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Using Compression Markers to Improve the MPEG Encode, About the Markers You Add in an External Editor

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When adding markers to a track in DVD Studio Pro, you can only place them at GOP boundaries. This means that you will often not be able to place them exactly where you want them. When you place the markers with a video editor, the integrated MPEG encoder automatically forces an I-frame at that position, placing a GOP boundary exactly at every marker and providing perfect marker placement. Markers placed in Compressor before it is used to encode the video are also perfectly placed. Using Compression Markers to Improve the MPEG Encode MPEG encoding is based on the placement of I-frames, P-frames, and B-frames within a GOP (see Working with GOP Settings). The I-frames encode a complete frame, while the P-frames and B-frames only encode the parts of the video that change between the I-frames. When there is a sudden change in the video content on a P-frame or B-frame, such as a cut to a new scene, the output of the MPEG encoder can have significant artifacts until it reaches the next I-frame. The integrated MPEG encoder uses compression markers to force an I-frame into the encode at a specific frame, modifying the surrounding GOP structure to keep the encode DVD-compliant. Adding compression markers at places in the video where sudden transitions occur can produce better MPEG encodes when you use the integrated MPEG encoder. You can manually place compression markers in Final Cut Pro and Final Cut Express. As with chapter markers, an I-frame is forced at their position. The difference is that compression markers do not import into DVD Studio Pro as chapter markers and do not count against the 99 chapter marker limit for a track. Note: Final Cut Pro automatically adds compression markers at each edit point. These are not processed when encoding the video with the integrated MPEG encoder. Only compression markers you manually add in Final Cut Pro are processed. See Using Final Cut Pro and Compressor for information on these markers and Compressor. About the Markers You Add in an External Editor There are several issues to be aware of when adding chapter and compression markers in an external video editor: • DVD tracks can support a maximum of 99 chapter markers. Because compression markers are only used in the MPEG encoding process, they do not count as chapter markers and do not count against the 99-marker limit. Because you can add several video assets to a single track in DVD Studio Pro, you must keep in mind that the 99-marker limit applies to the total markers of all assets on the track. • You cannot place markers closer than one second to each other or within one second of the clip's start or end in the editor. This gives the encoder the flexibility to modify the GOP structures in that area to accommodate the added I-frame. Chapter 4 Preparing Video Assets 77

