1. Introduction
2. Getting Ready
3. Creating a New DVD Project
4. Importing Media Clips
5. Creating Tracks
6. Assigning Audio and Video to a Track
7. Rearranging Track Order
8. Saving Your DVD Project
9. Burning a DVD

Getting Ready:

Before making a DVD, you will need some video! Make sure that your video project has been rendered in the MP2 format, and that the audio is saved as a separate WAV. You will also need a blank disc. Make sure it's labeled "DVD-R" as opposed to "DVD+R" or other formats. Here is a guide to the different areas of the DVD Studio Pro desktop:

Creating a New DVD Project:

1. Choose File > New.
2. On the far right you will see the Property Inspector window. In the Disc area, give the project a Name.
3. From the General menu, click "not set yet" to choose a DVD-ROM Folder. To keep things orderly, please create a new folder within the folder DVD-images folder, which in turn is inside the Save Work Here folder on the desktop. This is where the program will store the disc image for burning, so make sure the hard drive has enough free space (a full length DVD is 4.7 GigaBytes). If you have any trouble, please ask an E.R.C. staff member for help.

Importing Media Clips:

These media files will be the raw materials of your DVD.

1. To import media, choose: File > Import
2. Select your desired media files by highlighting them and then clicking "add". When you are finished selecting files, click "Import". The files are now assets of your DVD project. (this does not alter your original files in any way).

Creating Tracks:

Unlike a VHS tape, which is one long linear progression, a DVD is composed of a series of tracks, just like a CD.

1. To create a new video track, click the "Add Track" button from the bottom of the Graphical View window. Your new track will appear as a large, folder shaped icon in the Graphical View window.
2. Select your track from the Graphical View window by clicking on one of its edges.
3. Give your track a Name by highlighting and replacing the "untitled track" text on either the icon or in the Property Inspector.

Assigning Audio and Video to a Track:

To create a DVD it's necessary to define the properties of each track - assigning it specific video and audio files.

1. From the Video menu of the Property Inspector, select a video track from the pull down Asset menu.
2. From the Project View window in the lower left corner of the screen (labeled with the name of your project), click the Tracks tab, then expand your track by clicking on the small arrow tab.
3. From the Assets window (in the lower middle of the screen) select your desired audio file, and drag it into the Audio Streams folder of your track (in the previous window).
4. Repeat the above steps for every track that you want to add to your DVD.

Rearranging Track Order:

1. Select the Tracks tab from the Project View window at the lower left of the screen.
2. From the list, rearrange track icons by clicking and dragging. They will be recorded to your DVD in descending order (top to bottom of the list).

Saving Your DVD Project:

1. Choose File > Save.

Burning a DVD:

1. Choose File > Build and Format Disc
2. Select a Directory (probably the same one you defined as "DVD-ROM Folder"). Click Select.
3. Make sure Record to Device is the highlighted option.
4. Click "OK"
5. The DVD Rom drive should now open. insert a blank DVD-R (not DVD+R!) and close the drive. DO NOT INSERT THE DVD BEFORE DVD STUDIO PRO ASKS YOU TO or you will get an error message related to initializing the DVD. You should NOT be prompted at any point to initialize the DVD. If this occurs, please ask a DMC employee for help.
6. Wait while your DVD is burned!

The drive will open when your DVD is complete. Now you will want to test your DVD, to make sure there are no errors and that the tracks are in the proper order. Several DMC PC's feature DVD playing drives and software. There are also TV's with built in DVD players on the ground floor of the Fondren Library. Feel free to ask the Digital Media Center staff for assistance.