The DVD Foundry - Your Digital Video and DVD Production Resource

DVD Production

The production process is briefly described here. While this is specific to The DVD Foundry, the process is similar at any DVD production/authoring facility.

Interface Design
Storyboard
Logic Flowcharting
Graphics, Stills, and Text Slides
Video Segments
Audio/Music/Narration
Asset Storage Requirements
Assembly
Internal Testing
Testing
Final Approval Test/Sign-Off and Pre-Mastering

Interface Design

With input from you, the overall “look and feel” of the user interface is developed for the DVD project, taking into account data contained in the Project Definition that we (you and The DVD Foundry) write jointly, your market image, the information to be presented, and the constraints of the budget and schedule. Sample “screens” will be submitted to you for approval prior to starting the actual implementation.

Storyboard

A storyboard for the complete interactive presentation will be prepared. The storyboard will tell the overall story of the presentation through rough pencil sketches and notes regarding supporting audio, video clips, stills, text information, menus, and buttons. Using the storyboard as an outline, the overall logic of the presentation can be created.

Logic Flowcharting

Once the interface and storyboard are approved, the internal logic of the interactive experience will be flowcharted in its entirety. This process identifies every sequential and branching move within the interactive environment, so that any and all user actions (i.e. button clicks, menu selections, etc.) are accommodated. This flowcharting is then used as a guide in programming the interactivity of the project.

Graphics, Still Images, and Text Slides

The background stills, videos, buttons and other interactive elements will be designed and produced. These screens and interactive elements will implement the interface look and feel previously defined. The opening splash screen, your logo fly-in animation (if used) and closing message screens will also be created. Only original or royalty-free images and source footage will be included in your project unless we all agree, in writing, to use royalty-based artwork.

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Video Segments

The selected video segments are transcoded to MPEG-2 format for use by the DVD authoring systems. Suitable transitions between segments will be created and all video and audio tracks will be synchronized. If interactive video or text slides are used in multiple languages, these elements will be positioned within the separate video tracks and synchronized.

Audio/Music/Narration

Selections will be made for sound effects and music as needed. Voiceover narration(s) in one or more languages will be recorded. Button sounds, selection sounds, music or sounds to indicate selections have been accepted, transition sounds and/or music, and music for the lead-in and lead-out segments will be defined. Where necessary, some original music and/or sound effects will be scored for your project. Only royalty-free sounds and music will be included in your project. Non-exclusive rights to original sounds or music segments created for this project will be granted to you. If necessary, a suitable script will be written and reviewed with you prior to recording any narration/voiceover material.

All audio files will be prepared in the required resolution and sampling rates to conform to the DVD requirements, and for the specific audio formats desired (i.e. stereo, Dolby® Digital Stereo, Surround sound, etc.)

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Asset Storage Requirements

Once we know what is going on the DVD, we make the appropriate decisions regarding asset processing given the minimum audio and video performance for the entire project.

Considerations for the total running time of the project first determine which disk format will be used (i.e. DVD-5, DVD-9, etc.). The allocation of this total storage space is then determined by the number and type of soundtracks, graphic overlays, subtitles, and menus. That total space requirement then determines the space available for the video segments, which in turn determines the type of encoding and its technical requirements in order to provide the maximum quality video performance. For the case of a DVD Video disk that also contains computer files and applications, their storage requirements are subtracted from the disk storage before any of the sound and video content requirements are calculated.

Assembly

With the logic flowcharting completed, as the graphic and sound elements are completed, they will be assembled into the finished environment. The logic dictated by the logic flowcharting will be implemented in the programming of the interactive environment. Each step in the programming implementation will be tested and verified to perform correctly, and that all sequences and branching jumps start and end at the appropriate locations.

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Internal Testing

Throughout the assembly process, and once the assembly is completed, stand-alone versions of the work-in-process will be created and tested off-line. This will help ensure the quality and integrity of the final released version.

Testing

When completed, the DVD project is compiled to a stand-alone version ready for testing. A sample disk will be sent to you for testing, along with forms for noting any operations that do not perform as you had intended. These notes, if any, are used to correct the operation errors.

Final Approval Test/Sign-Off and Pre-Mastering

Two Final Approval/Sign-Off disks will be delivered for final test. The project will be given a final test, and signed-off for volume replication. The final project and its support files will then be compiled and released for mastering and replication.

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