Section	Page
DVD Studio Pro 4 User Manual	1
Contents	3
Welcome to DVD Studio Pro	11
About DVD Studio Pro	11
About DVD Studio Pro Documentation	11
Additional Resources	11
Overview of Using DVD Studio Pro	13
Moving from iDVD to DVD Studio Pro	13
About Standard and High Definition DVDs	14
About DVD Studio Pro and HD Resolution DVDs	15
DVD Video Zone with HD Content	15
Blue Laser Disc Media	16
Supported Video Resolutions	16
Using 24P Video Formats	17
HD Video Assets	17
Using HDV Assets	18
Using H.264 Assets	18
Using DVCPRO HD and Uncompressed HD Assets	18
Brief Overview of the DVD Creation Process	19
Creating Source Material	20
Encoding Video and Audio	21
What Is Needed for DVD?	21
Using the DVD Studio Pro Tools	21
Using Pre-Encoded Sources	22
Authoring with DVD Studio Pro	22
Creating a Disc	23
Building the Video Zone	23
Formatting and Burning	24
What Makes a DVD Authoring System?	25
Hard Disk Storage	25
SCSI Devices	25
DVD Burners	26
Choosing a DVD Burner	26
General Versus Authoring Media	26
About the Different Types of General DVD Media	27
Determining Which Media Types Your DVD Drive Supports	28
DLT Drives	29
External Video and Audio Monitoring	29
Connecting an External Video Monitor	30
Connecting an External Audio Monitor	30
Audio and Video Assets	31
Have the Assets Been Edited Yet?	31
Capturing from an Audio or Video Player	31
Planning Your Project	33
Investigating Existing DVDs	33
Determining Your Target Audience and Playback Device	34
Deciding Which DVD Standard to Use	34
Deciding Which Video Standard to Use	35
Deciding What Content to Include	35
Creating a Storyboard	35
Designing the Menus and Buttons	37
Making Sure Your Content Will Fit	37
What Do You Mean a 4.7 GB DVD Won’t Hold 4.7 Gigabytes?	37
Disc Options	38
Estimating Whether Your Content Will Fit	39
Fitting Your Project on a DVD-5 Disc	39
Beware of Setting Your Bit Rate Too High	40
Using PCM or AC-3 Audio	40
Subtitle Allowances	40
Multiple Video Angles	41
Transitions	41
Using the Video Bit Rate	41
General DVD Limitations	42
How Do You Do That?	45
Creating a Simple DVD	45
Adding Chapter Markers	46
Adding a Menu	46
If You’re Using Multiple Movies	46
Creating a Play One or Play All Project	47
Stories in a Nutshell	47
Creating the Basic Project	47
Creating the Track and Adding Chapter Markers to It	48
Creating and Configuring the Stories	49
Creating and Configuring the Menus	50
Grabbing a Still Image from Your Movie	50
Adding Easter Eggs to Your Menus	51
Preparing Video Assets	53
Introduction to Preparing Video Sources	53
NTSC or PAL?	54
Using 24 fps Video	55
Importing 24 fps Assets	55
Using 24 fps Video in Tracks	56
Using 24 fps Video in Menus	56
Choosing an Aspect Ratio	56
What Exactly Is a 16:9 Asset?	57
16:9 and SD Projects	58
16:9 and HD Projects	58
Using Pan-Scan to Display 16:9 Video	58
MPEG Encoding and 16:9 Video	59
Using 16:9 Assets in Tracks	59
Mixing 16:9 and 4:3 Assets in a Track	59
Some Players Cheat!	59
Buttons over 16:9 Video Tracks	59
Using 16:9 Assets in Menus	60
Issues with Film Aspect Ratios	60
About MPEG Video	60
Encoding Video Materials for DVD	61
Elementary and Multiplexed MPEG Files	61
Choosing Between MPEG-1 and MPEG-2	61
Choosing a Bit Rate for SD Projects	62
Choosing a Bit Rate for HD Projects	62
MPEG Encoding Methods	62
Choosing a Video Resolution	63
SD Projects	63
HD Projects	64
Picture Frame Rate	65
Working with GOP Settings	65
GOP Pattern	66
GOP Length	66
Open or Closed GOPs	67
General Quality Issues	67
Noisy Video	67
Transcoding Artifacts	67
Using the Integrated MPEG Encoder	68
Configuring the Integrated MPEG Encoder	68
Encoding Preferences	69
Using the Integrated MPEG Encoder	71
Verifying and Changing Encoding Settings	72
Encoding Settings in HD Projects	73
How the Encoded Files Are Named	73
Encoding Video for Multi-Angle Tracks	74
Considerations for Mixed-Angle Tracks	74
Requirements for MPEG Streams in Multi- and Mixed-Angle Video	75
Using Final Cut Pro and Compressor	75
Maximum Bit Rates for Multi- and Mixed-Angle Tracks	75
Adding Markers to Your Video	76
Placing Chapter Markers Exactly Where You Want Them	76
Using Compression Markers to Improve the MPEG Encode	77
About the Markers You Add in an External Editor	77
