38 Avid DVD by Sonic Preparing Sequences in an Avid Editing Application
6. The Chapter Button Reference Frame file and the Chapter Mark enhancement file appear in the bin. 7. Double-click the Chapter Mark enhancement file. 8. Edit the enhancement into the Timeline by doing the following: t Mark IN and OUT points in the timeline, mark an IN point in the enhancement in the Source monitor, and then either drag the enhancement to the Meta track or click an edit button (Splice or Overwrite). The default (maximum) duration of a clip is 4 hours. Dragging a clip without IN or OUT points creates a 4-hour clip in the Timeline. This length allows an enhancement to be active for a long-form production. 9. Add Reference frames by scrubbing the timeline indicator to the desired frame. 10. Alt + double-click the Chapter Button Reference Frame enhancement clip in the bin. A marker is added to the chapter span indicating it will use this frame as the Chapter button in Avid DVD by Sonic.
Encoding the Sequence with Sorenson Squeeze 1. Select the sequence you prepared in the editing application. 2. Select File > Send To > Avid editing application product name> Encoding for Avid DVD by Sonic. The Send To dialog box opens.
Avid DVD by Sonic 39 Chapter 3 Preparing Assets
3. Click Set and then choose a destination folder where you want the exported files located. 4. Make sure Auto Launch Application is selected and set to the Squeeze application. 5. Make sure “Auto Load Exported File(s)” is selected. 6. Make sure “Export MetaSync Track(s) as” is set to XML. 7. Click OK. Sorenson Squeeze automatically opens with the selected sequence loaded.
40 Avid DVD by Sonic Creating Menu Graphics in Photoshop
8. Select the DVD icon submenu and select the DVD_project type_Large option.
DVD icon submenu
9. Default settings files appear in the Squeeze output pane. 10. Click Squeeze It to encode the files. Squeeze creates an MPV and WAV file and places them in the same folder you designated in step 3. 11. Close the Sorenson Squeeze application. You can then add the files to your Avid DVD by Sonic project.
Creating Menu Graphics in Photoshop
This section documents preparing menu graphics in Adobe Photoshop and includes the following topics: • Creating Menu Layers in Photoshop • Creating Menu Buttons in Photoshop
Creating Menu Layers in Photoshop
DVD menus are comprised of three layers: background, overlay, and highlight (for more information, see “About Menus” on page 75). Images for the background and overlay layers can be prepared as separate files, but it is much easier to create them as layers in a single Photoshop file. The major advantage of using Photoshop is that you can make sure the overlay graphics are in the correct position over the background before you import them to Avid DVD by Sonic, where you add the highlight layer and specify the colors and opacities for the three button states (normal, selected, and activated).
Avid DVD by Sonic 41 Chapter 3 Preparing Assets
To create a Photoshop file that contains background and overlay layers: 1. In Photoshop, choose File > New. In the New dialog, enter the following parameters: Width 720 pixels Height 540 pixels Mode RGB color Contents White 2. Select Window > Show Layers. In the Layers window, double-click the Background layer to open the Make Layer window. 3. Change the layer Name to “Background” (without the quotes) and click OK. The Layers window displays the layer name “Background” in bold instead of italic. 4. On the Background layer, create the full-color menu artwork, including any buttons, text labels, and other elements. 5. Click the triangle in the upper right of the Layers window and choose New Layer. The New Layer dialog opens. 6. Change the Name for the new layer to “Overlay” (without the quotes) and click OK. 7. On the Overlay layer, create the overlay graphics using only red, blue, and black (Avid DVD by Sonic will ignore all other colors), positioning them as desired over the Background layer. It is not necessary to use all three colors. Most overlays use only one color. The ability to use up to three colors only allows more flexibility. Until you become familiar with the way overlay graphics are used, you can use just one color for the menu overlay graphics. 8. If you used additional layers in this Photoshop file, make sure to merge the extra layers once the image is complete, so the file contains only the “Background” and “Overlay” layers. If the file contains extra layers, Avid DVD by Sonic will not be able to use it to create a menu. 9. To ensure that both layers will be visible in Avid DVD by Sonic’s Palette window, do the following: - Change the transparent areas in the Overlay layer to white using the Fill tool. - In the Layers window, drag the Background layer above the Overlay layer.
42 Avid DVD by Sonic Creating Menu Graphics in Photoshop
10. Choose Image > Image Size. In the Image Size dialog, do the following: - Deselect the Constrain Proportions option. - Select the Resample Image option. - For NTSC, set the Pixel Dimensions Height to 480 and Resample Image to Bicubic. - For PAL, set the Pixel Dimensions Height to 576 and Resample Image to Nearest Neighbor. 11. Choose File > Save As and save the file in the Photoshop format (.psd).
For details on how to use Photoshop files to create menus in Avid DVD by Sonic, see “Creating Still Menus from Photoshop Layers” on page 81.
Creating Menu Buttons in Photoshop
Adobe Photoshop can create files with background transparency. You can therefore create non-rectangular buttons, even buttons with holes in them. Photoshop also uses layers to separate parts of an image; you can use these layers to create multiple buttons in the same file, with one button on each layer.
To create a Photoshop file that contains button layers: 1. In Photoshop, choose File > New. In the New dialog, select Transparent and click OK. A new file is created with a transparent background. 2. Create the artwork for a single button in Layer 1. 3. To create another button, add a new layer and create the button in the new layer. You can create as many layers and buttons as needed. 4. Choose File > Save As and save the file in the Photoshop format (.psd).
When you import the file into Avid DVD by Sonic, each layer from the file can be displayed separately in the Palette window. You can then drag any individual layer into the Menu Editor window to add a button to a menu.
Avid DVD by Sonic 43 Chapter 3 Preparing Assets
Calculating Bit Rates
To determine the bit rates you will use when encoding video and audio, you can calculate the Bit Budget. There are two factors that constrain your choice of bit rates. One factor is the type of disc you will use and, therefore, how many bits are available for the content. The other factor is the maximum bit rate allowed by the DVD-Video format. This is 9.8 Mbps (millions of bits per second), which must be divided between the video and audio streams.
This section includes the following topics: • Calculating the Bit Budget • Media Capacities • Sample Bit Budget Calculation
Calculating the Bit Budget
The bit budget calculation produces two values that you must use when encoding video: • Maximum video bit rate • Average video bit rate
Since video usually requires the largest bandwidth, the best way to calculate a bit budget is to subtract the audio requirements from the available bandwidth to get the maximum and average video bit rates. The bit rate for audio depends on the number of audio channels and the type of audio.
To calculate the bit budget: 1. Calculate the combined average bit rate for video and audio (see “Media Capacities” on page 45 for DVD disc sizes): Disc size: ______Mbits ÷ Total length of presentation: ______seconds Average bit rate = ______Mbps n If you are creating a hybrid DVD, you must reduce the Disc size by the size of the ROM content.
44 Avid DVD by Sonic Calculating Bit Rates
2. Calculate the average video bit rate by subtracting the audio requirements (see Table on page 34 for the bit-rate requirements for different types of audio): Average bit rate: ______Mbps – Audio bit rate: ______Mbps Average video bit rate = ______Mbps 3. Calculate the maximum video bit rate (for variable bit-rate (VBR) encodes only): 9.8 Mbps – Audio bit rate: ______Mbps Maximum video bit rate = ______Mbps
See “Sample Bit Budget Calculation” on page 47 for an example of this calculation.
Media Capacities
Avid DVD by Sonic can output projects to a wide variety of media. The choice of media is driven by the project’s purpose, length, and budget. The following table lists the available media and explains how to best use each type.
Refer to the Disc Size in Mbps column when calculating encoding bit rates. When calculating how much data will fit on a DVD-ROM, refer to the Computer Disc Size column.
For hybrid DVDs, subtract the size of the ROM content (in bits) from the Disc Size, then use the resulting value as the disc size in the bit-rate calculation.
The Actual Disc Sizes are somewhat misleading in that they do not follow the conventions used for other digital media. For DVDs, 1 GB is 1,000,000,000 (109) bytes; for computers, 1 GB is 1,073,741,824 (230) bytes. Therefore a 4.7 GB computer hard drive contains about 330 MB more data than a 4.7 GB DVD.
Avid DVD by Sonic 45 Chapter 3 Preparing Assets
Media capacities
DVD Actual Disc Computer Disc Size Program Size Disc Size (Mbps, -4% Length Media (GB) (GB) headroom) (Min.) Usage Notes
DVD- 3.95 3.68 30,336 100 Good for small production runs, test and R demo discs. The discs work with most 4.7 4.38 36,096 120 set-top players and DVD-ROM drives. Some replication plants can accept DVD masters on DVD-R discs. 3.95 GB discs seem to be more compatible with older players, but are becoming rare.
DVD- 4.7 4.38 36,096 120 Same as DVD-R, but discs are RW rewritable, like CD-RW.
DVD+ 4.7 4.38 36,096 120 Same as DVD-RW, but you can RW overwrite part or all of the existing content, rather like recording on videotape.
DVD-5 4.7 4.38 36,096 120 Mass-produced from a DVD master sent to a replication plant. The discs work with all set-top players and DVD-ROM drives.
DVD-9 8.54 7.95 65,280 240 Singled-sided dual-layer disc mass- produced from two DVD masters sent to a replication plant. This requires two DLT’s, one for each layer. The viewer is not required to turn the disc over to play the second layer.
DVD- 9.4 8.75 72,192 270 Double-sided disc mass-produced from 10 two DVD masters sent to a replication plant. This requires two DLT’s, one for each side. The viewer must turn the disc over to play the other side.
46 Avid DVD by Sonic Calculating Bit Rates
Media capacities
DVD Actual Disc Computer Disc Size Program Size Disc Size (Mbps, -4% Length Media (GB) (GB) headroom) (Min.) Usage Notes
DVD- 4.7 GB 4.38 GB 36,096 120 Can be used only in computers with RAM DVD-RAM drives, although set-top 5.2 GB 4.84 GB 39,936 140 players may become available in the future. 5.2 GB discs are double-sided (2.6 GB per side). A project must fit on one side; to use both sides you need two projects.
CD- 682 MB 650 MB 5,238 Mbits 15 Suitable for very short projects. R/RW 734 MB 700 MB 5,637 Mbits 18 Playable on almost all computers with a DVD-ROM or CD-ROM drive.
Sample Bit Budget Calculation
If you have a 100-minute (6000-second) presentation with Dolby Digital stereo audio, and you want to write it to a DVD-5 disc, here’s how to determine the bit budget: 1. Calculate the average bit rate for both video and audio: Disc size: 36096 Mbits ÷ Total length of presentation: 6000 seconds Average bit rate = 6.0 Mbps 2. Calculate the average video bit rate by subtracting the audio requirements: Average bit rate: 6.0 Mbps – Audio bit rate: 0.192 Mbps Average video bit rate = 5.808 Mbps 3. Calculate the maximum video bit rate: 9.8 Mbps – Audio bit rate: 0.192 Mbps Maximum video bit rate = 9.608 Mbps n Although in this case you could set the maximum video bit rate to 9.608 Mbps, it is recommended that you always set the maximum to less than or equal to 9.0 Mbps.
Avid DVD by Sonic 47 Chapter 3 Preparing Assets
The Bit Budget Display
You can use the Bit Budget display in the Status Bar to check the project’s remaining and used space.
To use the Bit Budget display: 1. From the Bit Budget menu, select a media format. The available space is reflected in the Bit Budget meter.
2. Click to the right of the Bit Budget meter to toggle the display of the Remaining and Used space.
Click here for Available/Remaining space
3. If the project size exceeds the Bit Budget for the selected media format (the Available/Remaining Space turns red), delete any unused menus and movies so that the project fits within the format’s capacity.
48 Avid DVD by Sonic Chapter 4 Starting a Project
This chapter documents creating new projects and importing assets. It includes the following topics: • Creating a New Project • Working with Assets • Saving and Opening Projects
Creating a New Project
Once you have prepared and encoded the assets you will use in your project, you can import them to a new Avid DVD by Sonic project.
To create a new Avid DVD by Sonic project: 1. Do one of the following: - If Avid DVD by Sonic has not been launched, from the Windows Start menu, choose Programs > Avid DVD by Sonic. - If Avid DVD by Sonic is already open, choose File > New Project, or choose Ctrl+N. If an existing project was open, save changes to the project when prompted. 2. In the New Project dialog, select the TV standard you will use (NTSC or PAL) and click OK. A new project opens with the Palette and List windows displayed. Chapter 4 Starting a Project
Working with Assets
This section documents importing, previewing, and deleting assets files. It includes the following topics: • Importing Assets • Previewing Assets • Deleting Assets
Importing Assets
You can import assets to a project with the Add Files To Project command, or by dragging the asset files from Windows Explorer to the Palette window in Avid DVD by Sonic. Pointers to the assets files are stored in the project (.dvd- pro) file. If you move or rename an asset file after importing it, you will be prompted to locate the file when you open the project.
50 Avid DVD by Sonic Working with Assets
To import assets to a project with the Add Files To Project command: 1. Right-click in the Palette window and choose Add Files To Project from the pop-up menu. The Open dialog opens.
2. Select the asset files you want to import and click Open. The assets are added to the Palette window.
To import assets to a project with drag and drop: t Drag the asset files you want to import (or the folders containing the asset files you want to import) from Windows Explorer into the Palette window in Avid DVD by Sonic. The assets are added to the Palette window.
Previewing Assets
You can preview video, still image, and audio assets in the Palette window.
To preview an asset: 1. In the Palette window, do one of the following: - Select the asset you want to preview and click the Play/Stop button at the bottom of the Palette window.
Avid DVD by Sonic 51 Chapter 4 Starting a Project
Play/Stop
- Select the asset you want to preview and press the Spacebar. - Double-click the asset you want to preview. 2. To stop playback, click the Play/Stop button at the bottom of the Palette window or press the Spacebar.
When previewing an audio asset, it plays from beginning to end, unless playback is stopped. When previewing video and still images assets, they are displayed in the Video Preview window. Movie assets play from beginning to end, unless playback is stopped. Still image assets remain displayed in the Preview window until playback is stopped.
Deleting Assets
As long as it is not in use by any menus or movies in the project, you can delete an asset from the Palette window. Doing so does not delete the asset file from you hard drive.
To delete an asset from a project: 1. Make sure that the asset you want to delete is not being used by any menus or movies. This includes menu layers, button images, and video and audio tracks for movies. 2. Do one of the following: t In the Palette window, select the asset you want to delete and choose Edit > Clear or press Delete. The asset is removed from the Palette window. t In the Palette window, Right-click the asset you want to delete and choose Delete Selected Files from the pop-up menu. The asset is removed from the Palette window.
52 Avid DVD by Sonic Saving and Opening Projects
Saving and Opening Projects
This section documents saving and opening projects and includes the following topics: • Saving Projects • Opening Projects • Missing Assets when Opening Projects
Saving Projects
To save a project: 1. Choose File > Save or press Ctrl+S. If this is the first time saving the project, the Save As dialog opens. 2. Enter a filename and location for the project file and click Save. Avid DVD by Sonic writes the following files and folders. Project Folder Contains the project file, Cache folder, and Sources folder. This folder is automatically named after the project file. Project File The Avid DVD by Sonic project file, named with a .dvd-pro extension. Cache Folder Contains temporary cache files created when rendering menus, subtitles, and buttons. Sources Folder Contains session data files for the project’s imported assets. If the parent folder for the assets has its Read-only attribute disabled, these session files are written to the parent folder.
To save the project under a new name: 1. Choose File > Save As or press Ctrl+Shift+S. The Save As dialog opens. 2. Enter a filename and location for the project file and click Save.
Opening Projects
To open an existing project: 1. Choose File > Open or press Ctrl+O. The Open dialog opens. 2. Navigate to and select the project file and click Open, or double-click it.
Avid DVD by Sonic 53 Chapter 4 Starting a Project
Missing Assets when Opening Projects
After assets have been imported to a project, the asset files must not be deleted or moved from their hard drive location. Doing so will make them unavailable to the project. If you want to delete an asset file from your hard drive, references to the file should first be deleted from any Avid DVD by Sonic projects that use it (see “Deleting Assets” on page 52).
54 Avid DVD by Sonic Chapter 5 Creating Movies
This chapter documents how to create and edit movies. It includes the following topics: • Creating Movies • Editing Video and Audio Tracks • Chapter Points • Setting the Audio Language for Audio Tracks • Selecting Audio Tracks n For information on importing subtitles to a movie, see Chapter 6. For information on setting a movie’s root menu and end action, see Chapter 9.
Creating Movies
If you used a qualified Avid editing application to create your sequence, you may have a metasync track that includes Chapter marks and reference frames. This metasync track is exported as an XML file when you send your sequence to Avid DVD by Sonic from your Avid editing application. You can then use the Avid DVD Import Metadata command to import the XML file information to your movie. See “Preparing Sequences in an Avid Editing Application” on page 38 or your Avid editing application’s workflow guide for information on preparing your sequence to include the Chapter marks and references frames.
Movies are created by dragging video clips from the Palette window into the List window, after which they can be displayed in the Movie Timeline window, where audio tracks (up to eight) and subtitle tracks (up to 32) can be added. Movies are also created when dragging a video clip into the Menu Editor window (see “Creating Buttons from Movies” on page 92). Chapter 5 Creating Movies
n The first menu or movie created in a project is automatically set to First Play, indicated by a green triangle in the List window. The First Play movie or menu automatically plays when the disc is inserted in a DVD player. For more information, see “Setting the First Play” on page 123.
To create a movie: 1. Drag a video clip from the Palette window into the Movies column in the List window. A movie is created, automatically numbered and named, and appears as a thumbnail in the Palette window.
2. To rename the movie, click its title so it becomes selected, enter the new name, and press Enter.
3. In the List window, double-click the new movie. The Movie Timeline window opens displaying the movie’s video track and an empty audio track.
56 Avid DVD by Sonic Creating Movies
4. To add an audio clip to the movie, drag an audio clip from the Palette window into the empty audio track in the Movie Timeline window.
5. (Optional) If you exported the sequence from a qualified Avid editing application with a MetaSync track that includes the Chapter marks and reference frames, select the movie in the Movie list, right-click, and then select Import metadata. Select the XML file you exported from the Avid editing application. The Chapter marks and reference frames will appear in the movie in the timeline. For details on preparing the sequence, see “Preparing Sequences in an Avid Editing Application” on page 38 or see your Avid editing application’s workflow guide. 6. To add additional audio tracks (up to eight, which can be switched on the fly by the viewer during playback), do one of the following: - Choose Timeline > New > Audio Track or press Ctrl+Shift+A, then drag an audio clip into the new audio track. - Right-click in the Movie Timeline window and choose New Audio Track from the pop-up menu, then drag an audio clip into the new audio track. 7. Additional steps to complete the movie, which can occur later in the authoring process, include the following: - Set the language codes for any audio tracks (see “Setting the Audio Language for Audio Tracks” on page 65). - Add chapter points to the movie if they have not already been imported with your sequence from a qualified Avid editing application (see “Chapter Points” on page 59). - Import subtitles to the movie (see Chapter 6). - Specify the end action (see “Setting End Actions and End Frame Stills for Movies” on page 125) and root menu for the movie (“Setting a Movie’s Root Menu” on page 129).
