First Things First

Before you get started, it's important to note that you cannot burn a DVD directly from the network (i.e. the desktop of your log-in).  You must transfer all files you plan to use to a shared folder, where you will also save your DVD Studio Pro file as well.  In order to do this, go to the internal drive of the system you are on (i.e. DeproEdit9), go to Users, then click on Shared.  Here you should create a folder for your DVD project (i.e. My DVD Project.)  This folder will hold all of your assets, your DVD build and your DVD Studio Pro project file.  (Please note, the Shared folder is often cleaned out/deleted to make room for other projects, so please do back-up whatever is created in this folder.)

Introduction

DVD Studio Pro (DVDSP) is a creative tool for finalizing your DVD projects. You can use this program to create and author professional quality DVDs with interactive title menu, submenus, slideshows, and clip collages. DVDSP is an easy way to transform any movie or slideshow projects into legitimate and easily distributable DVDs.  DVDs created with DVD Studio Pro differ than data DVDs in that they can be played in a DVD player.

Creating a new DVD Studio Pro project

Either click on the DVDSP icon in the dock, or select it from Finder (Finder > Applications > DVD Studio Pro).

When the program opens, you may be prompted to choose application defaults.  Step 1: Choose Advanced configuration.  Step 2: Choose NTSC (unless you are creating programming to be played in Europe).  Step 3: Choose whether or not you are creating an SD DVD or HD DVD (more than likely you will be creating an SD DVD).  Step 4: Pick your default language.

DVD Studio Pro Interface

Saving your Project

Even before you get started you want to be sure that you save your project.  Go to File > Save As... and type the name of your DVD Studio Pro Project file and be sure you save it to the folder you created earlier in the Shared Folder (i.e. My DVD Project.)

Creating a Menu

If you are just getting started with DVDSP, the easiest way to create a DVD menu is by using a template.  You will see these displayed in your Palette.  These templates come equipped with built-in transitions, places to put images and text and buttons.  You may view each template by either dragging it into the grey Menu screen, or by selecting the template in the Palette and pressing Apply.

Next, you should import the content you wish to add to your DVD.  This includes any videos, as well as images you may want to use in your menu.  You can do this by pressing the Import... button in the Assets pane or by simply dragging your content into this window.

Click on the various text fields in your menu to either change the text or delete the field completely (Please note: You do not have to use all of the fields provided, however you can add more fields.  The easiest way to do this is by copying and pasting any pre-existing text that you have somewhere else on the Menu.  It's also a good idea to view the Title Safe Area.  To do this go to View > Title Safe Area.)  In order to change the font of your text, highlight the text and go to Format > Font > Show Fonts.  In order to change the color, highlight the text and go to Format> Font> Show Colors.

By default DVDSP's templates provide more buttons than you will probably need.  Typically you will just use one button that you can change the text to read, Play Video.  The other buttons can be deleted (or more buttons can be added).  On the left is an example of what a button looks like before the text is changed.

 

Most template menus will have some sort of "drop zone" where you can put video clips or images.  In order to place an image in the drop zone, first make sure it is added to your project as an Asset.  Then simply drag it from the Assets pane onto the drop zone.  To make further adjustments (i.e. where you want the video clip to begin) click on the video in the drop zone.  Then, in the Inspector slide the round button along the scale to preview the video and choose a frame you would like to begin on (further tweaks can also be made using the numerical counter.

 

 

 

 

Here is an example of a finalised menu:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More on Buttons

On most professionally-authored DVDs, there is a change in color denoting when a button is pushed.  To create this, click on the button in the Menu.  In the Inspector, choose the Colors tab.  Here you can choose what the button will look like when it's Normal, Selected and Activated.  Please note: In order to see the color changes, you must also make sure that the Opacity is set higher than 0.

It is in this pane that you can also be sure that you are happy with the menu transition, i.e. how the DVD transitions from the menu to the actual video(s).  (Most templates will have a default transition, which looks really nice however some do not and will need to be assigned.)  Simply select the Transition tab.  Then from the drop down menu choose and preview the various transitions until you find one that you are happy with.

Creating a Timeline

To add video/audio to your DVD, simply drag the asset from your Assets pane into your timeline (usually the audio will follow the video.)  If you have more than one video, place the clips right after one another.  If you would like to separate the clips by Chapters, simply click in the dark grey area above the video to insert a new Chapter.  Please note: you may have to expand the timeline to ensure that the Chapter marker is exactly where you want it to be.

Next, you want to assign your button to play the video in your Timeline.  Again, select the button in your menu.  In the Inspector, choose your "target" from the drop-down menu (i.e. Tracks and Stories > Track 1 > Chapter 1).  If you would like for your DVD to return to the DVD Menu after your video has played, click on the Track 1 icon in your Graphical Display, and now in your Inspector choose Menus > Menu 1 > [Menu] from the drop down menu (see lower left).

After you have all buttons assigned you can go ahead and select the Simulate icon.

In the simulation interface, you can be sure that your DVD is functioning as expected.  If no changes need to be made, you can go ahead and Build/Format your DVD.  In order to do this, select the Build/Format icon at the top of the screen.

You will then be prompted to choose a disc name (this is the name that will appear when your DVD is inserted into a computer) and choose where your DVD will "build".  You should build your DVD in the same folder as all of your other assets, as well as your DVD Studio Pro project file.  To do this, simply select Choose... and select your main DVD folder (i.e. My DVD Project.)

 

After this information is entered, select Build & Burn.  You will be prompted to insert a DVD and your DVD will begin formatting.  After selecting Build/Format for your first DVD, after that you can simply select Burn to create additional discs.