Adding and Configuring Markers in Final Cut Pro and Final Cut Express	78
About H.264 Video	80
Natively Supported H.264 Formats	80
H.264 Bit Rates	80
H.264 Frame Sync Setting	81
About HDV Video	81
DVD Video Source Settings Summary	82
DVD Video Settings for SD Projects	82
MPEG Type	82
MPEG Structure	82
MPEG Bit Rates	82
Video Resolution	83
Frame Rate	83
Aspect Ratio	83
Chroma Format	83
GOP Size (Maximum)	83
GOP Size (Typical)	83
DVD Video Settings for HD Projects	83
MPEG Type	83
MPEG Structure	83
MPEG Bit Rates	83
H.264 Bit Rates	84
Video Resolution	84
Frame Rate	84
Aspect Ratio	84
Chroma Format	84
GOP Size (Maximum)	85
GOP Size (Typical)	85
Preparing Audio Assets	87
Introduction to Preparing Audio Sources	87
Audio Formats Not Supported by the DVD Specification	88
Audio Formats Supported by the DVD Specification and DVD Studio Pro	88
Uncompressed PCM Audio	88
Compressed Audio Formats	89
MPEG-1 Layer 2 Audio	89
Dolby Digital AC-3 Audio	89
DTS Audio	90
Previewing AC-3 and DTS Audio	90
Using Multiple Audio Formats in Your Project	91
Required Audio Formats for SD Projects	91
DVD Audio Source Settings Summary	92
DVD Audio Settings for SD Projects	92
Bit Rates	92
Audio Sample Rate	92
DVD Audio Settings for HD Projects	92
Bit Rates	92
Audio Sample Rate	93
Preparing Menu Assets	95
Introduction to Preparing Menu Sources	95
What Is a Menu?	96
Creating a Menu	96
Creating Graphics to Use in Menus	97
Using Your Graphics Program	97
Tips for Creating Menu Graphics	98
Flattening a Photoshop Layer	98
Understanding Pixel Differences in Graphics and Video	99
Video Pixels	99
Square Pixels in Graphics	99
HD Video Pixels	100
Creating Overlays	101
About Simple and Advanced Overlays	101
About the Overlay Colors	102
About Overlay Files	102
Creating Simple Overlays	102
Creating Advanced Overlays	103
The Four Colors in an Advanced Overlay	103
Pseudo-Soft Overlay Edges	105
Keeping Each Button’s Elements Together	105
Creating a Layered Menu	106
Using the Photoshop Layers	106
Using PSD Files to Create Layered Menus	106
Creating Video for Motion Menus	106
Defining the Menu Loop Point	107
Creating Shapes	108
Creating a Shape	108
Setting a Shape’s Opacity	110
General Shape Information	111
Shape Aspect Ratios	111
Creating Graphics for Drop Zones and Buttons	112
Preparing Slideshow Assets	113
Slideshow File Formats	113
Aspect Ratio and Resolution	114
Colors	114
Audio	114
Preparing Alpha Transitions	115
Introduction to Preparing Alpha Transitions	115
Transition Asset Folder	116
Asset Movie	117
Alpha Channels	117
Switch Points	118
Asset Matte Movie	118
Background Matte Movie	119
About Alpha Transition Durations	119
About NTSC and PAL Alpha Transitions	120
Starting a Project	121
Opening DVD Studio Pro	121
Setting DVD Studio Pro Preferences	124
Project Preferences	125
General Preferences	126
Menu Preferences	127
Track Preferences	129
Alignment Preferences	131
Text Preferences	132
Colors Preferences	134
Simulator Preferences	135
Destinations Preferences	136
Encoding Preferences	137
Creating a New Project	138
Setting the Video Standard	139
Setting the DVD Standard	140
Setting the DVD Standard in DVD Studio Pro Preferences	140
Setting the DVD Standard in the Disc Inspector	140
Naming the Project	141
Setting the Disc Size	142
Setting the Project’s First Play	143
Opening an Existing Project	143
Video Standards of the World	145
Changing a Project’s Video Standard	145
Changing a Project’s DVD Standard	146
The DVD Studio Pro Interface	149
Introduction to the DVD Studio Pro Interface	150
Configuring the Interface	152
Working with the Quadrants	154
Resizing the Quadrants	155
Adding Quadrants to the Basic and Extended Configurations	157
Working with the Tabs	157
Viewing a Tab’s Contents	157
Rearranging Tabs Within a Quadrant	157
Moving a Tab to a Different Quadrant	158
Tearing Off a Tab into Its Own Window	159
Restoring a Torn-Off Tab to a Quadrant	159
What Happens If You Close a Torn-Off Tab’s Window?	160
Overview of the Quadrant Tabs	161
Assets Tab	161
Connections Tab	161
Graphical Tab	162
Log Tab	162
Menu Tab	163
Outline Tab	163
Script Tab	164
Slideshow Tab	165
Story Tab	165
Track Tab	166
Viewer Tab	166
Inspector	167