Avid DVD by Sonic 57 Chapter 5 Creating Movies
Editing Video and Audio Tracks
You can replace a movie’s video and audio clips. You can also delete audio clips from a movie. This section includes the following topics: • Replacing Video Clips in Movies • Replacing Audio Clips in Movies • Deleting Audio Clips • Deleting Audio Tracks n Avid DVD by Sonic does not support multiple clips in video and audio tracks. If you have multiple clips that you want to play in sequence, you can create separate movies and link them to play one after another using end actions (see “End Actions and End Frame Stills” on page 125) or playlists (“Playlists” on page 112). However, if you want the clips to play seamlessly in their transition, you should join them in a video editing application to create a single clip that can be used as one movie in Avid DVD by Sonic.
Replacing Video Clips in Movies
To replace a movie’s video clip: 1. In the List window, double-click the movie containing the video clip you want to replace. The movie is displayed in the Movie Timeline window. 2. Drag the new video clip from the Palette window into the video track in the Movie Timeline window. The video clip is replaced and the new clip’s thumbnail, filename, and duration are displayed in the video track. If the video track contains chapter points, they are retained and updated with thumbnails from the new video clip.
58 Avid DVD by Sonic Chapter Points
Replacing Audio Clips in Movies
To replace a movie’s audio clip: 1. In the List window, double-click the movie containing the audio clip you want to replace. The movie is displayed in the Movie Timeline window. 2. Drag the new audio clip from the Palette window into the audio track containing the audio clip you want to replace in the Movie Timeline window. The audio clip is replaced and the new clip’s filename and duration are displayed in the audio track.
Deleting Audio Clips
To delete an audio clip: 1. In the List window, double-click the movie containing the audio clip you want to delete. The movie is displayed in the Movie Timeline window. 2. In the Movie Timeline window, Right-click the audio clip you want to delete and choose Delete Audio from the pop-up menu. The audio clip is removed from the audio track.
Deleting Audio Tracks
To delete an audio track: 1. In the List window, double-click the movie containing the audio track you want to delete. The movie is displayed in the Movie Timeline window. 2. In the Movie Timeline window, Right-click in the audio track (but not on the audio clip) you want to delete and choose Delete Audio Track from the pop-up menu. The audio track is removed from the movie. n The first audio track (Audio 1) cannot be deleted from a movie. Chapter Points
Qualified Avid editing applications allow you to add Chapter points and reference frames to your sequence within the editing application. If you have not already imported the metatdata from your editing application, you can add the chapter points and reference frames in the Avid DVD by Sonic application.
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You can add chapter points to a video track that allow you to link to specific locations within the movie. Chapter points can be navigated by the viewer with the NEXT and PREVIOUS buttons on the remote control. Video tracks contain one chapter point (Chapter 1) by default that represents the beginning of the track. Once created, chapter points can be Ctrl+dragged to menus to automatically create buttons that link to them (see “Creating Buttons from Movies” on page 92).
This section documents creating and editing chapter points and includes the following topics: • Adding Chapter Points • Chapter Point Locations and GOP Headers • Chapter Point Locations and Subtitles • Moving Chapter Points • Renaming Chapter Points • Deleting Chapter Points
Adding Chapter Points
To add a chapter point to a movie: 1. In the List window, double-click the movie to which you will add the chapter point. The movie is displayed in the Movie Timeline window. 2. If the Video Preview window is not open, choose Windows > Show Video Preview Window or press F5. 3. In the Timeline ruler, drag the Scrubber to the location where you want to insert the chapter point. As you drag the Scrubber, its location is displayed in the Scrubber Timecode field and the frame is displayed in the Video Preview window. If necessary, zoom the Timeline with the Zoom In button or Zoom menu to provide finer resolution when inserting chapter points.
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Scrubber
Scrubber Timecode field
4. Choose Timeline > Add Chapter or press Insert. The chapter point is inserted at the nearest GOP header in the video track. The chapter point is automatically named and numbered and appears as a thumbnail in the video track with its timecode location displayed to its right.
n Chapter points can also be inserted by double-clicking in the Timeline ruler, or by Right-clicking in the Timeline Ruler and choosing Add Chapter from the pop-up menu.
Chapter Point Locations and GOP Headers
Chapter points can only be inserted at specific locations in a video track. These locations reside at the beginning of each group of pictures (the GOP header) in the MPEG video stream and contain the necessary information to display the entire frame. GOP headers are displayed as red notches in the Timeline ruler when the Zoom value is set to 1-Frame.
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GOP headers in Movie Timeline window
Next GOP header in track
Chapter point residing at GOP header
When inserting a chapter point in Avid DVD by Sonic, if the Scrubber is not at a GOP header location, the chapter point is placed at the nearest GOP header. When dragging chapter points to adjust their location, they snap to the nearest GOP header.
Chapter Point Locations and Subtitles
Chapter points should not be placed so they overlap with subtitles. This is a violation of the DVD Specification and will likely cause problems when playing the completed disc on most DVD players.
Chapter point overlapping with a subtitle
Subtitle
Chapter point
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If chapter points are overlapping with a subtitle block in the Movie Timeline window, adjust their position so they reside within the gap between subtitle blocks.
Moving Chapter Points
Chapter point locations can be moved by dragging them in the Move Timeline window, or by entering a new location in the Properties window (for the selected chapter point). The first chapter point (Chapter 1) cannot be moved.
To move a chapter point by dragging in the Movie Timeline window: 1. If the Video Preview window is not open, choose Windows > Show Video Preview Window or press F5. 2. In the video track, drag the chapter point’s label left or right. As you drag the chapter point, its thumbnail disappears and the Scrubber tracks the new location, displaying it in the Scrubber Timecode field.
3. When the desired frame is displayed in the Video Preview window, release the mouse button. The chapter point snaps to the nearest GOP header and its thumbnail updates in the Movie Timeline window.
To move a chapter point by editing its properties: 1. In the Movie Timeline window, select the chapter point you want to move by clicking its label. 2. If the Properties window is not open, choose Windows > Show Properties Window or press F3. 3. In the Chapter section of the Properties window, enter the new location in the Position field and press Enter. The chapter point is placed at the GOP header nearest the entered Position and its location and thumbnail updates in the Movie Timeline window.
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Renaming Chapter Points
When created, chapter points are assigned a name based on their position within the video track (Chapter 1, Chapter 2, and so forth). Deleting chapter points causes these default names to update based on the new numbering of the chapter points. You can edit chapter point names in the Properties window.
To rename a chapter point: 1. In the Movie Timeline window, select the chapter point you want to rename by clicking its label. 2. If the Properties window is not open, choose Windows > Show Properties Window or press F3. 3. In the Chapter section of the properties window, enter the new name in the Name field and press Enter. The chapter name updates in the Movie Timeline window.
Deleting Chapter Points
To delete a chapter point: t In the Movie Timeline window, right-click the label for the chapter point you want to delete and choose Clear from the pop-up menu. The chapter point is removed from the video track and any menu buttons linked to the chapter point are deleted. n The first chapter point (Chapter 1) cannot be deleted from a video track.
64 Avid DVD by Sonic Setting the Audio Language for Audio Tracks
Setting the Audio Language for Audio Tracks
Each audio track can be assigned a specific language code. DVD players read this code and, based on their own language setting, choose the appropriate track to play for the viewer. For example, if you have three audio tracks set to (1) English, (2) Spanish, and (3) French, a DVD player set to Spanish will play audio track 2.
To assign a language for an audio track: t Click the Language Code field and select a language from the pop-up menu. The selected language appears in the Audio Code field as a 2-letter code, and will be displayed at the top of the Remote Control window when simulating the movie.
Selecting Audio Tracks
When jumping to movies with end actions, button links, or playlists, you can specify which audio track plays when arriving at the movie. For more information, see “Setting End Actions and End Frame Stills for Movies” on page 125, “Button Link Properties” on page 110, and “Playlists” on page 112.
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66 Avid DVD by Sonic Chapter 6 Importing Subtitles
This chapter documents importing and working with subtitles. It includes the following topics: • Importing Subtitles • Subtitle Color Groups • Working with Subtitles in the Timeline • Setting the Audio Language for Subtitle Tracks • Selecting Subtitle Tracks
Importing Subtitles
Avid DVD by Sonic supports up to 32 individual subtitle tracks within movies. Subtitles can be used for multi-language DVD titles or for captions as the video plays. Subtitles are created from plain text files prepared outside of Avid DVD by Sonic (with a text editor or with subtitle editing software) and then imported into the project. The subtitle file must be formatted as follows: Chapter 6 Importing Subtitles
Starting Ending timecode timecode
A line greater than 43 characters must be split to another line. Subtitles can be two lines of 43 characters of text.
Each line starts with a line number, followed by the starting timecode, the ending timecode, and the subtitle text. Each line can have 43 characters of subtitle text. If you need more room, you can continue with a second line of text, for a total of 86 characters per individual subtitle. Avid DVD by Sonic will automatically wrap the text, but force a line break between line 1 and line 2.
After you’ve prepared the subtitle text file, you can import it to a Avid DVD by Sonic project. Unlike other assets, such as video and audio files, you do not import the subtitle file to the Palette window. Subtitles are the only assets you import directly to the Movie Timeline. Once imported, the subtitles can use any font installed on your system and displayed with your choice of text formatting and color.
To import a subtitle text file: 1. In the Movie Timeline window, do one of the following: - Choose Timeline > Import Subtitles. - Press Ctrl+I. - Right-click beneath the last audio track and select Import Subtitle Script from the pop-up menu.
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2. In the Open dialog, select the subtitle text file and click OK. The Subtitle Import Preview window opens, displaying a sample subtitle over the first frame of the movie in the Movie Timeline window.
First frame
Text box
Subtitle Subtitle Attributes Position
3. Drag the sample text box to change the subtitle display area. You can place the subtitles anywhere within the video frame. The most logical place is at the bottom of the frame, since that is where most people expect to see subtitles. However, if the video contains action or important information in that area, you can move the subtitles to a different location. 4. Drag one of the four grab handles at the corner of the text box to resize the subtitle area. 5. Use the controls in the Subtitle Attributes section to change the font, font size, text style, and alignment.
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Sans-serif fonts such as Arial or Helvetica are generally easier to read on- screen than serif fonts such as Times. Deciding on a font and its attributes depends on the type of video, the audience, and the amount of text displayed. 6. Select a color group from the 5 available color groups. Each group consists of a text body color and text outline color. To be readable, the subtitles should contrast with the background. If the video has a light background, dark subtitles work best. If the background is dark, use lighter colors. In practice, subtitles are usually created with an outline color that ensures that the text is readable over all background colors. For example, white text with a black outline is always visible. For more information on color groups, see “Subtitle Color Groups” on page 70. 7. Click OK. The subtitles are imported and displayed in the Movie Timeline window.
Subtitle Color Groups
Each movie in the project has a fixed palette of 16 colors that are used for subtitles. All subtitles within the movie must use colors from this palette. Avid DVD by Sonic divides these colors into five groups of three colors each, with the remaining color set to transparent and used as the subtitle background. Each color group contains assignments for Text Body and Text Outline. When you import subtitles, you can specify a color group for the subtitles. When you edit a Color Group, any changes are applied to the subtitles assigned to that group.
70 Avid DVD by Sonic Working with Subtitles in the Timeline
To edit a color group: 1. In the Subtitle Import Preview window, set the Color Group menu to the to color group you want to edit. 2. Click the Edit button. The Color Groups dialog opens. 3. Select a color and opacity for Text Body and Text Outline.
4. Click OK. The subtitles are displayed with the new colors in the Subtitle Import Preview window.
Working with Subtitles in the Timeline
You can delete a subtitle track or individual subtitles from a subtitle track. After deleting individual subtitles (which is useful if you need to make changes in the wording of a subtitle), you can import an individual subtitle to take its place in the subtitle track. The replacement subtitle must fit within the space in the subtitle track. If the new subtitle will not fit, make the changes to the subtitle text file and then reimport it into Avid DVD by Sonic.
Replacement subtitle must fit within this space. For example, if the subtitle is 5 seconds long and the space is 3 seconds long, the subtitle will not fit.
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To delete a subtitle track: 1. Right-click the subtitle track and choose Delete Subtitle Track. 2. When prompted to confirm the operation, click OK to delete the subtitle track.
To delete an individual subtitle from a track: t Right-click the individual subtitle and choose Delete Subtitle. The subtitle is deleted and an empty space is displayed in the subtitle track.
To import an individual subtitle: 1. Right-click in the Subtitle Track and choose Import Subtitle Script. 2. In the Open dialog, select the subtitle text file containing the replacement text and click OK. The Subtitle Import Preview window opens. 3. Resize and place the subtitle text and select text attributes, then click OK to import the subtitle.
Setting the Audio Language for Subtitle Tracks
Each subtitle track can be assigned a specific language code. DVD players read this code and, based on their own language setting, choose the appropriate track to play for the viewer. For example, if you have two subtitle tracks set to (1) English and (2) French, a DVD player set to English will play subtitle track 1.
To assign a language for a subtitle track: t Click the Language Code field and select a language from the pop-up menu. The selected language appears in the Audio Code field as a 2-letter code, and will be displayed at the top of the Remote Control window when simulating the movie.
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Selecting Subtitle Tracks
When jumping to movies with end actions, button links, or playlists, you can specify which subtitle track plays when arriving at the movie. For more information, see “Setting End Actions and End Frame Stills for Movies” on page 125, “Button Link Properties” on page 110, and “Playlists” on page 112.
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74 Avid DVD by Sonic Chapter 7 Creating Menus
This chapter documents how to create and edit menus. It includes the following topics: • About Menus • Creating Menus • Replacing Background and Overlay Layers • Menu Audio • Adding Menu Objects • Creating Button Highlights • Editing Menu Objects n For information on button links and button properties, see Chapter 8. For information, on setting a menu’s end action, see Chapter 9.
About Menus
A menu is a still image or video clip that includes one or more buttons (up to 36). Menus provide interactivity and can be used to navigate the disc’s content or make decisions about how the content is played.
Menus are comprised of the following three layers:
Background Layer A 24-bit still image or video clip that is displayed during playback and serves as the background for menu buttons. In Avid DVD by Sonic, the background layer can also contain floating menu object, such as Chapter 7 Creating Menus
graphics, text objects, and buttons. These floating menu objects are composited onto the menu background before the project is output to disc or tape.
Overlay Layer A 2-bit image displayed over the background layer that contains overlay shapes that function as buttons. The overlay shapes can be mapped to a color and opacity percentage for each of the three button states: normal, selected, and activated.
Shapes are added to the overlay layer by either importing an overlay image file or Photoshop layer, or by adding menu objects (that contain links) to the background layer.
Highlight Layer Contains button highlights (up to 36) that define the highlight areas and link destinations for the buttons. Button highlights are automatically created in Avid DVD by Sonic when dragging movies or menus to the Menu Editor, or when adding links to graphic and text objects on a menu.
When working with menus that contain overlay shapes from an imported overlay image or Photoshop layer, you can manually add button highlights by drawing rectangles around the overlay shapes.
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Menu Layers
Background layer
Combined layers
Overlay layer
Highlight layer
This figure illustrates the three menu layers. The background layer contains an image with text that the user can select to either play a movie, go to a menu with links to chapter points, or go to a menu displaying credits. The overlay layer contains highlight bars, imported from an overlay image file, that change color and opacity depending on whether the buttons are selected, not selected, or activated. The highlight layer contains three button highlights that define the button highlight areas and link destinations.
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Creating Menus
Menus are created by dragging still images (for still menus) and video clips (for motion menus) into the Menus column in the List window. Once menus are created, overlay layers, graphics, text, buttons, and audio can be added to them.
This section documents how to create menus and includes the following topics: • Creating Still Menus from Single-Layer Images • Creating Still Menus from Photoshop Layers • Creating Motion Menus
The first menu or movie created in a project is automatically set to First Play, indicated by a green triangle in the List window. The First Play menu or movie automatically plays when the DVD is inserted in a DVD player. For more information, see “Setting the First Play” on page 123.
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Creating Still Menus from Single-Layer Images
To create a still menu from single-layer images: 1. Drag a still image from the Palette window onto the Menus column in the List window. A still menu is created, automatically numbered and named, and appears as a thumbnail in the Palette window.
2. To rename the menu, click its title so it becomes selected, enter the new name, and press Enter.
3. Double-click the new still menu in the List window to display it in the Menu Editor window. 4. If the background and overlay layers are not visible in the Menu Editor window, click the Show Background Layer and Show Overlay Layer buttons in the lower right of the window so they become selected.
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Show Background Layer
Show Overlay Layer
5. To add an overlay layer to the menu, do one of the following: - Drag a still image from the Palette window onto the Overlay Target icon at the bottom of the Menu Editor window, or Shift-drag it directly into the Menu Editor window.
- Drag a Photoshop overlay layer from the Palette window directly into the Menu Editor window. Depending on the menu’s Highlight Colors, the overlay layer may not immediately be visible (see “Highlight Colors” on page 115). 6. Additional steps to complete the still menu, which can occur later in the authoring process, include the following: - Add graphics, text, or buttons to the menu (see “Adding Menu Objects” on page 88). - If using an overlay layer, create button highlights around button shapes on the overlay layer (see “Creating Button Highlights” on page 95) and link them to movies, chapter points, or other menus (see “Creating Button Links” on page 107). - Set the menu’s Highlight Colors for the three button states: Normal, Selection, and Activation (see “Highlight Colors” on page 115). - Add audio to the menu (see “Menu Audio” on page 87).
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- Specify the end action for the menu (see “Setting End Actions and End Frame Stills for Menus” on page 127), whether it will wait for a button selection, loop, or jump to another menu or movie.
Creating Still Menus from Photoshop Layers
To create a still menu from Photoshop layers: 1. Drag a Photoshop image, containing both a background and overlay layer, from the Palette window into the Menus column in the List window. A still menu is created, automatically numbered and named, and appears as a thumbnail in the Palette window.
2. To rename the menu, click its title so it becomes selected, enter the new name, and press Enter. 3. Double-click the new still menu in the List window to display it in the Menu Editor window. 4. If the background and overlay layers are not visible in the Menu Editor window, click the Show Background Layer and Show Overlay Layer buttons in the lower right of the window so they become selected.
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Show Background Layer
Show Overlay Layer
Depending on the menu’s Highlight Colors, the overlay layer may not immediately be visible (see “Highlight Colors” on page 115). 5. Additional steps to complete the still menu, which can occur later in the authoring process, include the following: - Add graphics, text, or buttons to the menu (see “Adding Menu Objects” on page 88). - Create button highlights around button shapes on the overlay layer (see “Creating Button Highlights” on page 95) and link them to movies, chapter points, or other menus (see “Creating Button Links” on page 107). - Set the menu’s Highlight Colors for the three button states: Normal, Selection, and Activation (see “Highlight Colors” on page 115). - Add audio to the menu (see “Menu Audio” on page 87). - Specify the end action for the menu (see “Setting End Actions and End Frame Stills for Menus” on page 127), whether it will wait for a button selection, loop, or jump to another menu or movie.
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Creating Motion Menus
To create a motion menu: 1. Drag a video clip from the Palette window into the Menus column in the List window. A motion menu is created, automatically numbered and named, and appears as a thumbnail in the Palette window.
2. To rename the menu, click its title so it becomes selected, enter the new name, and press Enter. 3. Double-click the new motion menu in the List window to display its first non-black frame in the Menu Editor window. 4. If the background and overlay layers are not visible in the Menu Editor window, click the Show Background Layer and Show Overlay Layer buttons in the lower right of the window so they become selected.
