DVD Studio Pro 2.0 : The Complete Guide to DVD Authoring with Macintosh (Digital Video/Audio) [Paperback]

Bruce Nazarian (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0071417184 | ISBN-13: 978-0071417181 | Publication Date: March 11, 2004 | Edition: 1

The Apple Macintosh G4 combined with the Superdrive has revolutionized DVD Authoring by reducing the previously high cost barrier-to-entry and making the authoring process much easier. DVD Studio Pro (DVDSP), Apple's flagship DVD Authoring application suite, provides a complete DVD solution, at an extremely affordable cost. Since its introduction in January 2001, Apple has sold over 500,000 Mac G4s with Superdrive, and over 2 million copies of DVD-Recordable software. There still isn’t much published on this fast growing area: this will be an authoritative tutorial on using every feature of DVDSP, allowing users to unleash the program’s full power.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

DVD Included!

* Learn how it's done with QuickTime movies, PDF tutorials, and plenty of insider tips on DVD Studio Pro 2.
* Complete assets provided for building a simple DVD project, and to add advanced features to it, including scripting.
* Authoring tutorials, menu tutorials, and scripting tutorials!
* Lots of DVD projects to build and proven DVD training and productivity products to use from the supplied sampler pack for Recipe4DVD's Pro-Pack 1 (projects), Pro-Pack 2 (scripting), and Pro-Pack 3 (menus
* Invaluable DVD technical information.
* Access to the book’s website for addenda, project tips, and more!

HERE IS YOUR OWN PRIVATE DVD-AUTHORING CLASS, PRESENTED BY ONE OF THE WORLD'S TOP TRAINERS!
Bruce Nazarian, "the DVD Guy," travels the world, teaching both home users and media professionals how to make world-class DVDs, using Macintosh computers and DVD Studio Pro. But now you don't have to wait for one of his sought-after presentations or seminars to come to your hometown. DVD Studio Pro 2: The Complete Guide to DVD Authoring puts his expert advice, time-tested methods, and frustration-evading shortcuts by your side. This book is ready to guide you, any time you want help.

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO UNLEASH THE POWER OF DVD STUDIO PRO 2 AND TURN OUT PROFESSIONAL-QUALITY DVDs

Over a half-million people already have the potential to create professional-quality DVDs at home with their Superdrive-equipped Macintoshes and DVD Studio Pro. If you're one of them -- or want to be -- here's the perfect guide to making great use of all that power! No one knows more about DVD authoring with DVD Studio Pro than Bruce Nazarian, and no one can explain it better.

Bruce Nazarian's DVD Studio Pro 2 gives you:

* A complete and thorough explanation of what is a DVD
* Chapter-by-chapter analysis of all of DVD Studio Pro 2's vast array of features
* Step-by-step tutorials that make DVD authoring simple and fun!
* A bonus DVD disc packed with tutorials, tools, tips, and project templates, as well as sample menu graphics.
* Thorough coverage of MPEG video, and how to encode video and AC3 audio for DVD.
* Photoshop DVD graphics tactics.
* Walkthroughs on slideshows, menus, markers, and stories.
* In-depth coverage of the new scripting in DVD Studio Pro 2.
* Simple scripting strategies for you to use.
* Overviews of DVD assets, advantages, and applications -- and ways to get the most from them
* 170 time-saving illustrations
* Advanced techniques to try after you’ve mastered the basics

Since the advent of Macs with the Superdrive, the high-cost entry barrier to the world of DVD has been shattered. If you want in, this book has the passkeys!

About the Author

Bruce Nazarian is President of Gnome Digital Media, which produces DVDs, and consults and instructs on them. A world-renowned expert on DVD authoring, he is also an Apple consultant and an Apple Certified Trainer. Burbank, California is both home and home base for "the gnome on the roam."

Product Details

• Paperback: 500 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill/TAB Electronics; 1 edition (March 11, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0071417184
• ISBN-13: 978-0071417181
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.4 x 1.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,627,656 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Da Godfather sanctions this publication, April 29, 2004

By 

Lou Skriba (The Suburbs of Chicago, Flatlandia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: DVD Studio Pro 2.0 : The Complete Guide to DVD Authoring with Macintosh (Digital Video/Audio) (Paperback)

There is NO doubt in my mind, that Bruce Nazarian is literally the world's best lecturer, seminar leader, tutor, and evangelist for authoring DVDs, especially done on the video-geeks platform of choice: the Apple G5. If you have never attended one of his widely available seminars about how to author DVDs, you MUST find the time and money to do so... its a life affirming experinece.

Otherwise, THIS, his latest publication, DVD-SP2 is the next best thing to being there.

Why? because unlike anyone else whose job it is to take average folk from ignorance to professional competency, Bruce has that magical personality to put himself in YOUR shoes, to see the issues, problems and questions from YOUR perspective. NOT as some sales-puke trying to push something on you in a 30 minute presentation, but as a friend (and I consider him a good friend).