Palette	168
Hiding and Showing the Palette	168
Templates and Styles Tabs	169
Shapes Tab	169
Media Tabs	171
Adding Folders to the Folder List	171
Managing the Folder List	172
Viewing and Using Assets	173
Toolbar	174
Hiding and Showing the Toolbar	174
Managing the Toolbar	174
Toolbar Items	175
Drop Palette	177
Comparing the Outline and Graphical Project Views	177
Using the Outline Tab	178
Selecting Elements	179
Moving Elements in the By Type Display	179
Using the Graphical Tab	180
Graphical Tab Introduction	181
Graphical Tab Viewing Options	181
Using the Macro View	182
Displaying the Macro View	182
Working with the Macro View	183
Selecting and Managing Tiles	184
Selecting Tiles	184
Moving Tiles by Dragging	184
Using Distribute Objects	185
Locking the Tile Positions	186
About the Tiles	186
Tile Sizes	187
Flagging Tiles	187
Viewing Specific Tile Types	188
Viewing Connections	188
Printing the Graphical Tab’s Tile Area	189
Managing Elements Using the Outline and Graphical Tabs	190
Renaming Project Elements	190
Deleting Elements	190
Duplicating Elements	191
Assigning the First Play Element	191
Simulating Elements	192
Using Item Descriptions	192
Importing and Managing Assets	195
How DVD Studio Pro Manages Assets	195
Missing or Renamed Assets	196
Using Video and Audio Assets That Are Not DVD-Compliant	197
How the Encoded Files Are Named	198
Should You Remove the Original QuickTime Files?	198
Verifying and Changing Encoding Settings	199
Using Still Assets That Are Not DVD-Compliant	200
Using DVD-Compliant Assets	200
About the Parse Files	200
About Segmented MPEG Files	200
Using Motion, LiveType, and Soundtrack Pro Projects	201
About the Assets Tab	201
Default Columns in the Assets Tab	202
Additional Columns You Can Add	203
Managing Columns in the Assets Tab	204
Managing the Contents of the Assets Tab	205
Creating Asset Folders	205
Sorting Assets	206
Scrolling Through the Assets List	207
Importing Assets	207
Importing Assets That Are Not DVD-Compliant	207
Using the Import Asset Feature	208
Dragging Assets to the Assets Tab	208
About Dragging Assets Directly to a Project Element	209
Dragging Assets to the Menu Editor	209
Dragging Assets to the Track Editor	210
Dragging Assets to the Slideshow Editor	210
Dragging Assets to the Outline and Graphical Tabs	210
Removing Selected Assets	213
Renaming Assets	213
Refreshing Still and QuickTime Assets	214
Issues with Refreshing Still Assets	214
Issues with Refreshing QuickTime Assets	215
Re-encoding	215
Video Asset Length Changes	215
Video Asset Content Changes	215
Audio Asset Length Changes	215
Opening Assets in Their Editor	216
Identifying an Asset	216
Previewing Assets	216
Asset Inspector	218
Introduction to Creating Menus	219
About Menus	219
Standard Menu Creation Method	220
Layered Menu Creation Method	221
Working with 16:9 Menus	222
How the Menu Will Be Displayed on a 4:3 Monitor	222
Fewer Buttons Can Be Used	222
16:9 Graphics Must Be Anamorphic in SD Projects	222
Creating Menus for HD Projects	222
Adding Intro and Transition Clips to Menus	223
About the Menu Editor	224
Using the Menu Rulers	224
Using Menu Guides	225
Using Dynamic Guides	226
Using the Align Objects Feature	226
Using the Distribute Objects Feature	227
Menu Editor Pop-Up Menus and Tools	227
Starting and Working with a Menu	231
Creating a New Menu	231
Opening a Menu	232
Naming a Menu	232
Adding Assets to a Menu	232
Dragging Assets to the Menu Editor	233
Viewing the Drop Palette	233
About Dragging Video and Audio Assets Together	234
Having Audio Automatically Follow the Video	234
Selecting Multiple Menu Items	235
Copying Menu Items	235
Copying Items by Dragging	235
Using Copy, Cut, and Paste	236
Moving and Resizing Menu Items	236
Verifying Your Menus	237
Verifying Button Connections	238
Verifying Button Navigation	238
Verifying Menu Aspect Ratios and Languages	238
About Chapter Index Menus	238
About the First Marker Button in a Chapter Index Menu	240
Creating Menus Using the Standard Method	241
About Standard Menus	242
Choosing the Menu’s Background	243
Still Images for Backgrounds	243
Video Clips for Backgrounds	244
Assigning a Background to a Menu	244
Assigning a Menu Background Using the Inspector	244