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Show Background Layer
Show Overlay Layer
5. To add an overlay layer to the motion menu, do one of the following: - Drag a still image from the Palette window onto the Overlay Target icon at the bottom of the Menu Editor window, or Shift-drag it directly into the Menu Editor window. - Drag a Photoshop overlay layer from the Palette window directly into the Menu Editor window. Depending on the menu’s Highlight Colors, the overlay layer may not immediately be visible (see “Highlight Colors” on page 115). 6. Additional steps to complete the motion menu, which can occur later in the authoring process, include the following: - Add graphics, text, or buttons to the menu (see “Adding Menu Objects” on page 88). - Create button highlights around button shapes on the overlay layer (see “Creating Button Highlights” on page 95) and link them to movies, chapter points, or other menus (see “Creating Button Links” on page 107). - Set the menu’s Highlight Colors for the three button states: Normal, Selection, and Activation (see “Highlight Colors” on page 115). - Add audio to the menu (see “Menu Audio” on page 87). - Specify the end action for the menu (see “Setting End Actions and End Frame Stills for Menus” on page 127), whether it will wait for a button selection, loop, or jump to another menu or movie.
84 Avid DVD by Sonic Replacing Background and Overlay Layers
Replacing Background and Overlay Layers
You can replace background layers and overlay layers for still menus and motion menus. You can also remove overlay layers. This section includes the following topics. • Replacing Background Layers • Replacing Overlay Layers • Removing Overlay Layers
Replacing Background Layers
To replace a menu’s background layer: 1. In the List window, select the menu containing the background layer you want to replace. 2. If the Menu Editor window is not open, choose Windows > Show Menu Editor Window or press F4. 3. Do one of the following: - Drag a still image from the Palette window onto the Background Target icon at the bottom of the Menu Editor window, or Ctrl+drag it directly into the Menu Editor window. The background layer is replaced, while retaining any graphics, text objects, and button highlights.
- Drag a Photoshop background layer from the Palette window directly into the Menu Editor window. The background layer is replaced, while retaining any graphics, text objects, and button highlights. - Drag a video clip from the Palette window onto the Background Target icon at the bottom of the Menu Editor window, or Ctrl+drag it directly into the Menu Editor window. When prompted, click OK to
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confirm that the menu will be converted to a motion menu, with all graphics, text objects, and buttons being deleted. Button highlights and their links are retained.
Replacing Overlay Layers
To replace a menu’s overlay layer: 1. In the List window, select the menu containing the overlay layer you want to replace. 2. If the Menu Editor window is not open, choose Windows > Show Menu Editor Window or press F4. 3. Do one of the following: - Drag a still image from the Palette window onto the Overlay Target icon at the bottom of the Menu Editor window. The overlay layer is replaced.
- Drag a Photoshop overlay layer from the Palette window directly into the Menu Editor window. The overlay layer is replaced.
Removing Overlay Layers
To remove an overlay layer: 1. In the List window, select the menu containing the overlay layer you want to remove. 2. Choose Menu Editor > Clear Overlay Layer. The overlay layer is removed.
86 Avid DVD by Sonic Menu Audio
Menu Audio
You can add audio to both still and motion menus. Menus that contain audio can be set to a specific duration and looped (for continuous play). You can also replace or delete the audio for a menu.
To add audio to a menu: 1. In the List window, select the menu to which you will add the audio. 2. If the Menu Editor window is not open, choose Windows > Show Menu Editor Window or press F4. 3. Drag an audio clip from the Palette window into the Menu Editor window. If the menu already contains audio, it is replaced.
When adding audio to a menu, the Menu Duration is automatically set to the duration of the audio file. However, if the menu’s existing Menu Duration (such as for motion menus, or still menus that already contain audio or animated buttons) is longer than that of the audio clip, the Menu Duration is not changed. 4. If the Properties window is not open, choose Windows > Show Properties Window or press F3. The audio file for the menu is displayed in the top section of the window.
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5. To play only a portion of the audio clip, enter the duration in the Menu Duration field. 6. To loop the audio clip, select Loop in the End Action menu.
To delete audio from a menu: 1. In the List window, select the menu containing the audio you want to delete. 2. Choose Menu Editor > Clear Audio. The audio is removed from the menu.
Adding Menu Objects
You can add graphics, text objects, and menu and movie buttons to menus. These floating menu objects form part of the background layer and can be easily positioned and resized. You can add links to the graphics and text objects to turn them into buttons.
This section documents creating and adding menu objects and includes the following topics: • Adding Graphics to Menus • Adding Text to Menus • Creating Buttons from Menus • Creating Buttons from Movies
Adding Graphics to Menus
You can add graphics to still menus by dragging them from the Palette window into the Menu Editor window. The graphics can be used to add additional content to the menu (lines, frames, headings, and logos), or they can be turned into buttons by adding links to them.
To add a graphic object to a still menu: 1. In the List window, select the menu to which you will add the graphic. 2. If the Menu Editor window is not open, choose Windows > Show Menu Editor Window or press F4.
88 Avid DVD by Sonic Adding Menu Objects
3. If the background layer is not visible in the Menu Editor window, click the Show Background Layer button in the lower right of the window so it becomes selected.
4. Drag an image from the Palette window into the Menu Editor window. A floating graphic object is added to the menu.
5. Adjust the placement and size of the graphic as necessary (see “Selecting, Moving, and Resizing Menu Objects” on page 98). 6. To turn the graphic into a button, add a link to it (see “Creating Button Links” on page 107) and set the menu’s Highlight Colors (see “Highlight Colors” on page 115).
Adding Text to Menus
You can use the Text tool in the Menu Editor window to add text to menus. Properties for each text object are unique and include font, font size, style, alignment, and color. Text objects in a project can be displayed with or
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without a drop-shadow effect (see “Displaying Menu Objects with Drop Shadow” on page 94), and they can be turned into buttons by adding links to them.
To add text to a menu: 1. In the List window, select the menu to which you will add the text. 2. If the Menu Editor window is not open, choose Windows > Show Menu Editor Window or press F4. 3. If the background layer is not visible in the Menu Editor window, click the Show Background Layer button in the lower right of the window so it becomes selected.
4. Select the Text tool in the lower left of the Menu Editor window, or press T.
5. Click in the menu where you want to add the text. A text box containing the word “Text” appears in the Menu Editor window. Do the following:
- Type the text you want to add to the menu. - To add a line break within the text box, press Return and continue typing. - To cancel the text entry, press Escape. - When the text is complete, click anywhere outside the text box or press Ctrl+Enter. The text object is created and appears in the menu.
90 Avid DVD by Sonic Adding Menu Objects
6. Use the Select tool to adjust the placement and size of the text object as necessary (see “Selecting, Moving, and Resizing Menu Objects” on page 98).
You can momentarily switch to the Select tool when in Text mode by pressing the Ctrl key. 7. If the Properties window is not open, choose Windows > Show Properties Window or press F3. 8. In the Text section of the Properties window, set the text properties for Font, CharSet, Size, Style, Alignment, and Color. Text properties can be different for each text object.
9. To turn the text object into a button, add a link to it (see “Creating Button Links” on page 107) and set the menu’s Highlight Colors (see “Highlight Colors” on page 115). n You can edit an existing text box by clicking it with the Text tool or by double- clicking it with the Select tool.
Creating Buttons from Menus
You can drag menus from the List window into the Menu Editor window to create buttons that are automatically linked to the dragged menu.
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To add a menu button to a menu: 1. In the List window, select the menu to which you will add the menu button. 2. If the Menu Editor window is not open, choose Windows > Show Menu Editor Window or press F4. 3. Drag a menu from the List window into the Menu Editor window, but not onto any existing graphic, text object, or button. A button is created from a thumbnail of the dragged menu. The new button includes a button overlay mapped to Color 1 for Normal, Selection, and Activation, and a button highlight linked to the dragged menu.
4. Adjust the placement and size of the menu button as necessary (see “Selecting, Moving, and Resizing Menu Objects” on page 98). 5. Set the menu’s Highlight Colors for the three button states: Normal, Selection, and Activation (see “Highlight Colors” on page 115).
Creating Buttons from Movies
You can create movie buttons that link to video clips, movies, and chapter points, and you can specify whether the buttons will be still images, or animated, scaled copies of the source video.
92 Avid DVD by Sonic Adding Menu Objects
To create a movie button from a movie, chapter, or video clip: 1. In the List window, select the menu to which you will add the movie button. 2. If the Menu Editor window is not open, choose Windows > Show Menu Editor Window or press F4. 3. Do one of the following: - Ctrl+drag a chapter point label from the Movie Timeline window into the Menu Editor window. A button is created from a thumbnail of the chapter’s first non-black frame. The new button automatically includes a button overlay mapped to Color 1 for Normal, Selection, and Activation, and a button highlight linked to the chapter point.
- Drag a movie from the List window into the Menu Editor window. A button is created from a thumbnail of the movie’s first non-black frame. The new button includes a button overlay mapped to Color 1 for Normal, Selection, and Activation, and a button highlight linked to the movie. - Drag a video clip from the Palette window into the Menu Editor window. A movie is created and added to the List window. A button is created from a thumbnail of the movie’s first non-black frame. The
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button includes a button overlay mapped to Color 1 for Normal, Selection, and Activation, and a button highlight linked to the new movie. 4. Adjust the placement and size of the movie button as necessary (see “Selecting, Moving, and Resizing Menu Objects” on page 98). 5. Set the menu’s Highlight Colors for the three button states: Normal, Selection, and Activation (see “Highlight Colors” on page 115). 6. To animate the menu’s movie buttons, in the Menu section of the Properties window, select the Animated Buttons option and enter a Menu Duration. If the length of an animated button’s video material is shorter than the menu duration, the button’s video will loop to fill the menu’s duration.
7. If you want the menu to loop, set the End Action to Loop (see “Setting End Actions and End Frame Stills for Menus” on page 127). 8. If you want to view the movie buttons when simulating the project, choose Edit > Preferences and set “Render Motion Menus before Simulation” to On, then click OK.
Displaying Menu Objects with Drop Shadow
You can display menu graphics, text objects, and buttons with a drop-shadow effect. This is a global option and applies to all menu objects on all menus.
To display all menu objects with a drop-shadow effect: t Choose Menu Editor > Enable Drop Shadow. All menu graphics, text objects, and buttons are displayed with a drop shadow.
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Creating Button Highlights
Button highlights reside on the menu highlight layer and define the highlight areas and link destinations for the menu’s buttons. When you create a button by dragging menus, movies, or chapter points to a menu, the new button automatically contains a button highlight. When you drag a menu, movie, or chapter point to a menu graphic or text object, a button highlight is automatically added to the object.
When working with menus that contain an overlay layer from an image file or Photoshop layer, you must manually add the button highlights by drawing rectangles around the items on the overlay layer that you want to use as buttons.
To add a button highlight: 1. In the List window, select the menu to which you will add the button highlight. 2. If the Menu Editor window is not open, choose Windows > Show Menu Editor Window or press F4. 3. If the overlay and highlight layers are not visible in the Menu Editor window, click the Show Overlay Layer and Show Highlight Layer buttons in the lower right of the window so they become selected. When drawing highlight layers, you may want to hide the background layer to more clearly view the overlay images.
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Show Show Background Highlight Layer Layer
Show Overlay Layer
4. Select the Highlight tool in the lower left of the Menu Editor window, or press M.
5. Drag a rectangle around the area that will define the button. Make sure to include any overlay graphics that will become highlighted when the button is selected or activated. A button highlight with a dotted rectangle and button number is added to the menu.
6. Use the Select tool to adjust the placement and size of the button highlight as necessary (see “Selecting, Moving, and Resizing Menu Objects” on page 98). 7. Define the destination link for the button highlight (see “Creating Button Links” on page 107) and set the menu’s Highlight Colors for the three button states: Normal, Selection, and Activation (see “Highlight Colors” on page 115). Menu buttons must not overlap. When adding button highlights, make sure they do not overlap with any other menu objects that contain links. This may cause problems with some DVD players.
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Editing Menu Objects
Menu objects can be moved, resized, aligned, and distributed to create uncluttered, clean menus. Once positioned and sized as desired, menu objects can be locked. Menu objects can also be duplicated within a menu, or copied and pasted between menus.
This section includes the following topics: • The Safe Zone • Selecting, Moving, and Resizing Menu Objects • Aligning Menu Objects • Distributing Menu Objects • Moving Menu Objects to Front or Back • Locking Menu Objects • Copying, Duplicating, and Deleting Menu Objects
The Safe Zone
Overscanning allows televisions to project images that are larger than the physical screen. This ensures that the image fills the entire screen, but also means that the edges are cropped. The image area that can be seen on a television screen is called the safe zone. The area outside of the safe zone can be seen on software DVD players.
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Menu Editor displaying safe zone
Text safe zone
Image safe zone
Avid DVD by Sonic can display a safe zone in the Menu Editor window to ensure that menu objects are placed in an area that will be visible when viewed on television. This safe zone includes two areas: a Text safe zone (the inner rectangle), inside which text can be safely placed for legible display, and an Image safe zone (the outer rectangle), inside which graphics can be safely placed.
To show or hide the safe zone: • To show the safe zone, choose Menu Editor > View > Show Safe Zone. • To hide the safe zone, choose Menu Editor > View > Hide Safe Zone.
Selecting, Moving, and Resizing Menu Objects
In the Menu Editor window, you can select one or more menu objects with the Select tool. Selected objects have green grab handles (grab handles are red if the item is locked, see “Locking Menu Objects” on page 103). Once selected, menu objects can be resized, moved, and edited.
98 Avid DVD by Sonic Editing Menu Objects
To select menu objects, do one of the following: 1. In the List window, select the menu containing the objects you want to select. 2. If the Menu Editor window is not open, choose Windows > Show Menu Editor Window or press F4. 3. Click the Select tool in the lower left of the Menu Editor window to select it, or press V, then do any of the following:
- Click an object to select it. - To add objects to the selection, Ctrl+click them. - To select multiple objects, drag a marquee around the objects you want to select.
- To select all objects in the menu, choose Edit > Select All or press Ctrl+A. - To remove objects from the selection, Ctrl+click them.
To move menu objects: 1. In the Menu Editor window, select the object you want to move with the Select tool. To move multiple objects, draw a marquee around them or Ctrl+click them. 2. Using the Select tool, do any of the following: - Click an object (but not on one of its green grab handles) and drag it to the new location. If multiple objects are selected, all objects are moved.
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- To move objects horizontally, Shift-drag them left or right. - To move objects vertically, Shift-drag them up or down. - To move objects more precisely, press any of the Arrow keys to move them one pixel at a time in the direction of the Arrow that was pressed. - To move objects in 10-pixel increments, use the Arrow keys while pressing Shift.
To resize menu objects: 1. In the Menu Editor window, select the object you want to resize with the Select tool. To resize multiple objects, draw a marquee around them or Ctrl+click them. 2. Using the Select tool, do any of the following: - Drag the right grab handle to horizontally resize the object while keeping its left edge stationary.
- Drag the left grab handle to horizontally resize the object while keeping its right edge stationary. - Drag the top grab handle to vertically resize the object while keeping its bottom edge stationary. - Drag the bottom grab handle to vertically resize the object while keeping its top edge stationary. - Drag a corner grab handle to resize the object both vertically and horizontally while keeping its opposite corner stationary. Shift-drag a corner grab handle to resize the object while constraining its proportions. - Drag the center grab handle to resize in all directions while keeping the object centered at the same location. Dragging up and to the left makes the object smaller; dragging down and to the right makes it larger.
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n If you resize a text object, the text object changes size but the text continues using the same font size. To change the font size for text, see “Adding Text to Menus” on page 89.
Aligning Menu Objects
To ensure that menu objects are positioned neatly, you can use the Align commands to align them to each other, or if Relative To Page is enabled, relative to the menu’s safe zone.
Menu objects with tops aligned, before and after
To align menu objects: 1. If you want to align the objects relative to the menu’s safe zone, select Menu Editor > Align > Relative To Page. 2. In the Menu Editor window, select the objects you want to align by drawing a marquee around them or by Ctrl+clicking them with the Select tool. 3. Choose one of the following commands from the Menu Editor > Align submenu: Align Left Aligns the left sides of the objects to the left-most object in the selection. If Relative To Page enabled, the objects are placed at the left side of the safe zone. Align Center Vertically aligns the centers of the objects to the center object in the selection. If Relative To Page is enabled, the objects are aligned to the center of the menu.
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Align Right Aligns the right sides of the objects to the right-most object in the selection. If Relative To Page enabled, the objects are placed at the right side of the safe zone. Align Top Aligns the tops of the objects to the top-most object in the selection. If Relative To Page is enabled, the objects are placed at the top of the safe zone. Align Middle Horizontally aligns the centers of the objects to the center object in the selection. If Relative To Page is enabled, the objects are aligned to the center of the menu. Align Bottom Aligns the bottoms of the objects to the bottom-most object in the selection. If Relative To Page is enabled, the objects are placed at the bottom of the safe zone.
Distributing Menu Objects
You can use the Distribute commands to evenly space menu objects, either horizontally or vertically. When Relative To Page is enabled, the objects are distributed within the menu’s safe zone.
Menu objects distributed vertically, before and after
To distribute menu objects: 1. If you want to distribute the objects relative to the menu’s safe zone, select Menu Editor > Align > Relative To Page. 2. In the Menu Editor window, select the objects you want to distribute by drawing a marquee around them or by Ctrl+clicking them with the Select tool.
102 Avid DVD by Sonic Editing Menu Objects
3. Choose one of the following commands from the Menu Editor > Align submenu: Distribute Horizontally Distributes the objects so that the horizontal space between them is equidistant. If Relative To Page enabled, the left- most and right-most objects are placed at the left and right edges, respectively, of the safe zone. Distribute Vertically Distributes the objects so that the vertical space between them is equidistant. If Relative To Page enabled, the top and bottom objects are placed at the top and bottom edges, respectively, of the safe zone.
Moving Menu Objects to Front or Back
When working with menus that contain many objects stacked on top of one another, you can move objects forward or back within the stack, or all the way to the front or back, which is sometimes necessary when accessing them.
To move menu objects to the front or back: t In the Menu Editor window, select the object you want to move with the Select tool. To move multiple objects, draw a marquee around them or Ctrl+click them. - To move objects to the front, choose Menu Editor > Order > Move To Front. - To move objects one step forward, choose Menu Editor > Order > Move Forward. - To move objects to the back, choose Menu Editor > Order > Move To Back. - To move objects one step back, choose Menu Editor > Order > Move Backward.
When moving multiple objects, the objects retain their relative positions.
Locking Menu Objects
Once menu objects are sized and positioned the way you want them, you can lock them so they cannot be accidentally moved, resized, or deleted.
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To lock objects in a menu: 1. In the Menu Editor window, select the object you want to lock with the Select tool. To lock multiple objects, draw a marquee around them or Ctrl+click them. 2. Choose Menu Editor > Locking > Lock. The green grab handles for the objects turn red, indicating the objects are locked.
To unlock menu objects: 1. In the Menu Editor window, select the object you want to unlock with the Select tool. To unlock multiple objects, draw a marquee around them or Ctrl+click them. 2. Choose Menu Editor > Locking > Unlock. The red grab handles for the objects turn green, indicating the objects are unlocked.
