As might be expected, new, updated versions
of tutorial books and training discs have been hitting the market.
"Inside Studio Pro 4", an updated version of DMTS's
tutorial DVD of "Inside DVD Studio Pro 3" which are
both included in your order was a pleasure to use. Zeth Willie
who speaks with a clear, easy to understand tone and pace, narrates
the tutorial. I have listened to other tutorials where the presenter
spoke so quickly it was hard to follow. That's not an issue here.
The first disc, Inside DVD Studio Pro
3 takes the user through the entire gamut of DVD production from
beginner usage which covers project planning, importing audio,
video and stills, working with buttons and finalizing the finished
DVD. The disc then moves to a more intermediate level teaching
you how to create Overlay Menus, button navigation, subtitles
and transitions before moving to more advanced topics covering
the use of alpha transitions, creating scripts, subtitle buttons
and much more.
The next disc is separated into 4 sections
and focuses on the new features found and topics presented Inside
DVD Studio Pro 4. Zeth Willie and the Digital Media Training
Series folk do a more than commendable job focusing on HD and
HDV production. Want clarification? This is the place to go to.
In the second section, encoding HD content,
building and designing an HD or Hybrid DVD project is subject
before moving onto the next two sections which teach you how
make several improvements to your workflow through VTS allocation,
using Dual Layer DVD-Rom and linking to loop points. There is
also an excellent section on Motion Integration, which I found
very useful.
As I revealed in my recent review of
DMTS's "Inside
Final Cut Pro 5", this tutorial disc contains a massive
amount of media. After all, to get through the entire two discs
you will need over 12 hours of time on your hand. Certainly you
will break that up into however much time you want as you move
along chapter by chapter. With over 46 lessons on DVD SP 3 &
4 you will not get through this quickly but you will learn it
very thoroughly. The point is that within this comprehensive
package you will be able to access the individual movie chapters
separately, should you desire, as well as the project files that
DTMS supplies to move forward while making your DVDs.
All in all, what we have here is an excellent
updated version of an already fine DVD tutorial on DVD Studio
Pro. The media supplied with the disc was well shot and easy
to use. Most importantly, it was a simple thing to follow along,
go back to 'hear it again' and where I had questions, the tutorials
provided the answers. Users from complete beginners to the more
advanced will find plenty here to utilize. That's a pretty good
recommendation in itself.
Steve Douglas,
is an underwater videographer and contributor to numerous film
festivals around the world. A winner of the 1999 Pacific Coast
Underwater Film Competition, 2003 IVIE competition, 2004 Los
Angeles Underwater Photographic competition, and the prestigious
2005 International Beneath the Sea Film Competition, Steve has
also worked on the feature film "The Deep Blue Sea",
contributed footage to the Seaworld parks for their Atlantis
production, and is one of the principal organizers of the San
Diego UnderSea Film Exhibition. Steve leads both underwater filming
expeditions and African safaris with upcoming filming excursions
to Kenya, Bali and the Red Sea. Feel free to contact him if you
are interested in joining Steve on any of these trips. www.worldfilmsandtravel.com
copyright © Steve Douglas 2005
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