Specifically about this book... it is LOADED with screen capture pictures, more than I have ever seen in a "how-to" for DVD authoring.. Beyond the pictures, is his massive use of short paragraphs with very descriptive titles on almost every thought. The titles of each concept are often put in the format of a question that YOU would be asking yourself... I am certain that give the massive experience Bruce has had on the DVD authoring-training circuit world wide, he has heard them all. So READING this book, is almost like having a conversation with Bruce. TOTALLY UNIQUE.

Beyond that, the damn text is actually readable, even though the facts to be learned are about what DVDs are and how they can be used and what the details are for each of the authoring functions of SP2. I am a certified Illiterate. I have NEVER read a book, cover to cover, that was not required reading to pass a course. But when I cracked this three pound, 540 page boat anchor, I could NOT put it down... NOT because I needed to know what was in it, (since I have been playing in this sandbox since 1976)... but because of the common language style and very clear, errorless choice of words. The man has a gift. I know most of you who are considering to buy this book have almost NO time to read an "epic" on the subject, and you have other options which include turning on your computer and grinding through tutorials (both supplied by Bruce and Apple).

BUT... This book was a joy to review. I even learned stuff that I did NOT want to learn... and that brings me to another issue that should put this acquisition at the top of your Christmas list (but don't wait til then). Every page has some comment, that shows a personal viewpoint with judgement calls that come from his years of experience mastering the hardware and software from Apple and that of their competitors. The man has an attitude... it jumps off the page. ITS NOT BORING. He is never irreverent, but always truthful, even about those little hidden details that keep people, doing DVDs, awake nights. A straight shooter, no crap. Its surprising that this book ever got published.

And finally... the book, like others, has a DVD in it with all those extras that they cannot put on paper... Those alone are probably worth the purchase price... But the kicker is that what you get is to see is Bruce-on-screen... talkin to you as if you were a client or a new employee... Very much in command of the subject matter and of his own talents at doing all this. What you will see there is a personality that will make you want to get to this guy's next two day intensive seminar (or whatever is your opportunity). I have seen him perform in front of hundreds of people, playing the crowd like Sir Stevie Jobs... and when his time is up, usually a crowd forms around him to ask questions and to get to be a real industry associate of his. You are going to want to know this guy... and this DVD and book will get you half way there.

And a final "finally." I told him.. "rather than make them read this book (and the updates he is already working on)...you really should put out a DVD series so they can put Bruce on their $29 Apex DVD player next to that monster G5, and have you talk them through all the features of a "professional" authoring tool." Yes, with Bruce as your co-pilot... you TOO will be able to land this 747 sized task of making serious money off of Apple's ambitions to dominate the Video editing and DVD authoring world.

And for any of you who might question: who the hell I am. I am called: (by a few thousand people who know me as well as I know Bruce) DA Godfather... A title I have given myself for having spent the last 29 years trying to bring Erasable Optical Recording to the world in order to eliminate paper, film and that evil VideoTAPE that has preceeded DVD-RW type media. If you ever see some Yahoo, walking down the aisles of NAB, CES, COMDEX, etc... looking like a dirty old Chicago Mafiosi... with a black hat.. that's me (be nice to the guy if its NOT me, you want to keep your kneecaps)... I would be happy to meet you and tell you more about Sir Bruce and why I consider him Apple's greatest Evangelist for what you are about to learn.

Enjoy IT,... I certainly did.

Da Godfather
(sorry about any typos...two of my fingers are shorter than they should be...shades of the International DVD-Mafia convention in Japan a few years back. :-)

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Super useful!, April 25, 2004

By 

J. Phillips (Philadelphia, PA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: DVD Studio Pro 2.0 : The Complete Guide to DVD Authoring with Macintosh (Digital Video/Audio) (Paperback)

There's a lot behind these DVD authoring programs, and while I read and use the Apple manual, Bruce's book is better organized and answers many of my more advanced questions in a clear way. The enclosed DVD is full of useful things for both beginners and experienced users too. Don't sweat the DVDSP3 issue. The author is completely up to date with the new version and is releasing PDF files to fill in the not-enormous differences.

Excellent! John

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great resource for DVDSP 2 Authors, April 10, 2004

By 

"richardttt" (Baltimore/Washington DC United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: DVD Studio Pro 2.0 : The Complete Guide to DVD Authoring with Macintosh (Digital Video/Audio) (Paperback)

Over 500 pages about DVDSP2 and DVD production in general.

It is well organized, has a very clear layout, and is very detailed. It offers valuable information for both the beginner, intermediate, and advanced user. Tips, tricks, important points, and notes throughout. 28 Contents pages at the beginning of the book helps you to navigate to where you want to go.

The beginner can start with chapter one and advance through the 17 chapters and 7 appendixes at their own pace. Intermediate or advanced DVDSP2 users can pick and choose the chapters as needed. Each chapter starts with a list of its goals.

A extensive DVD is included.

I particularly like the suggested settings (and explanations) for all the different setting options available in A.Pack.

I have 3 other DVDSP 2 books, and this one is at the top of the list

A Job well done, Bruce.

==[e-mail]