Copying, Duplicating, and Deleting Menu Objects
You can copy and paste objects between menus, duplicate objects within a menu, and delete menu objects. Copying menu objects is useful if you have created a button in one menu (for example, a button that links to the project’s main menu) and want to re-use it on another. Duplicating menu objects is useful if you have a button sized the you want it and want another button the same size, but perhaps with a different a link (which is easily changed, see “Creating Button Links” on page 107).
To copy menu objects: 1. In the Menu Editor window, select the object you want to copy with the Select tool. To copy multiple objects, draw a marquee around them or Ctrl+click them. 2. Choose Edit > Copy or press Ctrl+C. 3. In the List window, select the menu to which you will paste the objects. The menu is displayed in the Menu Editor window. 4. Choose Edit > Paste or press Ctrl+V. The objects are pasted to the destination menu in the same location as the source menu.
104 Avid DVD by Sonic Editing Menu Objects
To duplicate menu objects: 1. In the Menu Editor window, select the object you want to duplicate with the Select tool. To duplicate multiple objects, draw a marquee around them or Ctrl+click them. 2. Choose Edit > Duplicate or press Ctrl+D. A copy of each selected object is pasted on top of the original, slightly offset. n You can also duplicate menu objects by Alt+dragging them, or by Shift+Alt+ clicking them.
To delete menu objects: 1. In the Menu Editor window, select the object you want to delete with the Select tool. To delete multiple objects, draw a marquee around them or Ctrl+click them. 2. Do one of the following: - Choose Edit > Clear. - Press Delete. - Right-click in the Menu Editor window and choose Delete from the pop-up menu.
The selected objects are removed from the menu.
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106 Avid DVD by Sonic Chapter 8 Button Links and Button Properties
This chapter documents how to link menu buttons to movies, chapter points, and other menus. It also documents how to edit various button properties, which include link properties, button numbering, button routing, and highlight colors.
This chapter includes the following topics: • Creating Button Links • Button Link Properties • Playlists • Highlight Colors • Button Numbers • Button Routing • Auto Activate • Forced Selection
Creating Button Links
When dragging movies, chapter points, and menus into the Menu Editor window, buttons are automatically generated that contain links to the dragged item. You can also link graphics, text objects, and button highlights to movies, chapter points, and menus.
This section documents how to add links and includes the following topics: Chapter 8 Button Links and Button Properties
• Adding Links with Drag and Drop • Adding Links by Right-Clicking • Removing Links n After creating a button link, you can use the Properties window to change the link destination, as well as edit other link properties. For more information, see “Button Link Properties” on page 110. n Menu buttons should not overlap. If you create a button by linking a movie, chapter point, or menu to an object, make sure it does not overlap with any other objects that contain links. This may cause problems with some DVD players.
Adding Links with Drag and Drop
You can add links to graphics, text objects, and button highlights by dragging a menu, movie, or chapter point to them. This same procedure can be used to replace an existing link; if however you attempt to replace a link to a playlist, you are prompted to confirm the operation.
To add a link by dragging to a menu object: 1. In the List window, select the menu containing the graphic, text object, or button highlight to which you will add the link. 2. If the Menu Editor window is not open, choose Windows > Show Menu Editor Window or press F4. 3. If the background and overlay layers are not visible in the Menu Editor window, click the Show Background Layer and Show Overlay Layer buttons so they become selected.
Show Background Layer
Show Overlay Layer
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4. Do one of the following: - To link to a menu, drag the menu from the List window onto the graphic, text object, or button highlight in the Menu Editor window. A link to the menu is created.
- To link to a movie, drag the movie from the List window onto the graphic, text object, or button highlight in the Menu Editor window. A link to the movie is created. - To link to a chapter point, Ctrl+drag the chapter from the Movie Timeline window onto the graphic, text object, or button highlight in the Menu Editor window. A link to the chapter point is created. - To link to a video clip, drag the video clip from the Palette window onto the graphic, text object, or button highlight in the Menu Editor window. A movie is created, automatically numbered and named, and appears as a thumbnail in the Palette window. A link to the new movie is created.
Adding Links by Right-Clicking
You can add links to graphics, text objects, and button highlights by Right- clicking and choosing a link destination. This same procedure can be used to replace an existing link; if you attempt to replace a link to a playlist, you are prompted to confirm the operation.
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To add a link by Right-clicking a menu object: 1. In the Menu Editor window, select the graphic, text object, or button highlight to which you will add the link. 2. Right-click in the Menu Editor window. From the pop-up menu that appears, choose Add Link and select from the submenu the movie, chapter, menu, or the button that will be the destination for the link. To link to a playlist, select Playlist from the Add Link submenu (see “Playlists” on page 112).
Removing Links
You can remove links from graphics, text objects, and button highlights. If you attempt to clear a link to a playlist, you are prompted to confirm the operation.
To remove a link: 1. In the Menu Editor window, select the graphic, text object, or button that contains the link you want to remove. 2. Right-click in the Menu Editor window and choose Clear Link from the pop-up menu. The link is removed.
Button Link Properties
The button link properties in the Properties window let you do the following: - Assign a menu, movie, chapter point, or playlist as the button’s link destination.
110 Avid DVD by Sonic Button Link Properties
- When linking to a menu, specify a button to be selected when jumping to the menu. - When linking to a movie or chapter point, specify audio and subtitle stream numbers to play when jumping to the movie or chapter point. - When linking to a playlist, open and edit the playlist in the Playlist window.
To configure a button’s link properties: 1. In the Menu Editor window, select the button for which you will configure link properties. 2. If the Properties window is not open, choose Windows > Show Properties Window or press F3. The button’s link properties are displayed in the Button section of the Properties window. 3. To assign the button’s link, set the Link To menu to the menu, movie, or chapter point to which the button will link. To link the button to a playlist, set the Link To menu to Playlist (see “Playlists” on page 112).
4. If the link destination is a menu and you want to specify a button to be selected when jumping to the menu, choose a button number from the Set Highlight menu. If the destination menu has a button assigned to Forced Selection (see “Forced Selection” on page 121), it takes priority over the Set Highlight button. 5. If the link destination is a movie and you want to specify an audio stream to play when jumping to the movie, choose an audio track number from the Set Audio menu.
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6. If the link destination is a movie and you want to specify a subtitle stream to play when jumping to the movie, choose a subtitle track number from the Set Subtitle menu. 7. If the link destination is a playlist, click the Edit Playlist button to edit the playlist (see “Playlists” on page 112).
Playlists
Instead of linking to a single menu or movie, menu buttons can link to a playlist that plays a sequence of movies. For each movie in the playlist, you can specify a chapter point from which to begin playback, as well as audio and subtitle stream numbers. When a movie is played back from within a playlist, the movie’s end action is ignored. Playlists, however, can have their own end action that links to a menu.
Menu with play-all button
Play All Movies
Movie Movie 2 Movie 3 End Action Chapter 1 Chapter Chapter Menus Audio 1 Audio Audio Highlight Subtitle 1 Subtitle Subtitle Button
112 Avid DVD by Sonic Playlists
One of the most common uses for playlists is creating play-all buttons that play a series of movies or scenes. More simply, playlists can also be used to override a movie’s end action with the next movie in the playlist, or the menu assigned to the playlist’s end action.
The following procedure documents how to add a playlist to a menu button.
To create a playlist: 1. In the Menu Editor window, select the button to which you will link the playlist. 2. In the Properties window, set the Link To menu to Playlist, then click Edit Playlist. The Playlist window opens, displaying the playlist on the right and the project’s Movie Sources on the left. 3. To add movies to the Playlist, do any of the following:
- Select a movie in the Movie Sources list and click Add. - Double-click a movie in the Movie Sources list.
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- To add multiple movies, Ctrl+click each movie you want to add, or Shift+click to select a range of movies, then click Add. 4. To remove movies from the Playlist, do any of the following: - Select a movie in the Playlist and click Remove or press the Delete key. - Double-click a movie in the Playlist. - To remove multiple movies, Ctrl+click each movie you want to remove, or Shift+click to select a range of movies, then click Remove or press the Delete key. 5. To change the position of a movie in the Playlist, select the movie you want to move and click Up or Down. 6. To set the properties for a movie in the Playlist, select the movie and set the following options in the Item Properties section: Start Chapter The start point for the movie when it is played back from the playlist. Set Audio Stream The audio stream number that will play when the movie is played back from the playlist. Set Subtitle Stream The subtitle stream number that will play when the movie is played back from the playlist. 7. To specify an End Action for the playlist, do the following: - In the End Action menu, select the menu that will appear after the last item in the playlist finishes playing. - If you want to specify a button to be selected when arriving at the end action menu, select a button number from the Set Highlight menu. If the end action menu has a button assigned to Forced Selection (see “Forced Selection” on page 121), it takes priority over the Set Highlight button. 8. Click OK to accept the changes to the playlist and close the Playlist window.
114 Avid DVD by Sonic Highlight Colors
Highlight Colors
A menu’s Highlight Colors determine how its buttons appear when displayed normally, selected, and activated. Button colors can also be set to an Opacity percentage, thereby allowing the background image to display through the button overlay, completely or partially, or to be completely covered by the overlay.
The Highlight Colors are also used when mapping the colors in an overlay image file, if one was used for the menu’s overlay layer. When mapping overlay image colors, black is mapped to Color 1, red to Color 2, and Blue to Color 3; white, which is generally used as a background color, is mapped to transparent. To ensure that overlay image colors are mapped successfully, there are specific requirements that must be observed when preparing overlay images (see “Overlay Image Requirements” on page 37). n If a menu does not contain an overlay layer and all of its buttons were created in Avid DVD by Sonic, you need only configure Color 1 for its Normal, Selection, and Activation states. Color 2 and Color 3 are only used when mapping overlay image files (created in a graphics program) that contain more than one color.
Setting Highlight Colors
To set the Highlight Colors for a menu: 1. In the List window, select the menu for which you will set the Highlight Colors. 2. If the Menu Editor window is not open, choose Windows > Show Menu Editor Window or press F4. 3. If the menu’s overlay layer is not visible, click the Show Overlay button so it becomes selected. The overlay graphics appear.
4. If the Properties window is not open, choose Windows > Show Properties Window or press F3. 5. In the Highlight Colors section of the Properties window, configure the Normal colors by doing the following:
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- Click the Normal button. The Menu Editor window displays the buttons as they will appear when not selected. - For each of the three Normal colors (Color 1, Color 2, and Color 3), select a Color and Opacity. The new colors are displayed in the Menu Editor window. 6. Configure the Selection colors by doing the following: - Click the Selection button. The Menu Editor window displays the buttons as they will appear when selected. - For each of the three Selection colors (Color 1, Color 2, and Color 3), select a Color and Opacity. The new colors are displayed in the Menu Editor window. 7. Configure the Activation colors by doing the following: - Click the Activation button. The Menu Editor window displays the buttons as they will appear when activated. - For each of the three Activation colors (Color 1, Color 2, and Color 3), select a Color and Opacity. The new colors are displayed in the Menu Editor window.
Button Numbers
Menus can have up to 36 buttons, each of which is automatically assigned a number when the button is created in Avid DVD by Sonic. Button numbers are used for button selection by the viewer from the remote control. Avid DVD by Sonic displays button numbers in the Menu Editor window when the Highlight layer is visible. Button numbers can be reassigned in the Properties window.
116 Avid DVD by Sonic Button Routing
Button number displayed in Menu Editor window
To reassign a button number: 1. In the Menu Editor window, select the button to which you will reassign a button number. 2. If the Properties window is not open, choose Windows > Show Properties Window or press F3. 3. In the Button section of the Properties window, set the Number menu to the number you want to assign to the button. The button number is swapped with the button of the selected number; for example, if you change a button’s number from 1 to 4, button 1 becomes button 4 and button 4 becomes button 1.
Button Routing
Button routing determines how menu buttons are navigated and selected by the viewer with the remote control. For example, if a menu has three buttons aligned horizontally across the screen and the first button is selected, pressing the RIGHT ARROW on the remote control would typically move the selection from the first button to the second, and then from the second button to the third. Pressing the LEFT ARROW would move the selection back. Once a button is selected, pressing ENTER on the remote control activates the button’s function.
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In Avid DVD by Sonic, button routing can be defined automatically with the Auto Route function or it can be defined manually. This section includes the following topics: • Button Routing with Auto Route • Manual Button Routing
Button Routing with Auto Route
You can automatically define button routings for a menu with the Auto Route function. The routing between the buttons is determined by the horizontal and vertical placement of the buttons within the menu.
To set button routing with Auto Route: 1. In the List window, select the menu for which you will configure button routing. 2. If the Properties window is not open, choose Windows > Show Properties Window or press F3. 3. In the Menu Button Routing section of the Properties window, select from the following Auto options:
Wrap Routings When selected, adds button routings that are horizontally and vertically wrapped. For example, if you have three horizontally placed buttons, pressing the RIGHT ARROW button on the remote control moves the selection from button 3 to button 1; pressing the LEFT ARROW button moves the selection from button 1 to button 3. Replace Existing Routings When selected, replaces existing button routings. Deselect this option if you have buttons for which you have already configured routing, and you only want to add routing for newly added menu buttons.
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4. Click Auto Route Now or press Ctrl+R. Links for the button routing are automatically added. 5. To check how an individual button has been routed, select the button in the Menu Editor window, or select it from the center pop-up menu in the Manual section of the Properties window. The pop-up menus for Left, Right, Up, and Down display the destination buttons that will be selected when pressing the corresponding ARROW button on the remote control.
Up link
Right link
Selected button Left link Down link
Manual Button Routing
If the Auto Route command does not add the desired button routings, which may happen depending on the size or placement of the buttons, you can manually assign them in the Properties window.
To set button routing manually: 1. In the List window, select the menu for which you will configure button routing. 2. If the Properties window is not open, choose Windows > Show Properties Window or press F3. 3. To set the routing for a button, select the button in the Menu Editor window, or select it from the center pop-up menu in the Manual section of the Properties window.
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Up link
Right link
Selected button Left link Down link
4. Set the Left, Right, Up, and Down menus to the destination buttons that will be selected when pressing the corresponding ARROW button the remote control. If you want a button to remain selected when a viewer presses a particular ARROW button on the remote control, set the button’s routing to itself.
Auto Activate
Normally, when navigating to a menu button with the remote control, the button becomes selected and the viewer must then press ENTER on the remote control to activate the button’s function. You can provide easier navigation by setting some buttons to Auto Activate, which allows buttons to automatically perform their function when they become selected.
To enable Auto Activate for a button: 1. In the Menu Editor window, select the button for which you will enable Auto Activate. 2. If the Properties window is not open, choose Windows > Show Properties Window or press F3. 3. In the Button section of the Properties window, select the Auto Activate option.
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Forced Selection
You can use the Forced Selection option to specify a button that will be automatically selected when arriving at a menu, regardless of which button was selected previously when displaying the menu, or which button was selected before the menu loops back to the beginning. Having a Forced Selection button makes it easier for the viewer to navigate to the more commonly used menu buttons. n When working with menus that loop (motion menus and menus that contain audio or animated buttons), you may not want to have a Forced Selection button, so the button selection is not reset when the menu loops back to the beginning.
To set the Forced Selection button for a menu: 1. In the List window, select the menu for which you will configure Forced Selection. 2. If the Properties window is not open, choose Windows > Show Properties Window or press F3. 3. In the Menu section of the Properties window, do one of the following:
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- Set the Forced Selection menu to the button you want selected when arriving at the menu. - If you do not want a button automatically selected when arriving at the menu, set the Forced Selection menu to “---”.
122 Avid DVD by Sonic Chapter 9 Adding Navigation
An important part of authoring DVD titles is determining how the content will be presented to the viewer, and how it will be navigated. This includes specifying which movie or menu plays when first inserting the disc, the playback order for movies and menus, and which menus appear when the TITLE and MENU buttons are pressed on the remote control.
This chapter documents adding navigation to your project and includes the following topics: • Setting the First Play • End Actions and End Frame Stills • Setting the Project’s Title Menu • Setting a Movie’s Root Menu • Setting the Jacket Picture
Setting the First Play
The First Play instruction determines whether a menu or movie automatically plays when the disc is first inserted into a DVD player. If the disc does not contain a First Play instruction, when the disc is inserted, nothing happens until the viewer presses the PLAY button on the remote control. Generally, you should assign a menu or movie to First Play, since most viewers expect DVDs to start playing automatically when inserted. However, in some situations you will want to create discs without a First Play—for example, for a presentation where the presenter controls when the disc starts. Chapter 9 Adding Navigation
Menu set to First Play
First Play indicator
In Avid DVD by Sonic, the first menu or movie created in a project is automatically set to First Play. You can reassign First Play to another menu or movie, or remove it. The First Play is indicated by a green triangle on the menu or movie thumbnail in the List window.
This section includes the following topics: • Reassigning First Play • Removing First Play
Reassigning First Play
To reassign First Play: 1. In the List window, Right-click the thumbnail for the menu or movie you want to be the First Play and choose Make First Play from the pop-up menu. 2. When prompted to confirm that you want to reassign First Play, click OK. The First Play indicator appears on the thumbnail.
Removing First Play
To remove First Play from the project: 1. In the List window, Right-click the thumbnail for the First Play menu or movie and choose Remove First Play from the pop-up menu. 2. When prompted to confirm that you want to remove First Play from the project, click OK. The First Play indicator is removed from the thumbnail.
124 Avid DVD by Sonic End Actions and End Frame Stills
End Actions and End Frame Stills
End actions determine what happens when a movie or menu finishes playing. This allows you to direct playback for the content on the disc, for example, returning to an introductory menu or chapter menu after a feature plays, or jumping to a trailer after a menu times out. End actions are also used to loop motion menus and still menus that contain audio or animated buttons, thereby allowing the menu to play continuously until a selection is made by the viewer. Before going to the end action, you can display a menu, or a movie’s ending frame, for a specified duration.
This section includes the following topics: • Setting End Actions and End Frame Stills for Movies • Movie End Actions and Playlists • Setting End Actions and End Frame Stills for Menus
Setting End Actions and End Frame Stills for Movies
A movie’s End Action and End Frame Still determine what happens when the movie finishes playing. With the End Frame Still you can display the final frame of the movie for a specified duration (or infinitely). The End Action, which occurs after the End Frame Still duration, determines which movie or menu plays next.
To set the End Frame Still and End Action for a movie: 1. In the List window, select the movie for which you will set the End Frame Still and End Action. 2. If the Properties window is not open, choose Windows > Show Properties Window or press F3. 3. In the Movie section of the Properties window, set End Frame Still to one of the following options:
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None After reaching the end of the movie, the end action is immediately performed. Timed After reaching the end of the movie, the last frame is displayed for the specified duration, in minutes and seconds, after which the movie’s end action is performed. Infinite After reaching the end of the movie, the last frame is displayed until the viewer performs an action, such as pressing the TITLE, ROOT, or PREVIOUS buttons on the remote control. The End Action is not available when End Frame Still is set to Infinite. 4. To set an end action for the movie, do the following: - In the End Action menu, select the movie, chapter point, or menu that will play after the movie finishes playing.
- If the destination for the end action is a menu and you want to specify a button to be selected when jumping to the menu, choose a button number from the Set Highlight menu. If the destination menu has a button assigned to Forced Selection (see “Forced Selection” on page 121), it takes priority over the Set Highlight button. - If the destination for the end action is a movie and you want to specify an audio stream to play when jumping to the movie, choose an audio track number from the Set Audio menu. - If the destination for the end action is a movie and you want to specify a subtitle stream to play when jumping to the movie, select a subtitle track number from the Set Subtitle menu.