Assigning a Menu Background by Dragging	245
Choosing a Menu’s Background from a Layered Photoshop File	245
Choosing the Menu’s Overlay	246
Assigning a Menu Overlay Using the Inspector	247
Assigning a Menu Overlay by Dragging	247
Choosing a Menu Overlay from a Layered Photoshop File	248
Understanding Color Mapping	248
Differences Between Simple and Advanced Overlays	248
Color Mapping Palette	249
Setting the Colors in the Color Palette	249
Methods for Choosing Colors	250
Color Mapping Sets	250
Using Simple Overlay Color Mapping	251
Using Advanced Overlay Color Mapping	252
Normal State	253
Selected State	253
Activated State	253
Setting Up a Menu’s Color Mapping Using an Advanced Overlay	254
Using an Advanced Overlay to Support Anti-Aliasing	255
Configuring the Menu Inspector for Standard Menus	256
Settings at the Top of the Menu Inspector for Standard Menus	256
General Tab in the Menu Inspector for Standard Menus	257
Menu Tab in the Menu Inspector for Standard Menus	259
Transition Tab in the Menu Inspector for Standard Menus	261
Colors Tab in the Menu Inspector with Simple Selected	261
Colors Tab in the Menu Inspector with Advanced Selected	263
Advanced Tab in the Menu Inspector for Standard Menus	264
Adding Buttons to Your Menu	265
Adding Overlay-Based Buttons	265
Creating and Modifying Button Active Areas	266
Viewing the Selected and Activated States	267
Adding Shapes to a Menu	267
Dragging a Shape from the Palette	268
Assigning a Shape in the Button Inspector	269
Copying a Button	269
Setting a Button’s Connection	270
About Button Properties	271
Settings at the Top of the Button Inspector	272
Style Tab in the Button Inspector	273
Advanced Tab in the Button Inspector	275
Colors Tab in the Button Inspector	276
Transition Tab in the Button Inspector	277
About Button Numbers	277
Adding Text to a Button	279
Setting the Button Text’s Font and Color	280
Creating Text-Only Buttons	280
About Overlapping Buttons	281
Configuring Button Navigation	281
Setting Button Navigation Manually by Dragging in the Menu Editor	282
Setting Button Navigation Manually with the Button Inspector	283
Setting Button Navigation with the Auto Assign Feature	283
How Auto Assign Works	283
Setting Button Navigation with Continuous Auto Assign	284
Right-to-Left Reading Mode	284
Adding Drop Zones to Your Menu	285
Setting Drop Zone Properties	286
About Using Drop Zones	287
Overlapping Drop Zones	287
Shapes in Drop Zones	287
Working with Assets in Buttons and Drop Zones	288
Positioning Images in a Button or Drop Zone	288
Matching the Active Area Aspect Ratio to the Asset	288
Adding Text Objects to a Menu	288
Setting Text Object Properties	290
About Text Objects	290
Adding Audio to a Menu	291
Configuring the Menu’s Drop Shadow Settings	292
Enabling Drop Shadows	292
Setting the Drop Shadow Properties	293
Configuring Motion Menu Settings	293
About Motion Menu Playback	293
About the Motion Settings	294
Start Setting	294
Loop Point	294
End Setting	295
Duration Setting	296
Options in the Drop Palette for Standard Menus	296
Drop Palette for Standard Menus—Dragging Assets	296
Dragging a Motion Video Asset to an Empty Area	296
Dragging a Motion Video Asset to a Button	297
Dragging a Motion Video Asset to a Drop Zone	298
Dragging Multiple Motion Video Assets to an Empty Area	299
Dragging One or More Audio Assets to an Empty Area	299
Dragging a Video/Audio Pair to an Empty Area	299
Dragging a Video/Audio Pair to a Button	300
Dragging a Still Picture to an Empty Area	301
Dragging a Still Picture to a Button	302
Dragging a Still Picture to a Drop Zone	302
Dragging Multiple Still Pictures (or a Folder) to an Empty Area	302
Dragging Multiple Still Pictures (or a Folder) to a Button	303
Dragging a Multiple-Layer Still Picture to an Empty Area	303
Drop Palette for Standard Menus—Dragging Project Elements	304
Dragging an Existing Track to an Empty Area	304
Dragging an Existing Track to a Button	305
Dragging Multiple Existing Tracks to an Empty Area	306
Dragging an Existing Story to an Empty Area	306
Dragging an Existing Story to a Button	306
Dragging Multiple Existing Stories to an Empty Area	307
Dragging a Slideshow to an Empty Area	307

