Apple DVD Studio Pro 4 - Manual (Page 22)

For many projects you will probably want to use a Dolby-certified AC-3 encoder (such as
the AC-3 encoder included with Compressor). An AC-3 encoder can be used to encode
multichannel surround soundtracks for inclusion on a DVD, as well as for stereo or mono
soundtracks. Using AC-3 encoded audio results in smaller files and a lower playback bit
rate. Uncompressed PCM audio formats (WAV or AIFF) have significantly larger file sizes
and generally do not support specialized soundtrack formats, such as surround channels.
Using Pre-Encoded Sources
Many other available tools, including software and hardware encoders, produce MPEG
streams. You can use any MPEG encoder you prefer, as long as it creates DVD-compliant
elementary streams. This means that the audio and video information is contained in
separate files (the streams).
Important: DVD Studio Pro cannot use MPEG multiplexed System, Program, or Transport
streams for DVD projects.
See About MPEG Video for more information on DVD-compliant requirements.
Authoring with DVD Studio Pro
You use DVD Studio Pro to orchestrate your video, audio, and graphics material into an
interactive DVD-Video title, complete with menus, buttons, subtitles, and alternate
languages or soundtracks.
DVD Studio Pro gives you complete control over every aspect of your DVD and lets you
view its elements and simulate your DVD in real time as you create it.
You can easily create menus, add buttons, and specify the actions that occur when the
buttons are activated. You can define powerful linking and scripting functionality with
just a few clicks. And the Inspector gives you a complete picture of all the characteristics
of any item in your project.
Authoring in DVD Studio Pro consists of these basic steps:
Stage 1: Setting the DVD and Video Standard
You can use DVD Studio Pro to author traditional SD-based DVDs or HD-based DVDs using
either NTSC or PAL frame rates. It is important to set this before importing your assets
because these settings control what happens when QuickTime assets are imported.
Stage 2: Importing Assets
Import your video, audio, graphics, and subtitle assets into DVD Studio Pro. If they are
not already DVD-compliant, the integrated MPEG encoder automatically encodes them.
Stage 3: Creating Menus
Create one or more menus to define the structure and navigation of your DVD. The menus
can rely completely on the supplied templates and styles or can use your own graphics.
22 Chapter 1 Overview of Using DVD Studio Pro