126 Avid DVD by Sonic End Actions and End Frame Stills
Movie End Actions and Playlists
End actions are ignored when movies are played back from a playlist. This provides a means for overriding a movie’s end action by jumping to the next movie in the playlist, or by jumping to the menu assigned to the playlist’s end action. For more information, see “Playlists” on page 112.
Setting End Actions and End Frame Stills for Menus
A menu’s End Action determines whether the menu loops (for menus that contain video or audio material) or jumps to a movie or another menu. Menus can also have an End Frame Still that determines whether the menu is displayed infinitely or for a timed duration.
When working with motion menus, or still menus that contain audio or animated buttons, you can also specify a Menu Duration that will determine how much of the material plays (before encountering the End Frame Still and End Action).
To set the Duration, End Frame Still, and End Action for a menu: 1. In the List window, select the menu for which you will set the Menu Duration, End Frame Still, and End Action. 2. If the Properties window is not open, choose Windows > Show Properties Window or press F3. 3. If the menu contains audio or animated buttons, or is a motion menu, enter a duration in the Menu Duration field. 4. Set End Frame Still to one of the following options:
None If the menu contains audio or animated buttons, or is a motion menu, select None if you want the end action to be performed immediately after the menu finishes playing.
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Infinite The menu is displayed until the viewer performs an action, such as pressing a menu button or the TITLE, ROOT, or PREVIOUS buttons on the remote control. If the menu contains audio or animated buttons, or is a motion menu, the infinite display begins after the menu finishes playing. When set to Infinite, an End Action is not available for the menu. Timed The menu is displayed for the specified duration, in minutes and seconds, after which the movie’s end action is performed. If the menu contains audio or animated buttons, or is a motion menu, the timed duration begins after the menu finishes playing. 5. To set an end action for the menu, do the following: - In the End Action menu, select the movie, chapter point, or menu that will play after the menu finishes playing. If the menu is a motion menu, or contains audio or animated buttons, and you want it to loop, select Loop.
- If the destination for the end action is a menu and you want to specify a button to be selected when jumping to the menu, choose a button number from the Set Highlight menu. - If the destination menu has a button assigned to Forced Selection (see “Forced Selection” on page 121), it takes priority over the Set Highlight button. - If the destination for the end action is a movie and you want to specify an audio stream to play when jumping to the movie, choose an audio track number from the Set Audio menu. - If the destination for the end action is a movie and you want to specify a subtitle stream to play when jumping to the movie, select a subtitle track number from the Set Subtitle menu.
128 Avid DVD by Sonic Setting the Project’s Title Menu
Setting the Project’s Title Menu
You can specify which menu appears when the viewer presses the TITLE button on the remote control. This menu is referred to as the title menu and is generally used as a top-level menu that can access the disc’s main feature, as well as the other menus in the project.
To set the project’s title menu: t In the List window, drag the menu you want to set as the title menu to the top of the Menus column.
Setting a Movie’s Root Menu
For each movie, you can specify a menu that will appear when the viewer presses the MENU button on the remote control during playback of the movie. This menu is referred to as the root menu. You can also specify a button to be selected when jumping to the root menu.
To set a movie’s root menu: 1. In the List window, select the movie for which you will set the root menu. 2. If the Properties window is not open, choose Windows > Show Properties Window or press F3. 3. In the Movie section of the Properties window, set the Menu Button menu to the menu you want to appear when the viewer presses MENU on the remote control. 4. To specify a button to be selected when jumping to the root menu, choose a button number from the Highlight menu. If the root menu has a button assigned to Forced Selection (see “Forced Selection” on page 121), it takes priority over the Set Highlight button.
Setting the Jacket Picture
The project’s Jacket Picture is displayed (instead of the default, startup image from the DVD player’s manufacturer) when the disc is in the DVD player and playback is stopped. The Jacket Picture is also used when selecting discs in multi-disc DVD players.
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To specify the Jacket Picture: 1. In the Palette window, Right-click the still image that you want to use as the Jacket Picture. If authoring an NTSC project, the image should be 720 x 480; if authoring a PAL project, the image should be 720 x 576. 2. From the pop-up menu that appears, choose Make Jacket Picture. The text for the asset (in the Palette window) turns blue, indicating it is the project’s Jacket Picture.
When the project is later written as a disc image, the Jacket Picture is encoded and written to the JACKET_P folder in small, medium, and large sizes.
130 Avid DVD by Sonic Chapter 10 Proofing the Project
When working on a project, you will often want to test how it works, to see how menus interact and playback flows. Using Avid DVD by Sonic’s built-in playback engine (Simulation mode) and Remote Control window, you can proof the project as if it were a finished disc.
This chapter includes the following topics: • Video Output for Simulation Mode • Configuring AV Setup • Proofing with Simulation Mode
Video Output for Simulation Mode
When proofing a project, it can be viewed in the Video Preview window.
To configure the video output for Simulation mode: 1. Choose Edit > Preferences. The Preferences dialog opens. 2. Choose one of the following options: Chapter 10 Proofing the Project
Sonic SD-series Encoder/Decoder card In Simulation mode, video is routed to an external video monitor connected to the SD-series Encoder/Decoder card. Video is not displayed in the Video Preview window. Software In Simulation mode, video is displayed in the Video Preview window in Avid DVD by Sonic. 3. Click OK and relaunch Avid DVD by Sonic for the setting to take effect. n When using Palette preview or when scrubbing in the Movie Timeline window, video is output only to the Video Preview window.
Configuring AV Setup
If you have an SD-series Encoder/Decoder card, the AV Setup dialog configures the clock sources for Simulation mode, as well the settings for Dolby Digital output.
132 Avid DVD by Sonic Configuring AV Setup
To configure AV Setup: 1. Choose File > AV Setup. The AV Setup dialog opens.
2. Make sure the TV Standard is set according to the current project (NTSC or PAL). 3. If you have a video signal connected to the SD-series Encoder/Decoder card, set the Video Clock Source to External. Otherwise, leave it set to Internal. 4. If the Video Clock Source is set to External, specify whether the Audio Clock Source will be received from the Video Clock Source (Video Device Internal Clock) or from the digital input on the audio interface (AES/EBU). 5. To route Dolby Digital audio to the audio interface’s S/PDIF output for external decoding, set Dolby Digital Decoding to External. To output Dolby Digital audio to the audio interface’s analog outputs, set it to Internal. 6. Click OK to close the AV Setup dialog.
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Proofing with Simulation Mode
In Simulation mode, you can fully test the project before committing to writing the disc image. Avid DVD by Sonic’s Remote Control window is designed to behave just like a real DVD player and you can interact with the project as if it were a finished disc.
To proof the project in Simulation mode: 1. Choose File > Simulation or press F10. The Remote Control window opens. If the project contains a First Play menu or movie, playback begins. 2. Use the Remote Control buttons to interact with the project as if you were the viewer (see “Using the Remote Control” on page 134 for details on each button). In Simulation mode, you cannot edit the project; you can only move the Remote Control and the Video Preview windows. - Check that playback flows from movie to movie, or menu to menu, as expected. - Click the MENU and TITLE keys and verify that they link to the appropriate menus. - Click the NEXT and PREVIOUS buttons to jump to the different chapters within movies. - For each menu, make sure you can intuitively access each button and that their Normal, Selection, and Activation colors are correct. - Verify that each button jumps to the correct destination. - For motion menus, check that they loop cleanly back to the beginning after they have finished playing. 3. To exit Simulation mode, click the Close button in the Remote Control Window or press Escape or F10. The Remote Control window closes and you can continue working with the project.
Using the Remote Control
The Remote Control window includes the following controls:
134 Avid DVD by Sonic Proofing with Simulation Mode
Remote Control Window
Title Menu
Selection Arrows Enter
Previous Next
Pause Stop Play Skip to End Action Subtitles On/Off Subtitle Track Audio Track
Numeric keypad
Activate Cancel
Click to show/hide numeric keypad
Title Jumps to the project’s title menu.In Avid DVD by Sonic, the title menu is the menu at the top of the Menus column in the List window. Menu Jumps to the root menu for the movie currently playing. Selection Arrows Moves the selection between the menu buttons for the current menu. Enter Activates the currently selected menu button.
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Previous Jumps to the previous chapter point in the movie currently playing. Next Jumps to the next chapter point in the movie currently playing. Play Begins playback (if playback is stopped or paused). Pause Pauses playback. Stop Stops playback. Skip to End Action Jumps to the end of the movie and performs its end action. Subtitles On/Off Shows and hides subtitles for the movie currently playing, if it contains subtitles. Subtitle Track Switches the subtitle track for the movie currently playing, if it contains multiple subtitle tracks. When switching subtitle tracks, playback pauses and then resumes with the new subtitle track. The subtitle track number and language are displayed at the top of the Remote Control window. Audio Track Switches the audio track for the movie currently playing, if it contains multiple audio tracks. When switching audio tracks, playback pauses and then resumes with the new audio track. The audio track number, language, and audio type are displayed at the top of the Remote Control window. Numeric Keypad Enters a menu button number that can then be activated with the Activate button. Activate Activates the menu button entered on the numeric keypad. Cancel Cancels numeric entry for menu buttons.
136 Avid DVD by Sonic Chapter 11 Creating DVDs
The final stage of DVD authoring is creating or building the output. This involves multiplexing the project’s video, audio, and navigation data into DVD-compliant form. This chapter describes the various output options in Avid DVD by Sonic and includes the following topics: • Project Settings • OpenDVD • Creating DVD Volumes • Creating Disc Images • Creating DVD Discs • Creating DLTs • Dual-Layer Projects • Creating DVD-ROM Backups
Project Settings
The Project Settings dialog contains options for specifying volume information, region coding, copy protection, audio encoding, and ROM data. These options should be configured before outputting the project to a DVD Volume, disc image, disc, or DLT. The following sections document each of the tabs in the Project Settings dialog: • Vo l u m e I n f o • Region Coding • Copy Protection • ROM Data Chapter 11 Creating DVDs
Volume Info
The Volume Info options in the Project Settings dialog contains descriptors about the title, along with information about the disc size and whether it contains multiple sides.
To configure Volume Info: 1. Choose Edit > Project Settings. The Project Settings dialog opens. 2. Click the Volume Info tab.
3. Using only alpha-numeric characters and the underscore (_), enter text in the following fields: Volume Name A 32-character name for the disc. The default Volume Name is “SONIC_DVD” but can be changed. Provider ID A unique identifier for the content’s provider. POS Code A 13-digit number representing the disc’s Point of Sale code. Mastering ID A unique identifier for the content’s masterer. Publisher ID A unique identifier for the content’s publisher. 4. If the disc is part of a volume of discs, enter the volume number for the disc and the number of discs in the volume. For example, if it is the second disc in a volume of eight discs, enter “Volumes: 2 of 8.” 5. If the project contains two sides, do the following: - Set Total Sides to 2.
138 Avid DVD by Sonic Project Settings
- Set Disc Side to either A or B, depending on which side the current project represents. When authoring double-sided discs, the sides are prepared separately and later assembled as double-sided discs by the disc replicator. If authoring a single-sided disc, leave this option set to A. 6. Set Disc Size to either 12 cm (the default) or 8 cm. Manufacturing of 8 cm discs is not widely available, and these discs are not supported with most slot-loading DVD players and DVD-ROM drives. 7. If working with a dual-layer project, set Track Path to either Opposite or Parallel. This determines how the DVD player transitions to the second layer of the disc on playback. This option is only available when the Bit Budget menu in the Status Bar is set to DVD-9. For more information, see “The Bit Budget Display” on page 48. 8. Click OK to close the Project Settings dialog.
Region Coding
The DVD Forum Committee divides the world into six DVD regions (1–6), and specifies one transnational region (8) for such applications as in-flight entertainment; Region 7 is currently undefined. DVD players sold in one region are set for playback in that region only, to discourage DVD piracy. A disc’s region codes can be configured to allow playback in some regions and not others, or in all regions. For a list of DVD regions for each country, see Appendix A.
To configure Region Coding: 1. Choose Edit > Project Settings. The Project Settings dialog opens. 2. Click the Region Coding tab. 3. Select the regions you want to enable for playback. To enable all regions, click Enable All.
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4. Click OK to close the Project Settings dialog.
Copy Protection
If a DVD-Video disc contains copyrighted material, you can use copy protection to protect the intellectual property rights of the material’s owner, as well as the rights of the disc’s publisher. The copy protection schemes available in Avid DVD by Sonic include APS, CGMS, and CSS, and they are configured in the Project Settings dialog.
To configure copy protection: 1. Choose Edit > Project Settings. The Project Settings dialog opens. 2. Click the Copy Protection tab. 3. If the project contains copyrighted material, select Enable Copyright Management.
140 Avid DVD by Sonic Project Settings
4. To use CGMS, set Copy Generation Management System to one of the following options: Unlimited Copies Allows any number of copies from the original disc, as well as second-generation copies. One Copy Allowed Allows any number of one-generation copies to be made from the original disc. The copied discs, however, cannot be copied to create second-generation copies. No Copies Allowed Allows no copying. 5. To use CSS, select “Format for Copy Scrambling System.” CSS is only available if CGMS is set to No Copies Allowed. Matsushita’s Content Scrambling System (CSS) scrambles data sectors so that DVD and hard drive copies cannot be read. Content for the project is encrypted with CSS keys (provided by the disc replicator) that reside on an area of the disc that cannot be copied to another medium. DVD players and DVD player software can play back CSS-encrypted original DVDs but not copies of them. 6. To use APS, set Analog Protection System to one of the following options. APS is only available if CGMS is set to No Copies Allowed. Off Provides no additional copy protection. Type 1 Prevents copying to analog videotapes by using Automatic Gain Control (AGC). AGC confuses the video recorder by sending it a video signal that is stronger than it actually is, thereby creating a copy with very low levels and degraded quality. This option is compatible with both PAL and NTSC projects. Type 2 In addition to using AGC, imposes two--line color stripes on the recorded video signal. This option is only compatible with NTSC projects. Type 3 In addition to using AGC, imposes four--line color stripes on the recorded video signal. This option is only compatible with NTSC projects. To use Macrovision’s APS, you must obtain the licensing rights for this technology. For more information, contact your disc replicator or Macrovision (http://www.macrovision.com). 7. Click OK to close the Project Settings dialog.
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ROM Data
Avid DVD by Sonic can create hybrid discs that contain both DVD-Video data and DVD-ROM data. This lets you include additional content (outside the video and audio zones) that can be accessed by computers with DVD-ROM drives. Common uses for DVD-ROM data includes bonus content, games, and Web links. ROM data is included when outputting disc images, DVD discs, and DLTs.
ROM files for hybrid discs use the ISO 9660 Level 2 file system, which allows for filenames of up to 30 characters using the ASCII character set. To allow for longer filenames with a wider character set (compatible with Windows 95), you can enable the option for the Joliet file extension. n Avid DVD by Sonic also supports writing pure DVD-ROM data (without DVD-Video content) to DVD-Video discs and DLTs for backup purposes. For more information, see “Creating DVD-ROM Backups” on page 153.
To add ROM data: 1. Choose Edit > Project Settings. The Project Settings dialog opens. 2. Click the ROM Data tab. 3. Select the Add ROM Data option.
4. Click Browse and select the folder containing the ROM files you want to include, then click OK. This folder must be created in Windows Explorer before it can be selected in Avid DVD by Sonic. 5. If you want the ROM files to use the Joliet extension, select the option for Joliet Extension Support. 6. Click OK to close the Project Settings dialog.
142 Avid DVD by Sonic OpenDVD
OpenDVD
The OpenDVD specification defines an open, fully-compatible standard that allows DVD-Video discs to be opened and edited in OpenDVD-compliant applications. This means that DVD need not be a static medium. With OpenDVD, you can make corrections or add content to OpenDVD discs, and you can easily transfer discs between workstations with the same OpenDVD- compliant authoring application.
Avid DVD by Sonic can write and open OpenDVD-compliant DVD discs. This allows you to create a project in Avid DVD by Sonic, write it to disc, and later open and revise its contents.
This section includes the following topics: • Writing OpenDVD Discs • Opening an OpenDVD Disc
Writing OpenDVD Discs
If the OpenDVD option (in the Status Bar) is enabled when you write a DVD Volume, disc image, disc, or DLT, an OpenDVD folder is written to the disc’s ROM area, and the disc will be OpenDVD compliant. Checking this option affects the Bit Budget, depending on the number of menus and movies in the project. n If you do not want your project to be OpenDVD compliant, so it can’t be opened and edited by other authors, make sure to deselect the OpenDVD option.
Status Bar with OpenDVD enabled
The OpenDVD folder will contain the following files:
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OpenDVD folder
• Project file that can be opened by OpenDVD-compliant applications. • ClickMe text file that describes the OpenDVD format. • Sources folder that contains low-capacity media data (menu backgrounds, menu overlays, and subtitles) required for subsequent editing of the disc. High capacity content from the VIDEO_TS folder such as video objects (VOBs) are not duplicated in the OpenDVD folder.
Opening an OpenDVD Disc
Avid DVD by Sonic can open and edit OpenDVD discs created by Avid DVD by Sonic. The menus and movies from the source disc (residing in the VOBs) are referenced directly from the DVD disc and do not have to be copied to your hard drive.
To open an OpenDVD disc in Avid DVD by Sonic: 1. Insert the OpenDVD disc in your computer’s DVD-ROM drive. 2. In Avid DVD by Sonic, choose File > Open Project. 3. In the Open dialog, select the project file on the disc (in the OpenDVD folder) and click Open. The project opens with the disc’s assets displayed in the Palette window, and the movies and menus displayed in the List window. 4. Before making any edits to the project, save a copy of it. Choose File > Save As and enter a filename and location, then click Save.
144 Avid DVD by Sonic Creating DVD Volumes
Creating DVD Volumes
The Make DVD Folder command writes a DVD Volume from the current project. DVD Volumes contain the video object files, information files, and directory structure that will eventually reside on the final disc. DVD Volumes can be used as a source when writing discs or DLTs, and can also be played by some software DVD players.
To create a DVD Volume: 1. If you are creating a hybrid disc containing both DVD-Video data and DVD-ROM data, specify the ROM folder in the Project Settings dialog (see “ROM Data” on page 142). 2. If you want the project to be OpenDVD compliant, so it can be opened and edited by other authors, select the OpenDVD option in the Status Bar (see “OpenDVD” on page 143). 3. Choose Build > Make DVD Folder. The Make DVD Folder window opens.
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4. Select a Destination Path. Click Browse and select the destination folder for the DVD Volume, then click OK. If you don’t specify a Destination Path, a folder named “Builds” is created in the project folder and the DVD Volume is written to it. 5. Click Next. The Summary window opens, displaying the project’s Disc Attributes. 6. Click Build. The progress bar appears as the DVD Volume is written to the specified folder. 7. When the build has completed, click OK to close the Summary window. The destination folder for the DVD Volume contains the following folders: VIDEO_TS Contains the video object files and information files. AUDIO_TS An empty folder reserved for DVD-Audio discs. JACKET_P Written if the project has a Jacket Picture defined (see “Setting the Jacket Picture” on page 129). OpenDVD Written if the OpenDVD option was enabled (see “OpenDVD” on page 143). Contains the project file, which can be subsequently opened and edited, along with a Sources folder that contains low-capacity media data required for editing.