Match case Limit results 1 per page

When adding markers to a track in DVD Studio Pro, you can only place them at GOP

boundaries. This means that you will often not be able to place them exactly where you

want them. When you place the markers with a video editor, the integrated MPEG encoder

automatically forces an I-frame at that position, placing a GOP boundary exactly at every

marker and providing perfect marker placement. Markers placed in Compressor before

it is used to encode the video are also perfectly placed.

Using Compression Markers to Improve the MPEG Encode

MPEG encoding is based on the placement of I-frames, P-frames, and B-frames within a

GOP (see

Working with GOP Settings

). The I-frames encode a complete frame, while the

P-frames and B-frames only encode the parts of the video that change between the

I-frames. When there is a sudden change in the video content on a P-frame or B-frame,

such as a cut to a new scene, the output of the MPEG encoder can have significant artifacts

until it reaches the next I-frame.

The integrated MPEG encoder uses compression markers to force an I-frame into the

encode at a specific frame, modifying the surrounding GOP structure to keep the encode

DVD-compliant.

Adding compression markers at places in the video where sudden transitions occur can

produce better MPEG encodes when you use the integrated MPEG encoder. You can

manually place compression markers in Final Cut Pro and Final Cut Express. As with chapter

markers, an I-frame is forced at their position. The difference is that compression markers

do not import into DVD Studio Pro as chapter markers and do not count against the 99

chapter marker limit for a track.

Note:

Final Cut Pro automatically adds compression markers at each edit point. These

are not processed when encoding the video with the integrated MPEG encoder. Only

compression markers you manually add in Final Cut Pro are processed. See

Using

Final Cut Pro and Compressor

for information on these markers and Compressor.

About the Markers You Add in an External Editor

There are several issues to be aware of when adding chapter and compression markers

in an external video editor:

•

DVD tracks can support a maximum of 99 chapter markers. Because compression

markers are only used in the MPEG encoding process, they do not count as chapter

markers and do not count against the 99-marker limit. Because you can add several

video assets to a single track in DVD Studio Pro, you must keep in mind that the

99-marker limit applies to the total markers of all assets on the track.

• You cannot place markers closer than one second to each other or within one second

of the clip’s start or end in the editor. This gives the encoder the flexibility to modify

the GOP structures in that area to accommodate the added I-frame.

Chapter 4

Preparing Video Assets