Creating Disc Images
The Make DVD Disc Image command writes a single disc image file from the current project. The disc image file contains all of the DVD information for the project (without the directory structure) and represents the exact position of every piece of data on the final disc. Disc images can be used as a source when writing discs or DLTs, and can also be played by some software DVD players.
To create a disc image: 1. If you are creating a hybrid disc containing both DVD-Video data and DVD-ROM data, specify the ROM folder in the Project Settings dialog (see “ROM Data” on page 142). 2. If you want the project to be OpenDVD compliant, so it can be opened and edited by other authors, select the OpenDVD option in the Status Bar (see “OpenDVD” on page 143).
146 Avid DVD by Sonic Creating DVD Discs
3. Choose Build > Make DVD Disc Image. The Make DVD Disc Image window opens.
4. Select a Destination Path. Click Browse and select the destination folder for the disc image, then click OK. By default, the disc image is written to the project folder. 5. Click Next. The Summary window opens, displaying the project’s Disc Attributes. 6. Click Build. The progress bar appears as the disc image is written to the specified folder. The image file is named xxx.image, where xxx is name of the project file. 7. When the build has completed, click OK to close the Summary window.
Creating DVD Discs
The Make DVD Disc command writes a project, disc image, DVD Volume, or ROM folder to disc. To create a DVD disc, you need a DVD- or CD- recordable drive. Suitable media include DVD-R, DVD+R, DVD+R9, DVD- RW, DVD+RW, DVD-RAM, CD-R, and CD-RW.
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To create a DVD disc: 1. If you are creating a hybrid disc containing both DVD-Video data and DVD-ROM data, specify the ROM folder in the Project Settings dialog (see “ROM Data” on page 142). 2. If you want the project to be OpenDVD compliant, so it can be opened and edited by other authors, select the OpenDVD option in the Status Bar (see “OpenDVD” on page 143). 3. Insert a disc in the recorder and choose Build > Make DVD Disc. The Make DVD Disc window opens.
4. Set the Source menu to one of the following options: Current Project Writes the disc from the current Avid DVD by Sonic project. Disc Image Writes the disc from a previously written disc image (see “Creating Disc Images” on page 146). Click Browse and select the disc image file you want to write to disc. DVD Volume Writes the disc from a previously written DVD Volume (see “Creating DVD Volumes” on page 145). Click Browse and select the DVD Volume you want to write disc.
148 Avid DVD by Sonic Creating DLTs
ROM Content Writes a DVD-ROM disc without DVD-Video content. This option is usually used for backing up data. Click Browse and select the folder containing the data you want to write to disc. 5. Set the Recorder menu to your DVD or CD recorder. If the device does not appear in the menu, check that it is a supported device and make sure that it is powered on. If necessary, click Search to scan for the available devices. 6. Set the Write Speed for the recorder. 7. To write multiple copies of the disc, enter a value in the Number of Copies field. 8. Click Next. The Summary window opens, displaying the project’s Disc Attributes. 9. Click Build to write the DVD disc. If creating multiple copies of the disc, you are prompted to insert a new disc as each is completed.
Creating DLTs
The Make DVD Master command outputs a project, disc image, DVD Volume, or ROM folder to digital linear tape (DLT). Many disc replicators require DLTs for disc replication (though some will also accept recordable DVDs for replication). When outputting to DLT, you can generate a DDP (disc descriptor protocol) report.
To create a DVD master: 1. If you are creating a hybrid disc containing both DVD-Video data and DVD-ROM data, specify the ROM folder in the Project Settings dialog (see “ROM Data” on page 142). 2. If you want the project to be OpenDVD compliant, so it can be opened and edited by other authors, select the OpenDVD option in the Status Bar (see “OpenDVD” on page 143). 3. Insert a tape in the DLT drive and choose Build > Make DVD Master. The Make DVD Master dialog opens.
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4. Set the Source menu to one of the following options: Current Project Outputs the current Avid DVD by Sonic project to DLT. Disc Image Outputs a previously created disc image (see “Creating Disc Images” on page 146) to DLT. Click Browse to select the disc image file you want to output. DVD Volume Outputs a previously created DVD Volume (see “Creating DVD Volumes” on page 145) to DLT. Click Browse to select the DVD Volume you want to output. ROM Content Outputs a ROM folder to DLT. This option is usually used for backing up data. Click Browse and select the folder containing the data you want to output. 5. Set the Device menu to your DLT drive. If the drive does not appear in the menu, check that it is a supported device and make sure that it is powered on. If necessary, click Search to scan for the available devices.. 6. To output multiple DLTs, enter a value in the Number of Copies field. 7. Select “Print DDP Report After Write” if you want Avid DVD by Sonic to generate a DDP (disc descriptor protocol) report. 8. Click Next. The Summary window opens, displaying the project’s Disc Attributes.
150 Avid DVD by Sonic Dual-Layer Projects
9. Click Build to output the DLT. If creating multiple copies of the DLT, you are prompted to insert a new tape as each is completed 10. If you selected the option for Print DDP Report, you are prompted to save the DDP file. Enter a filename and location for the report and click Save.
Viewing the DDP Report
The DDP report provides information about the disc that will be created from the master tape. Avid DVD by Sonic writes this report to the master along with the DVD data and also prompts you to save a copy. The report is a plain text file that can be opened with any text editor or word processor.
Dual-Layer Projects
A single-sided, single-layer DVD disc (DVD-5) can hold up to 4.7 GB of content. For larger projects you can create single-sided, dual-layer discs (DVD-9) that hold up to 8.54 GB. Avid DVD by Sonic can output dual-layer projects to DLT, disc (if your DVD-recordable drive supports dual-layer media), or disc image. When outputting dual-layer projects to DLT, each layer (Layer 0 and Layer 1) is written to a separate DLT. Avid DVD by Sonic can also output the first layer of a dual-layer project to any DVD- or CD- recordable drive, for the sake of testing the first layer of the project.
To output a dual-layer project: 1. In the Status Bar, set the Bit Budget menu to DVD-9. 2. If you are creating a hybrid disc containing both DVD-Video data and DVD-ROM data, specify the ROM folder in the Project Settings dialog (see “ROM Data” on page 142). 3. If you want the project to be OpenDVD compliant, so it can be opened and edited by other authors, select the OpenDVD option in the Status Bar (see “OpenDVD” on page 143). 4. Choose Edit > Project Settings. In the Project Settings dialog, set the Track Path to either Opposite or Parallel, then click OK. This determines how the DVD player transitions to the second layer of the disc on playback.
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Layer 0 Track Path
Layer 1 Track Path
Parallel Opposite
Opposite The disc is formatted so that the data track for the first layer (Layer 0) is written from the disc center to the outer edge, and then continues with the second layer (Layer 1) from the outer edge back to the disc center. Select this option when you need the shortest interruption in playback across the Layer Break, since the laser beam transitions from the outer edge of the first layer to the outer edge of the second layer. Parallel The disc is formatted so that the data tracks of both layers are written from the disc center to the outer edge. This option provides slower transition times for playback across the Layer Break, since the DVD player drive head transitions from the outer edge of the first layer back to the disc center of the second layer. n If outputting to disc, a Track Path setting of Opposite will always be used. DVD recorders do not support outputting a Parallel Track Path.
5. Do one of the following: t If writing a disc image file, choose Build > Make DVD Disc Image. In the Make DVD Disc Image window, click Browse and select the destination folder for the disc image, then click OK. By default, the disc image is written to the project folder. t If outputting to disc, insert a disc in the recorder and choose Build > Make DVD Disc. In the Make DVD Disc window, make sure your DVD or CD recorder is selected in the Recorder menu. Set the Write Speed for the recorder. t If outputting to DLT, insert a tape for layer 0 in the DLT drive and choose Build > Make DVD Master; you will be prompted later during the output process to insert an additional tape for layer 1. In the Make DVD Master window, make sure your DLT drive is selected in the Device menu.
152 Avid DVD by Sonic Creating DVD-ROM Backups
6. Set the Source menu to one of the following options: Current Project Outputs the current Avid DVD by Sonic project. This is the only available option if you are writing a disc image. Disc Image Outputs a previously created disc image (see “Creating Disc Images” on page 146). Click Browse to select the disc image file you want to output. ROM Content Outputs a ROM folder. This option is usually used for backing up data. Click Browse and select the folder containing the data you want to output. 7. To output multiple discs or DLTs, enter a value in the Number of Copies field. 8. If you are outputting to DLT and want to generate a DDP (disc descriptor protocol) report, select the “Print DDP Report After Write” option. 9. Click Next. The Summary window opens, displaying the project’s Disc Attributes. 10. Click Build to output the project. You are prompted to insert additional discs or DLTs as necessary.
Creating DVD-ROM Backups
Although Avid DVD by Sonic is designed mainly for creating DVD-Video discs, you can also use it to create DVD discs and DLTs that contain only ROM data. You can use this option to back up project files to disc or tape after you have finished the project. n When creating DVD-ROM backups, ROM files will use the ISO 9660 Level 2 file system, which allows for filenames of up to 30 characters using the ASCII character set.
To create a ROM backup to disc or DLT: 1. Place the files and folders that will be written to disc in a single folder on your hard drive. Within this folder, organize the files as you want them to be organized on disc. Avid DVD by Sonic will create the same file hierarchy on the finished disc or DLT. 2. Choose Build > Make DVD Disc or Build > Make DVD Master. 3. Set the Source menu to ROM Content, then click Browse and select the folder containing the files that you want to write to disc or DLT.
Avid DVD by Sonic 153 Chapter 11 Creating DVDs
4. Specify the DVD/CD recorder or DLT drive you are using. 5. Set the Write Speed for the drive. 6. To output multiple discs or DLTs, enter a value in the Number of Copies field. 7. Click Next. The Summary window opens, displaying the project’s Disc Attributes. 8. Click Build to output the ROM data to disc or DLT.
154 Avid DVD by Sonic Appendix A Video Standards and DVD Regions
This chapter documents the TV systems used in most countries and territories. You can use it to decide which TV standard to use when encoding video files and creating a project. It includes the following topics: • Television Video Standards • DVD Regions • Video Standards and DVD Regions for Countries/Territories
Television Video Standards
Countries use different video standards for television broadcasts. The United States, Japan, and several other countries use the NTSC standard; the rest of the world uses PAL (or SECAM, which is very similar to PAL). NTSC video uses 525 scan lines at 29.97 frames/59.94 fields per second; PAL video uses 625 scan lines at 25 frames/50 fields per second.
NTSC DVD players usually cannot play PAL discs, whereas most PAL DVD players and all software players can play both formats. DVD and VCD discs can contain either NTSC or PAL video, but not both. Appendix A Video Standards and DVD Regions
DVD Regions
The DVD Forum Committee divides the world into six DVD regions, and specifies one transnational region (8) for such applications as in-flight entertainment. DVD players sold in one region are set for playback in that region only, to discourage DVD piracy. See the “DVD regions and TV systems” on page 157.
DVD regions
5
2 1 6 1 1 2 3
5 1 4 2 4
Video Standards and DVD Regions for Countries/Territories
The following table lists the DVD regions and television video standards for the world’s countries/territories. It is recommend that you always check which television standard is currently in use for the target countries before beginning a project. This information is provided in good faith and believed to be correct at the time of printing, but Sonic cannot be held responsible for errors or omissions. n If a country is listed as using both video standards, it means that both systems are used in different areas. For example, Greenland uses PAL except on U.S. military bases.
156 Avid DVD by Sonic Video Standards and DVD Regions for Countries/Territories
n Brazil and Laos use both NTSC and PAL-M, a video standard that uses 525 scan lines at 59.94 fields per second, the same as NTSC. When creating projects for Brazil and Laos, use NTSC.
DVD regions and TV systems
Country/Territory DVD Region Television Video Standard
Afghanistan 5 PAL
Albania 2 PAL
Algeria 5 PAL
Andorra 2 PAL
Angola 5 PAL
Anguilla 4 NTSC
Antigua and Barbuda 4 NTSC
Argentina 4 PAL
Armenia 5 PAL
Aruba 4 NTSC
Australia 4 PAL
Austria 2 PAL
Azerbaijan 5 PAL
Bahamas 4 NTSC
Bahrain 2 PAL
Bangladesh 5 PAL
Barbados 4 NTSC
Belarus 5 PAL
Belgium 2 PAL
Belize 4 NTSC
Benin 5 PAL
Bermuda 1 NTSC
Avid DVD by Sonic 157 Appendix A Video Standards and DVD Regions
DVD regions and TV systems (Continued)
Country/Territory DVD Region Television Video Standard
Bhutan 5 PAL
Bolivia 4 NTSC
Bosnia 2 PAL
Botswana 5 PAL
Brazil 4 NTSC/PAL-M
British Indian Ocean Territory 5 NTSC
Brunei 3 PAL
Bulgaria 2 PAL
Burkina Faso 5 PAL
Burundi 5 PAL
Cambodia 3 PAL
Cameroon 5 PAL
Canada 1 NTSC
Cape Verde 5 PAL
Cayman Islands 4 NTSC
Central African Republic 5 PAL
Chad 5 PAL
Chile 4 NTSC
China 6 PAL
Colombia 4 NTSC
Comoros 5 PAL
Congo, Democratic Republic of (formerly 5PAL Zaire)
Congo, Republic of 5 PAL
Cook Islands 4 PAL
158 Avid DVD by Sonic Video Standards and DVD Regions for Countries/Territories
DVD regions and TV systems (Continued)
Country/Territory DVD Region Television Video Standard
Costa Rica 4 NTSC
Croatia 2 PAL
Cuba 4 NTSC
Cyprus 2 PAL
Czech Republic 2 PAL
Denmark 2 PAL
Djibouti 5 PAL
Dominica 4 NTSC
Dominican Republic 4 NTSC
East Timor 3 PAL
Ecuador 4 NTSC
Egypt 2 PAL
El Salvador 4 NTSC
Equatorial Guinea 5 PAL
Eritrea 5 PAL
Estonia 5 PAL
Ethiopia 5 PAL
Falkland Islands (Malvinas) 4 PAL
Faroe Islands 2 PAL
Fiji 4 PAL
Finland 2 PAL
France 2 PAL
France (Metropolitan) 4 PAL
Gabon 5 PAL
Gambia 5 PAL
Avid DVD by Sonic 159 Appendix A Video Standards and DVD Regions
DVD regions and TV systems (Continued)
Country/Territory DVD Region Television Video Standard
Georgia 5 PAL
Germany 2 PAL
Ghana 5 PAL
Gibraltar 2 PAL
Greece 2 PAL
Greenland 2 NTSC/PAL
Grenada 4 NTSC
Guadeloupe 4 PAL
Guam 4 NTSC
Guatemala 4 NTSC
Guiana (French) 4 PAL
Guinea 5 PAL
Guinea-Bissau 5 PAL
Guyana 4 NTSC
Haiti 4 NTSC
Honduras 4 NTSC
Hong Kong 3 PAL
Hungary 2 PAL
Iceland 2 PAL
India 5 PAL
Indonesia 3 PAL
Iran 2 PAL
Iraq 2 PAL
Ireland 2 PAL
Israel 2 PAL
160 Avid DVD by Sonic Video Standards and DVD Regions for Countries/Territories
DVD regions and TV systems (Continued)
Country/Territory DVD Region Television Video Standard
Italy 2 PAL
Ivory Coast (Côte d’Ivoire) 5 PAL
Jamaica 4 NTSC
Japan 2 NTSC
Jordan 2 PAL
Kazakhstan 5 PAL
Kenya 5 PAL
Kiribati 4 PAL
Korea (North) 5 PAL
Korea (South) 3 NTSC
Kuwait 2 PAL
Kyrgyzstan 5 PAL
Laos 3 NTSC/PAL-M
Latvia 5 PAL
Lebanon 2 PAL
Lesotho 2 PAL
Liberia 5 PAL
Libya 5 PAL
Liechtenstein 2 PAL
Luxembourg 2 PAL
Macau 3 PAL
Macedonia 2 PAL
Madagasgar 5 PAL
Malawi 5 PAL
Malaysia 3 PAL
Avid DVD by Sonic 161 Appendix A Video Standards and DVD Regions
DVD regions and TV systems (Continued)
Country/Territory DVD Region Television Video Standard
Maldives 5 PAL
Mali 5 PAL
Malta 2 PAL
Marshall Islands 4 NTSC
Martinique 4 PAL
Mauritania 5 PAL
Mauritius 5 PAL
Mayotte 5 PAL
Mexico 4 NTSC
Micronesia 4 NTSC
Moldova 5 PAL
Monaco 2 PAL
Mongolia 5 PAL
Montserrat 4 PAL
Morocco 5 PAL
Mozambique 5 PAL
Myanmar (Burma) 3 NTSC
Namibia 5 PAL
Nauru 4 PAL
Nepal 5 PAL
Netherlands (Holland) 2 PAL
Netherlands Antilles 4 NTSC
New Caledonia 4 PAL
New Zealand 4 PAL
Nicaragua 4 NTSC
162 Avid DVD by Sonic Video Standards and DVD Regions for Countries/Territories
DVD regions and TV systems (Continued)
Country/Territory DVD Region Television Video Standard
Niger 5 PAL
Nigeria 5 PAL
Niue 4 PAL
Northern Mariana Islands 4 NTSC
Norway 2 PAL
Oman 2 PAL
Pakistan 5 PAL
Palau 4 NTSC
Panama 4 NTSC
Papua New Guinea 4 PAL
Paraguay 4 PAL
Peru 4 NTSC
Philippines 3 NTSC
Pitcairn Islands 4 PAL
Poland 2 PAL
Polynesia (French) 4 PAL
Portugal 2 PAL
Puerto Rico 1 NTSC
Qatar 2 PAL
Réunion 5 PAL
Romania 2 PAL
Russia 5 PAL
Rwanda 5 PAL
Samoa (American) 1 NTSC
Samoa (Western) 4 PAL
Avid DVD by Sonic 163 Appendix A Video Standards and DVD Regions
DVD regions and TV systems (Continued)
Country/Territory DVD Region Television Video Standard
San Marino 2 PAL
São Tomé and Principe 5 PAL
Saudi Arabia 2 PAL
Senegal 5 PAL
Seychelles 5 PAL
Sierra Leone 5 PAL
Singapore 3 PAL
Slovakia 2 PAL
Slovenia 2 PAL
Solomon Islands 4 PAL
Somalia 5 PAL
South Africa 2 PAL
South Georgia and the South Sandwich 4PAL? Islands
Spain 2 PAL
Sri Lanka 5 PAL
St. Helena 5 PAL
St. Kitts and Nevis 4 NTSC
St. Lucia 4 NTSC
St. Pierre and Miquelon 1 PAL
St. Vincent and the Grenadines 4 NTSC
Sudan 5 PAL
Suriname 4 NTSC
Svalbard (Spitzbergen) 2 PAL
Swaziland 2 PAL
164 Avid DVD by Sonic Video Standards and DVD Regions for Countries/Territories
DVD regions and TV systems (Continued)
Country/Territory DVD Region Television Video Standard
Sweden 2 PAL
Switzerland 2 PAL
Syria 2 PAL
Taiwan 3 NTSC
Tajikistan 5 PAL
Tanzania 5 PAL
Thailand 3 PAL
Togo 5 PAL
Tokelau 4 PAL
Tonga 4 NTSC
Trinidad and Tobago 4 NTSC
Tunisia 5 PAL
Turkey 2 PAL
Turkmenistan 5 PAL
Turks and Caicos Islands 4 NTSC
Tuvalu 4 PAL?
Uganda 5 PAL
Ukraine 5 PAL
United Arab Emirates 2 PAL
United Kingdom 2 PAL
United States 1 NTSC
Uruguay 4 PAL
Uzbekistan 5 PAL
Vanuatu 4 PAL
Venezuela 4 NTSC
Avid DVD by Sonic 165 Appendix A Video Standards and DVD Regions
DVD regions and TV systems (Continued)
Country/Territory DVD Region Television Video Standard
Vietnam 3 PAL
Virgin Islands (American) 1 NTSC
Virgin Islands (British) 4 NTSC
Wallis and Futuna Islands 4 PAL
Western Sahara 5 PAL
Yemen 2 PAL
Yugoslavia (Serbia, Montenegro, 2PAL Kosovo)
Zambia 5 PAL
Zimbabwe 5 PAL
166 Avid DVD by Sonic Appendix B Shortcuts
This following documents the keyboard shortcuts for Avid DVD by Sonic and includes the following topics: • File Menu Shortcuts • Edit Menu Shortcuts • Windows Menu Shortcuts • Palette Window Shortcuts • List Window Shortcuts • Menu Editor Shortcuts • Movie Timeline Shortcuts • Remote Control Shortcuts
File Menu Shortcuts
Action Shortcut
New Project Ctrl+N
Open Project Ctrl+O
Close Ctrl+F4
Save Ctrl+S
Save As Ctrl+Shift+S
Simulate F10
AV Setup Ctrl+H Appendix B Shortcuts
Action Shortcut
Exit Alt+F4
Edit Menu Shortcuts
Action Shortcut
Undo Ctrl+Z
Redo Ctrl+Y
Cut Ctrl+X
Copy Ctrl+C
Paste Ctrl+V
Duplicate Ctrl+D
Clear Delete
Select All Ctrl+A
Windows Menu Shortcuts
Action Shortcut
Show/Hide Properties Window F3
Show/Hide Menu Editor Window F4
Show/Hide Video Preview Window F5
Show/Hide Palette Window F6
Show/Hide Movie Timeline Window F7
Show/Hide List Window F9
Show/Hide Remote Control F10
168 Palette Window Shortcuts
Palette Window Shortcuts
Action Shortcut
Preview asset (start/stop) Spacebar
List Window Shortcuts
Action Shortcut
Switch between Menus and Movies column Tab
Select next menu or movie in column Down Arrow
Select previous menu or movie in column Up Arrow
Menu Editor Shortcuts
Action Shortcut
Highlight tool M
Select tool V
Text tool T
Text mode, enter text Ctrl+Enter
Text mode, insert line break Enter
Text mode, exit text entry Escape
Auto Route buttons Ctrl+R
Movie Timeline Shortcuts
Action Shortcut
New Audio Track Ctrl+Shift+A
New Subtitle Track Ctrl+Shift+T
Add Chapter Insert
169 Appendix B Shortcuts
Action Shortcut
Zoom In Ctrl+Plus
Zoom Out Ctrl+Minus
Zoom Entire Ctrl+0
Fit On Screen Ctrl+F
Show Minimum Tracks Ctrl+M
Import Subtitles Ctrl+I
Remote Control Shortcuts
Action Shortcut
Enter Simulation mode F10
Exit Simulation mode Escape, F10
Stop playback Spacebar
Navigate button selection Arrow keys
Activate selected button Enter
Skip to next chapter Ctrl+Left Arrow
Skip to previous chapter Ctrl+Right Arrow
Skip to end action Ctrl+Alt+Right Arrow
Title menu T
Root menu M
170 Glossary
1394 See IEEE-1394.
16:9 Aspect ratio of a widescreen television screen (also expressed as 1.78:1 or 1.78). DV cameras can record 16:9 widescreen video.
4:3 Aspect ratio of a standard television screen (also expressed as 1.33:1 or 1.33).
AC-3 See Dolby Digital.
AIFF (Audio Interchange File Format) Uncompressed or compressed digital audio file format developed by Apple Computer, Inc. Files have the extension .aif or .aiff. analog Representation of an object that resembles the original. Film, VHS videotape, and LP records are examples of analog storage media. The term exists only in contrast to digital. anamorphic Widescreen (16:9 aspect ratio) image that has been squeezed horizontally to fit into a 4:3 frame. When played back on a widescreen television or on a PC, the image is stretched to the correct proportions. On a standard television, the image may be displayed in its squashed form, letterboxed, or using pan and scan, depending on how the viewer has set up the DVD player. aspect ratio The shape of an image, described as the ratio of the width to the height. For example, a 4:3 image is 1/3 wider than it is tall. This ratio is usually expressed in whole numbers (for example, 16:9 or 4:3). Compare with pixel aspect ratio. asset Audio, video, and image files used to build a DVD presentation.
ASCII (American Standard Code for Information Interchange) Code standard for representing alphanumeric information.
ATIYUY2 See YUY2. Glossary
AUDIO_TS File directory on a DVD disc (or in a DVD Volume folder) where DVD-Audio data is stored. In a pure DVD-Video disc, this directory is always empty. Compare with VIDEO_TS. authoring The processes in which encoded audio and video files are linked, subtitles imported, chapter points and navigation introduced, and menus and buttons designed.
Authoring Media Recordable DVD disc that is designed for use in professional DVD recorders. Authoring discs let the DVD author write encrypted DVD files to the disc. Compare with General Media.
AVI (Audio Video Interleave) File format for digital video and audio data that is defined by Microsoft Corporation. Files have the extension .avi.
B-picture (Bi-Directionally Predictively Coded Picture) MPEG video picture that contains only the information that is different from previous and subsequent frames or fields. See also GOP, I-picture, P-picture. bit Binary digit. The smallest unit of digital information. Eight bits make one byte. bit depth Number of bits used to represent the color and brightness of each pixel in a bitmap image, expressed in bits per pixel. A 1-bit image has two (21) colors (black and white), a 2-bit image has four (22) colors, and so on. Full-color images are 24 or 32 bits per pixel; 24-bit images can contain 16,777,216 (224) colors, whereas 32-bit images can contain 4,294,967,296 (232) colors. Also known as color depth. bit rate Quantity of data measured in bits over a period of time (usually, one second). Equivalent to data rate. bitmap Digital image that is represented by a two-dimensional grid of pixels. There are many bitmap file formats, including Windows bitmap, JPEG, and TIFF. bps (Bits per Second) Unit of measurement for data rates.
BUP file Backup copy of the IFO file on a DVD-Video disc. button Graphic object on a DVD menu that links to a video clip or another menu. When a viewer selects and activates the button, the DVD player displays the linked material.
172 Glossary
In DVD menus, a highlight indicates which button is selected—the viewer uses the remote control to move the highlight to the desired button and presses ENTER to display the linked clip or menu. In VCD menus there is no highlight; the viewer selects a button by pressing its button number on the remote control. byte Unit of data containing eight bits. Digital data storage is usually measured in bytes, whereas digital data rates are usually measured in bits (per second). See also KB, MB, GB. capturing Process of recording video or images onto digital media such as a hard drive or DVD.
CBR encoding (Constant Bit-Rate Encoding) Method of encoding MPEG video streams by allocating the same number of bits to every second of video, regardless of its complexity. Redundant data is added to the stream when there is little action, and greater compression is applied (resulting in lower quality) as the video complexity increases. Compare with VBR encoding.
CD (Compact Disc) Optical disc storage format developed by Philips and Sony, originally for digital audio only. The CD format was extended to include computer files (CD-ROM) and video (VCD).
CD-R (Recordable Compact Disc) Compact discs that can be recorded once.
CD-RW (Rewritable Compact Disc) Compact discs that can be recorded and erased up to 1,000 times. channel Component of an audio track containing information that is heard through a particular loudspeaker—for example, the left or right channel in a stereo soundtrack. chapter selection DVD menu containing buttons that link to chapter points in the video. Also menu known as a scene selection menu. chapter point Marker in the video track that can be navigated to by pressing NEXT or PREVIOUS on the remote control, or by choosing a menu button that has been linked. clip File containing a video or audio stream.
173 Glossary closed GOP Group of pictures whose B- and P-pictures can reference other pictures only within the same GOP. MPEG streams with closed GOPs can be edited. Compare with open GOP. codec Software or hardware used to compress video, audio, and image files to save space, and to decompress the files for playback. color depth See bit depth. component video Analog or digital video system where the picture information is maintained as three separate components—for example, red, green, and blue (see RGB), or brightness and two color components (see YUV). Component video is considered superior to composite video and S-video. composite video Video system where all picture information is mixed into a single signal. Compare with component video, S-video. compression Method of making data files smaller. There are two forms of compression: lossless and lossy. Lossless compression, such as that used in PNG image files, does not change the data; it only removes redundancies. Lossy compression involves removing some of the data, based on knowledge of how humans perceive images and sound. Examples of lossy compression include MPEG video, JPEG image, and Dolby Digital audio.
D1 Uncompressed component digital videotape format used for professional- quality video. data rate Rate at which data is transmitted or retrieved. Measured in bits per second (bps). Equivalent to bit rate.
DDP (Disc Descriptor Protocol) Report that provides information about the disc that will be created from the DVD master. Avid DVD by Sonic can write a DDP report to the master along with the DVD data. decode To process digital data to reconstruct the original (analog) source. digital Represented by discrete numbers (digits). In general, digital is synonymous with binary because computers store and process information coded as combinations of binary digits (bits). Compare with analog.
DirectShow Software standard developed by Microsoft Corporation for playing digital video and audio on Windows-based computers.
DLT (Digital Linear Tape) Standard tape format required by disc replicators.
174 Glossary
DMA (Direct Memory Access) Method for transferring data directly to a device such as a hard drive without using the CPU. This greatly speeds up applications that need to write large amounts of data to the device.
Dolby Digital (AC-3) Audio codec, developed by Dolby Laboratories, that uses perceptual coding to deliver low-bandwidth audio. Dolby Digital is supported by all DVD players. Dolby Digital bit rates for DVDs typically range from 192 kbps for mono and stereo to 384–448 kbps for 5.1 surround sound. drop frame, non- NTSC-format video can contain either drop-frame timecode or non-drop- drop frame frame timecode.
The NTSC frame rate is 29.97 fps. Timecode counters cannot count anything less than a whole frame, so NTSC timecode counters increment the second count after every 30 frames; therefore, one second on the timecode counter is slightly longer than a real second (0.03 frames, or about 1/1000 of a second longer). This does not sound like much, but over time, the timecode counter gradually becomes more inaccurate. This is the effect of non-drop-frame timecode.
Drop-frame timecode keeps the timecode count accurate. In drop-frame video, frames 0 and 1 are omitted (dropped) from the timecode count at the start of every minute, except 0, 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 minutes, so that, for example, the timecode count jumps from 00:00:59:29 to 00:01:00:02 instead of to 00:01:00:00. This is enough to keep the timecode count synchronized with a 24-hour clock.
Since the PAL frame rate is a whole number of frames (25 fps), PAL timecode counters are always accurate.
DV (Digital Video) Compressed component digital videotape format.
DVD master Final output, including all audio, video, and other files as well as the DDP report, that is sent to a replicator to create DVD discs.
DVD Volume Logical container for all of the data on a DVD disc. In a DVD-Video disc, the DVD Volume contains the VIDEO_TS and AUDIO_TS folders, as well as any data files and folders that the author added to the disc. The DVD Volume can be created on a computer for testing with a software DVD player before it is written to disc.
175 Glossary
DVD-R A write-once format for DVD discs sanctioned by the DVD Forum. There are two types of DVD-R discs: DVD-R for Authoring, used for mastering at a duplicating house, and DVD-R for General, used for creating only a few copies of the discs without using a duplicating house.
DVD+R A write-once format developed by the DVD+RW Alliance. These discs can be accessed by set-top DVD players and computers with DVD-ROM drives.
DVD-RAM Rewritable DVD disc that can be recorded and erased up to 100,000 times. DVD-RAM is designed for faster access to random areas of the disc. These discs can only be accessed by DVD-RAM devices.
DVD-ROM The basic format of DVD, from which all other formats are derived. DVD- ROM discs can contain any form of digital data.
DVD-RW A rewritable DVD disc that can be recorded and erased up to 1000 times. These discs can be accessed by set-top DVD players and computers with DVD-ROM drives.
DVD+RW A rewritable DVD disc developed by the DVD+RW Alliance. This format was designed to allow for real-time video recording and editing. These discs can be accessed by set-top DVD players and computers with DVD-ROM drives.
DVD-Video Standard for storing and playing high-quality video with audio. Discs can be played either on set-top players or in computers that have a DVD-ROM drives and player software. elementary system Single digital stream of either video or audio. Compare with program stream. encode To transform an analog signal into digital data. This often involves some form of compression. See also decode, transcode. field Set of scan lines. Two fields make a complete frame. One field contains the odd-numbered lines (top field); the other field contains the even-numbered lines (bottom field). The fields can be displayed interlaced on a standard television or in progressive sequence on a computer monitor or high- definition television.
FireWire Standard created by Apple Computer, Inc. for transmitting digital signals between various devices, including DV cameras and computers. Now known formally as IEEE-1394.
176 Glossary
FOURCC (Four-Character Code) Method developed by Microsoft Corporation to allow software and hardware to identify the format of a video data stream. Examples of FOURCC codes include YUYV and I420. fps (Frames per Second) Rate at which video or film images are displayed to produce the illusion of movement. frame Single complete image in video or film. In interlaced video, a frame consists of two fields. frame rate Rate at which video or film images are displayed, measured in frames per second (fps). Film has a frame rate of 24 fps, the NTSC video frame rate is 29.97 fps, and the PAL video frame rate is 25 fps. frame size The size of the video frame, measured in pixels. Also known as resolution.
G Standard abbreviation for giga (billion). When used in units of measurement such as bits or Hertz, it means one (American) billion (1,000,000,000 or 109). When used for measuring bytes of computer data, it means 1,073,741,824 or 230.
GB (Gigabyte) In a computer, this is 230 (1,073,741,824) bytes. In a DVD disc, this is 109 (1,000,000,000) bytes.
General Media Recordable DVD that is designed for use in consumer DVD recorders. You cannot record DVD data that has been encrypted with the Content Scrambling System (CSS) onto General discs (almost all Hollywood DVDs are CSS- encrypted). Compare with Authoring Media.
GHz (Gigahertz) 1,000,000,000 cycles per second. Unit of measurement for frequencies.
GOP (Group of Pictures) Unit of MPEG video, the GOP is a block of video frames of different types. Every GOP begins with an I-picture, followed by a repeating pattern of P-pictures and B-pictures, such as this:
I B B P B B P B B P B B P B B P I B B P...
Start of GOP Start of next GOP
In MPEG-2 video, the I-, B-, and P-pictures can contain either frames or fields. In MPEG-1 video, they contain only frames.
177 Glossary
The I-picture (also known as a key frame) contains all the image information for a single frame or field, and is thus only moderately compressed. B-pictures and P-pictures contain only information that is different from the previous or next frame/field, and reference the nearest I-picture for the remaining information. This means they are much more highly compressed than I- pictures.
See also B-picture, chapter point, I-picture, P-picture, sequence header.
GOP size Number of frames in a group of pictures (GOP). For example, a GOP size of 10 looks like this if the I-, B-, and P-pictures contain whole frames: I B B P B B P B B P
and like this if the I-, B-, and P-pictures contain fields: I P B B B B P P B B B B P P B B B B P P
See also field, frame.
GOP structure The number of B-pictures before each P-picture in a group of pictures. Typical GOP structures are I B P (one B-picture) and I B B P (two B-pictures).
Hz (Hertz) Cycles per second. Unit of measurement for frequencies.
I-picture (Intra-Picture) MPEG video picture that contains all of the information necessary to create a single frame or field. Every GOP in an MPEG video stream starts with an I-picture, which provides a reference point for the B- and P-pictures in the GOP. See also B-picture, GOP, P-picture. i.link Sony Corporation’s term for the IEEE-1394 standard.
I420 The FOURCC code for a compressed YUV color format developed by Intel Corporation. Identical to IYUV.
IEEE-1394 Standard for transmitting digital signals between various devices including DV cameras and computers. Also known as FireWire or i.LINK.
IFO file One of the files on a DVD-Video disc. The IFO file contains instructions that tell the DVD player how to play the VOB files on the disc. Because the disc could become unplayable if the IFO file is damaged, a backup copy with the extension .BUP is always included in a separate location on the disc.
178 Glossary interleaved Method for displaying an analog video signal on a television screen. This scanning method was developed because video images flicker when displayed on televisions at 25 or 29.97 frames per second, where each frame fades away before the next one appears.
To prevent flickering, each video frame is divided into two fields. One field contains the odd-numbered scan lines in the frame (the “top” field); the other contains the even-numbered scan lines (the “bottom” field). The television displays one field (one set of lines), followed by the next, at 59.94 fields per second for NTSC or 50 fields per second for PAL. At these frequencies, human persistence of vision causes the fields to be perceived as a single image.
Compare with progressive scanning.
ISO 9660 Specifies the naming convention for computer filenames. Level 1 limits filenames to eight characters plus a three-character extension using uppercase A to Z, digits 0 to 9, and the underscore “_” character; known as the “8.3” or MS-DOS format. Level 2 allows names of up to thirty characters, using all ASCII characters.
IYUV See I420.
Joliet Extension to the ISO 9660 file system that allows long file names, and filenames with spaces and international characters. Available with Windows 95 (or later) and Windows NT.
JPEG Lossy compressed bitmap image file format developed by the Joint Photographic Experts Group. Files have the extension .jpg or .jpeg. k Standard abbreviation for kilo (thousand). Used as a prefix in units of measurement such as kbps (kilobits per second) and kHz (kilohertz).
K Standard abbreviation for 1,024 (210). Used as a prefix in measurements of computer bytes.
KB (Kilobyte) 1,024 (210) bytes. kbps (Kilobits per Second) Unit of measurement for data rates. key frame MPEG video picture containing the entire contents of a single frame (or field). An I-picture is a key frame.
179 Glossary kHz (Kilohertz) 1,000 cycles per second. Unit of measurement for frequencies. letterbox Method for displaying widescreen (16:9) material on a standard (4:3) television screen. The entire image is displayed in its proper aspect ratio across the center of the screen. Horizontal black bars (mattes) are added to the top and bottom of the image to fill the gaps between the image and the top and bottom edges of the screen. Compare with pan and scan. lossless Compression methods that do not discard any data. Compare with lossy. lossy Compression methods that discard some data to achieve high compression levels.
M Standard abbreviation for mega (million). When used in units of measurement such as bits or Hertz, it means one million (1,000,000 or 106). When used for measuring bytes of computer data, it means 1,048,576 or 220.
MB (Megabyte) 1,048,576 (220) bytes. Unit of measurement for computer data.
Mbps (Megabits per Second) Unit of measurement for data rates. menu Screen containing buttons that link to specific locations in a DVD-Video presentation. The viewer must select a button, then activate it to display the linked material.
MHz (Megahertz) 1,000,000 cycles per second. A unit of measurement for frequencies.
MPEG Set of standards for compressing video and audio, developed by the Moving Pictures Expert Group. The DVD-Video standard is based on MPEG-2 video compression; the standard also permits the use of MPEG-1 video. multiplex To combine separate video and audio streams together into a single data stream. Often abbreviated to mux.
NTSC (National Television Systems Committee) Television standard used in the United States, Canada, Japan, and other countries. NTSC television uses 525 scan lines (480 lines contain picture information) transmitted at 29.97 frames (59.94 fields) per second. Compare with PAL. open GOP Group of pictures whose B- and P-pictures can reference pictures from another GOP. MPEG streams with open GOPs cannot be edited. Compare with closed GOP.
180 Glossary
P-picture (Predictively Coded Picture). MPEG video picture that contains only the information that is different from previous frames or fields. Each P-picture provides a reference point for B-pictures and subsequent P-pictures in a GOP. See also B-picture, GOP, I-picture.
PAL (Phase Alternate Line) Television standard used in Europe and most of the rest of the world. PAL television uses 625 scan lines (576 are used for picture information) transmitted at 25 frames (50 fields) per second. Compare with NTSC. pan and scan Method for displaying widescreen (16:9) video on a standard (4:3) television screen. The widescreen image is cropped to fit the 4:3 aspect ratio. Compare with letterbox.
PCM (Pulse Code Modulation) Uncompressed digital audio format. The quality of PCM audio depends both on the sample rate (a 48 kHz sample rate is better than 44.1 kHz) and on the sample size (16-bits per sample is better than 8- bits).
PICT Image file format developed by Apple Computer, Inc. pixel One of the dots that makes up a digital image. The resolution of an image is measured in pixels (width x height). pixel aspect ratio Ratio between a single pixel’s width and its height. This is usually expressed as a decimal number.
Pixels on a computer monitor are square and have a pixel aspect ratio of 1. Pixels on a television screen are rectangular: on a standard NTSC television, each pixel is slightly taller than it is wide, with an aspect ratio of 0.9; on a standard PAL television, each pixel is slightly wider than it is tall, for a pixel aspect ratio of 1.0666. This is why standard NTSC and PAL televisions have the same 4:3 aspect ratio even though they use a different number of scan lines.
For widescreen (16:9) televisions, the pixel aspect ratios are 1.2 for NTSC and 1.4222 for PAL.
PNG (Portable Network Graphic) Lossless compressed bitmap image file format. Files have the extension .png. program stream Stream containing multiplexed video and audio. Compare with elementary stream.
181 Glossary progressive Method for displaying a video signal on a computer monitor (and on high- scanning definition television). In a progressive scanning system, each scan line is displayed in sequence. To prevent flicker, the scanning frequency must be twice that of a standard television, but this produces a higher quality picture. Compare with interlaced scanning. project file The file that tells Avid DVD by Sonic where the video, audio, and still images in a DVD project are located, and how to assemble and process them to create a DVD disc. This file has the extension .dvd.
QuickTime Software standard for playing compressed, full-motion video with synchronized audio. Developed by Apple Computer, Inc. resampling Process of converting a digital image from one resolution (size) to another. resolution Size (width by height) of a digital image, measured in pixels.
RGB The red-green-blue color model used in computer monitors. The color of each pixel in an image is made up of a red component, a blue component, and a green component, because these are the three colors that the human eye can perceive. In a full-color (24 bits per pixel) image, each component can be one of 256 values, from zero (darkest) to 255 (lightest). If all three components have a value of zero, the pixel is perceived as black. If all three components have a value of 255, the pixel is perceived as white. Compare with YUV. rip To extract music from an audio CD to a computer hard drive. sample rate Number of times per second that a digital sample is taken of an analog audio source. Expressed in kHz. The sample rate for audio CDs is 44.1 kHz; for DVD-Video, the sample rate is 48 kHz. Higher sample rates result in a more accurate reproduction of the original sound. sample size Number of bits allocated to each digital sample of an analog audio source. Larger sample sizes result in greater dynamic range and better reproduction of the original sound. DVD-Video uses sample sizes of 16, 20, or 24 bits.
SECAM (Sequential Color with Memory) A television transmission standard similar to PAL. The DVD-Video standard does not support SECAM, so DVD players in SECAM countries play PAL-format discs and transcode the signal to SECAM.
182 Glossary sequence header Part of an MPEG video stream. Contains information about the video stream, such as aspect ratio, bit rate, picture resolution, and frame rate. The DVD Specification requires a sequence header before every GOP. set-top player Consumer DVD player designed for use with a television as part of a home theater system. stream Data that must be read and processed in a linear sequence, such as digital video and audio. Also known as a track.
S-video Video connection standard that has separate brightness and color signals and uses a four-pin mini-DIN connector. S-video quality is better than composite video but not as good as component video.
Targa Bitmap image file format developed by Pinnacle Systems, Inc. Files have the extension .tga, .vda, .icb, or .vst. thumbnail Small picture representing the contents of a video or still image file.
TIFF (Tagged Information File Format) A versatile bitmap image file format. Files have the extension .tif or .tiff. timecode Location of a video frame relative to the start of the video clip. Timecode values generally use the format hh:mm:ss:ff (hours:seconds:minutes:frames).
See also drop-frame timecode, non-drop-frame timecode.
Title menu Highest-level menu in a DVD menu hierarchy. Viewers can display the title menu at any time during playback by pressing the TITLE button on the remote control. track See stream. transcode To convert digital video or audio data from one format to another, for example, from AVI to MPEG. transition The change from one video clip to another. This can be abrupt—one clip finishes and the other one starts—or can involve digital effects such as fading the end of the first clip into the beginning of the second clip. trim To edit a video or audio clip to remove unwanted material from the beginning or end.
183 Glossary
UDF (Universal Disc Format) Standard developed by the Optical Storage Technology Association for creating discs that can be used in any computer or digital device.
USB (Universal Serial Bus) Standard for transmitting digital signals between various devices.
UYNV See UYVY.
UYVY FOURCC code for a YUV color format used by many video capture cards.
V422 See YUY2.
VBR encoding (Variable Bit-Rate Encoding) A method of encoding MPEG video streams by allocating more bits to complex sections of video and fewer bits to less- complex sections. This results in higher quality video than CBR encoding at the same overall bit rate, or the same level of quality as CBR encoding at a lower overall bit rate. Compare with CBR encoding.
VCD (Video-CD) Digital videodisc format that preceded DVD, VCD is based on MPEG-1 video and audio compression and is especially popular in Asia. Video quality is similar to VHS videotape, but audio quality is superior.
VCD Volume Logical container for all the data on a VCD disc. The VCD volume contains MPEGAV, SEGMENT, and VCD folders, as well as any data files and folders that the author added to the disc. The VCD volume can be created on a PC, and the video files played with a software player, before it is recorded onto a disc. See also DVD Volume. video capture Device that converts an analog video signal to digital data. device
VIDEO_TS File directory on a DVD disc (or in a DVD Volume folder) where DVD-Video data is stored. Compare with AUDIO_TS.
VOB file (Video Object File) Basic media file, containing video and audio, of the DVD- Video format.
WAV audio Uncompressed or compressed digital audio format developed by Microsoft Corporation. Files have the extension .wav. widescreen Video displayed at a 16:9 ratio.
Y411 FOURCC code for a YUV color format.
184 Glossary
YUV Color model used in analog or digital video; this model was developed to enable both black-and-white and color televisions to use the same video signal. The video signal is made up of a brightness (Y) component and two color (U and V) components. The Y component is the black-and-white signal. The U component contains the difference between blue and the Y component (blue – Y), whereas the V component contains the difference between red and the Y component (red – Y). This color model is also often abbreviated as YCbCr.
YUNV See YUY2.
YUY2 FOURCC code for an uncompressed YUV color format used by many video capture cards. Developed by Microsoft Corporation.
YUYV FOURCC code for a compressed YUV color format. Developed by Canopus Corporation.
YV12 The FOURCC code for a YUV color format. Developed by Intel Corporation.
YVYU FOURCC code for a YUV color format.
ZORAN422 See UYVY.
185 Glossary
186 Index
A requirements 34 audio clips Add Files To Project command 51 adding to menus 87 adding adding to movies 57 audio clips to menus 87 deleting from menus 88 button highlights 95 deleting from movies 59 button links replacing in movies 59 by Right-clicking 110 Audio Clock Source, AV Setup 133 with drag and drop 108 audio tracks chapter points 60 adding to movies 57 graphics to menus 88 deleting from movies 59 menu objects 88 editing 58 text to menus 90 Language Codes 65 AIFF audio 34 selecting with button links 111 aligning menu objects 101 selecting with end actions 126 Analog Protection System (see APS) switching in Simulation mode 136 animated buttons 94 Auto Activate 120 APS 141 Auto Route 118 assets AV Setup dialog 133 audio 34 AVI video 34 deleting from projects 52 Avid DVD by Sonic importing 50 documentation 13 in Palette window 16 keyboard shortcuts 167 displaying with thumbnails 18 workflow 15 previewing 51 sorting 18 missing 54 B preparing 31 background layers 75 and the Bit Budget 44 replacing 85 still image 35 showing 25 subtitles 67 Bit Budget 26, 44, 48 video 31 and media capacities 46 audio assets calculating 44 Index
BMP images 35 deleting 64 button highlights 95 linking to buttons 109 adding 95 moving in Movie Timeline 63 button links 107 renaming 64 adding Chapter Reference file 39 by Right-clicking 110 color groups 70 with drag and drop 108 editing 71 properties 110 Content Scrambling System (see CSS) removing 110 Copy Guard Management System (see CGMS) selecting audio tracks with 111 copy protection 140 selecting subtitle tracks with 112 APS 141 to chapter points 109 CGMS 141 to menus 109 CSS 141 to movies 109 region codes 139 to video clips 109 copying menu objects 104 button properties 28 countries/territories Auto Activate 120 disc regions 156 Link To 111 video standards 156 Number 117 creating button routing 117 button layers in Photoshop 43 manually 119 disc images 146 with Auto Route 118 DLTs 149 buttons DVD discs 148 creating from menus 92 DVD Volumes 145 creating from movies 93 DVD-ROM discs 153 creating in Photoshop 43 hybrid discs 142 Highlight Colors 115 menu layers in Photoshop 42 linking to playlists 112 motion menus 83 links 107 movies 56 play-all 113 new projects 49 OpenDVD discs 143 C playlists 113 still menus Cache folder 53 from Photoshop layers 81 calculating the Bit Budget 44 from single-layer images 79 CGMS 141 CSS 141 Chapter Mark file 39 chapter point properties 28 D Name 64 Position 63 DDP reports 151 chapter points 20, 60 deleting adding 60 assets from projects 52 and GOPs 61 audio clips from menus 88 and subtitles 62 audio clips from movies 59 creating buttons from 93 audio tracks from movies 59
188 Index
chapter points 64 E menu objects 105 menus 20 editing movies 20 audio tracks 58 subtitle tracks 72 color groups 71 subtitles (individual) 72 First Play 124 disc images 146 keyboard shortcuts 168 creating 146 menu objects 97 Disc Side 139 video tracks 58 Disc Size 139 end actions 20, 125 discs 147 and play-all buttons 113 creating 137, 148 and playlists 127 dual-layer 151 menus 128 DVD-ROM 153 movies 126 media capacities 46 overriding 127 OpenDVD 143 selecting audio tracks with 126 region coding 139 selecting subtitle tracks with 126 regions 156 End Frame Still per country/territory 156 menus 127 sides 139 movies 125 size 139 Enhancement files Volume Info 138 for Avid DVD by SONIC 39 distributing menu objects 102 DLTs 149 F creating 149 DDP reports 151 file systems Dolby Digital (AC-3) audio 34 ISO 9660 142, 153 decoding 133 Joliet 142 Dolby Digital Decoding, AV Setup 133 First Play 123 drop-shadow effect, menu objects 94 editing 124 dual-layer projects 151 removing 124 outputting 151 Fit On Screen command 22 Track Path 151 Forced Selection 121 duplicating menu objects 105 DVD folders (see DVD Volumes) G DVD Producer aeo file locating 38 GOPs, MPEG video DVD Volumes 145 and chapter points 61 creating 145 structure 146 DVD-ROM discs 153 H creating 153 hiding (see showing) Highlight Colors 115 Opacity 115 highlight layers 76
189 Index
showing 25 showing 20 Highlight tool 96 locking menu objects 104 hybrid discs, creating 142 looping menus 128
I M Image safe zone 98 Macrovision APS (see APS) Importing Make DVD Disc Image window 147 metadata 57 Make DVD Disc window 148 XML file 57 Make DVD Folder window 145 importing Make DVD Master window 149 assets 50 Make Jacket Picture command 129 subtitle tracks 68 Mastering ID 138 subtitles (individual) 72 Matsushita CSS (see CSS) ISO 9660 file system 142, 153 media capacities 46 Menu Editor window 23 J Highlight tool 96 keyboard shortcuts 169 Jacket Pictures 129 safe zone 25 Joliet file system 142 Select tool 99 JPEG images 35 showing 24 Text tool 90 menu layers 75 K background 75 keyboard shortcuts 167 replacing 85 editing 168 showing 25 File menu 167 creating in Photoshop 42 List window 169 highlight 76 Menu Editor 169 showing 25 Movie Timeline 169 overlay 76 Palette window 169 adding to motion menus 84 Remote Control 170 adding to still menus 80 removing 86 replacing 86 L showing 25 Language Codes menu objects 88 for audio tracks 65 aligning 101 for subtitle tracks 72 copying 104 Large Icons View 18 deleting 105 Last Saved displaying with drop shadow 94 displayed in Status Bar 26 distributing 102 layers (see menu layers) duplicating 105 List window 18 editing 97 arranging menus and movies 19 locking 104 keyboard shortcuts 169 moving 99
190 Index
moving to front and back 103 End Action 126 resizing 100 End Frame Still 125 selecting 99 Menu Button 129 unlocking 104 Movie Timeline window 20 menu properties 28 displaying minimum tracks 22 Button Routing 117 keyboard shortcuts 169 End Action 128 Scrubber 60 End Frame Still 127 showing 21 Forced Selection 121 zooming 21 Highlight Colors 115 movies 20 Menu Duration 127 adding audio clips 57 menus 23, 75 adding to playlists 113 adding arranging in List window 19 audio clips 87 chapter points 60 graphics 88 creating 56 overlay layers 80 creating buttons from 93 text 90 deleting 20 arranging in List window 19 deleting audio clips 59 button highlights 95 deleting audio tracks 59 creating buttons from 92 displaying in Movie Timeline 21 creating from Photoshop layers 81 First Play 123 creating from single-layer images 79 linking to buttons 109 deleting 20 renaming 20, 56 deleting audio clips 88 replacing audio clips 59 displaying in Menu Editor 25 replacing video clips 58 duration 127 root menus 129 First Play 123 selecting 21 linking to buttons 109 moving looping 128 chapter points 63 motion 83 menu objects 99 renaming 20, 79 to front and back 103 root menus 129 MPEG-1 Layer II audio 34 selecting 25 MPEG-1 video 32 title menu 19, 129 MPEG-2 video 33 Metadata importing 57 N MetaSync tracks importing 57 New Project dialog 49 minimum tracks, displaying in Movie Timeline NTSC 32 window 22 video standard 155 motion menus numeric keypad, Remote Control 136 adding overlay layers 84 creating 83 movie buttons 92 O animating 94 Opacity, Highlight Colors 115 movie properties 27
191 Index
OpenDVD discs 26, 143 project folder 53 creating 143 Project Settings dialog 137 opening 144 Copy Protection 140 opening Region Coding 139 OpenDVD discs 144 ROM Data 142 projects 53 Volume Info 138 Opposite, Track Path 152 projects overlay layers 76 creating discs 137 adding to motion menus 84 creating new 49 adding to still menus 80 missing assets 54 image requirements 37 opening 53 removing 86 proofing 134 replacing 86 saving 53 showing 25 workflow 15 overriding end actions 127 proofing projects 134 Properties window 26 P buttons 28 chapter points 28 PAL 32 menus 28 video standard 155 movies 27 Palette window 16 showing 27 assets 16 text 91 keyboard shortcuts 169 Provider ID 138 Large Icons View 18 Publisher ID 138 previewing assets 51 showing 18 Q Small Icons View 18 sorting assets 18 QuickTime video 34 Parallel, Track Path 152 PCM audio 34 R Photoshop layers 36, 41 creating button layers 43 region codes 139 creating menu layers 42 configuring 139 creating menus from 81 Relative To Page option PICT images 36 and aligning menu objects 101 play-all buttons 113 and distributing menu objects 102 Playlist dialog 113 Remote Control window 29, 134 playlists 112 keyboard shortcuts 170 and end actions 127 numeric keypad 136 creating 113 removing PNG images 36 button links 110 POS Code 138 First Play 124 preparing assets 31 overlay layers 86 previewing assets 51 renaming project files 53 chapter points 64
192 Index
menus 20, 79 AV Setup dialog 132 movies 20, 56 Remote Control 134 replacing switching audio tracks 136 background layers 85 video output 131 overlay layers 86 Small Icons View 18 resizing menu objects 100 sorting assets in Palette window 18 ROM data, adding 142 Sources folder 53 root menus 129 Squeeze It setting 129 using to encode files 41 Status Bar 25 S still image assets BMP 35 safe zone 97 for overlay layers 37 aligning menu objects to 101 JPEG 35 distributing menu objects to 102 Photoshop layers 36 showing 25, 98 PICT 36 saving projects 53 PNG 36 Scrubber 60 recommended sizes 37 SD-series Encoder/Decoder requirements 35 AV Setup dialog 132 Targa 37 Select tool 99 TIFF 36 selecting Subtitle Import Preview window 69 menu objects 99 subtitle tracks menus 25 deleting 72 movies 21 importing 68 Send To Language Codes 72 Avid DVD by SONIC 38 selecting with button links 112 shortcuts (see keyboard shortcuts) selecting with end actions 126 Show Background Layer button 25 subtitles 67 Show Highlight Layer button 25 and chapter points 62 Show Minimum Tracks option 22 color groups 70 Show Normal Tracks option 22 deleting individual 72 Show Overlay Layer button 25 importing individual 72 showing in Simulation mode 136 background layers 25 text file format 67 highlight layers 25 List window 20 T Menu Editor 24 Movie Timeline 21 Targa images 37 overlay layers 25 text properties 91 Palette window 18 Text safe zone 98 Properties window 27 Text tool 90 safe zone 25, 98 thumbnails, displaying in Palette window 18 Simulation mode 29, 131, 134 TIFF images 36 and subtitles 136 title menu 19, 129
193 Index
setting 129 X Track Path 151 Opposite 152 XML file Parallel 152 importing 57 transcoding video assets 34 Z TV Standard displayed in Status Bar 26 zooming Movie Timeline window 21 for new projects 49
U unlocking menu objects 104
V video standards 155 per country/territory 156 video assets AVI 34 DVD-compliant 32 MPEG-1 32 MPEG-2 33 non-DVD-compliant 34 QuickTime 34 requirements 31 transcoding 34 video clips creating buttons from 93 linking to buttons 109 replacing in movies 58 Video Clock Source, AV Setup 133 video output, Simulation mode 131 video tracks editing 58 zooming 21 Volume Info 138 Volume Name 138
W WAV audio 34 workflow for projects 15
194