DVD
BASICS -> Introduction to DVD-Video
Digital video is not a Polaroid camera, where you
click the big red button and 30 seconds later a photo plops
out, ready to be stuffed into the family photo album.
Digital video is more like an amateur photographer, so
(figuratively speaking) be prepared to break out the
thermometers, powdered developer chemicals, a good
instruction book, and get to work. And as always, remember
to never let your first tests be on something important or
irreplaceable.
What is a DVD? What is DVD-Video?
A DVD (Digital
Versatile Disc) is the next-generation version of a CD
(Compact Disc), identical in size, but able to hold far more
data, and a bit more durable than CD was. DVD-Video is the
way video data is stored on a DVD, the successor of the decades-old VHS
tape format. Video data is stored on an optical disc, and
can be played either on standalone DVD players or on a
computer with DVD player software. Within the past couple of
years, it has also become possible to write or record onto
DVDs, a process often called "burning", using
either computers or standalone DVD recorders.
DVD technology has a distinct advantage over old analog tape
formats, with the ability to be copied with no loss in
quality, to not be at risk of being damaged when played, and the media should last decades longer than
analog tapes when stored properly. However, the discs are a little more difficult
to create than VHS was, and is easy to create bad quality discs
(usually due to
user error). DVD is not like VHS, where you could slam a
tape into the VCR and hitting the record button. Even the
DVD recorders sold in Walmart take a little bit of thought
and knowledge, though minimal.
What steps are
required to make a DVD-Video?
For hobbyists like us, there are TWO
WAYS to do video:
1) The good way. Spending time to use proper
hardware, proper software and proper methods to achieve an
excellent end product. A little bit of money may be required
along the way, but it won't require an extra mortgage or
anything excessive like that. A little bit of
reading/learning is also required, but again, nothing
excessive, you do not have to get a Ph.D. in video. It also
requires some patience.
2) The cheap/lazy way. Just slam everything through
some cheap/free garbage hardware/software, often in the
hopes that it will do all the work because they "cannot
be bothered" with work and "need it right
now". These same people often complain that quality is
not good, their discs do not work, etc etc. They reap the
punishments or their own bad choices.
Which do you want to be? This guide will assume you pick the
first choice, the good way. The guides on this site are
actually ordered and grouped by the processes needed to
create a DVD-Video (and for the sake of brevity, from this
point forward, "DVD-Video" will be referred to
simply as "DVD" as most people do).
STEP 1: CAPTURING.
Process of getting the video data off the tv/tapes and onto
the computer (via capture card) or a RW disc (via DVD
recorder). A video card "captures" the data it is
fed, and creates a new file. Computers do this with a mix of
software and hardware, depositing video files on the hard
drive. Standalone DVD recorders do the same thing, but the
conversion is entirely processed in hardware, and the data
is deposited on a blank DVD (or internal hard drive on some
of the more advanced units). When using DVD recorders,
remember to use good blank discs.
STEP 2: EDITING. To remove unwanted footage,
re-arrange footage, add effects, etc. This is an optional
step, and is not required. Includes things as simple as
"removing commercials" to the definitive video
magic of George Lucas movies.
STEP 3: RESTORING. Often referred to simply as
"filtering". Restoring is actually performed
throughout the video process, first with good playback
hardware during the capture phase. Both during and after
editing, software filters can be applied to improve quality.
And again during the encoding phase, software filtering can
often be done in the encoder. Both audio and video can be
filtered, though audio is faster and easier.
STEP 4: ENCODING. This step can actually go by
several names, and can be used to accomplish varying goals,
but the outcome is the same: a new video file is created.
Encoding is usually done for one of 3 reasons: (1) the edits
are completed and a new file must be saved, (2) the video
was digital source, not something you captured, and needs to
be CONVERTED to DVD-Video specs, or (3) the capture method is
not MPEG and needs to be encoded. Some people use
"render" to describe encoding, but that term is
incorrectly being used. This step can be skipped if the
capture was MPEG format and had compliant DVD-Video specs,
and needs no editing done on it. This is by far the most
time-consuming step, and is why many people prefer to
capture MPEG and do basic edits in the MPEG domain (this
method will not work for advanced editing needs, and
requires good hardware/software to be successful).
STEP 5: AUTHORING. The organization and
menu-making step. DVD-Video format calls for discs to have a
certain file arrangement, set to rigid specifications so all
DVD players can easily and properly play the material, and
is why discs cannot be made from raw files. The software
will take care of the structure, your only job is to make
attractive menus and import the audio/video files.
STEP 6: BURNING. After
the disc is authored, it can be burned. Some software
includes a burning engine, so many people think authoring is
the same as burning, which is incorrect. If your authoring
software does not contain a burning engine, or it's burning
engine is buggy, software like NERO and RECORDNOW can be
used to burn authored folder sets onto disc. Always remember
to use good blank media.
STEP 7: PRESENTATION.
The disc is burned! It's over, right? Not always, no. At
this time, feel free to label the disc with a Sharpie
marker, or print pretty pictures onto the disc with an
inkjet printer (inkjet media required). NEVER USE LABELS ON
DVDs!!! Create nice cases in Photoshop, and place them on a
shelf with the rest of the family video collection.
It may not be as fast as the big red button on a Polaroid,
but it can be equally as nice, if not outright better. In
fact, it should be better, given the right tools and
knowledge.
Vocabulary and lingo of DVD-Video
The following
list of terms will appear throughout this site (and many
other sites that deal with video). Only required jargon is
being put into this list. Obscure terms are not needed at
this time. It is, after all, a BASICS guide. At this point
in time, this short list of terms is not presented in
alphabetical order.
- Resolution:
The size of the video, as measured in pixels (a digital
measurement).
- Bit-rate:
The amount of data per second. This alone
determines the filesize of a video file. NOTE: Actually,
there are a couple more mitigating factors that can affect
the file size, such as the discreet cosine and GOP length,
but for the purpose of introduction, this is the only factor
that affects filesize. Resolution does not determine
filesize. However, bit-rate must increase with resolution,
in order to allocate enough data to maintain high quality
video or audio.
- Macroblocks: When not
enough bit-rate is being fed to an MPEG file, meaning there
is an insufficient resolution-to-data ratio, the outcome is
blocks on screen. MPEG is a compression system that divides
an image into square zones, and when there is not enough
bit-rate, these zone boundaries become visible.
- Dropped frames: When
the flow of data is interrupted during capture, and data is
lost in the process. Video and/or audio frames are missing
from the captured file, resulting in undesirable side
effects like audio/video being out of sync, jerking in the
image, or large missing gaps of time.
- NLE: Abbreviation for
"non-linear editor", often in reference to
high-dollar professional and semi-professional software like
Adobe Premiere, Sony Vegas Video, or Avid. Non-linear means
the video can be edited at random outside of real time
(which is how editing was often done on tapes).
- VCD, SVCD, CVD, XVCD:
Various methods of storing low or medium resolution MPEG
files onto CD media, for the purpose of playing on VCD or
VCD-capable DVD players. Not all DVD players will play all
CD formatted video, and in fact, some cannot play any CD
video. Often referred to as "the poor man's DVD".
Not a high quality format, therefore not suggested.
More terms can be added as needed, or as requested. Note
that advanced jargon, like "INTERLACE" and
"ASPECT RATIO" will be discussed on guides dealing
with those topics in details. This list is only for the most
basic of terms to get started.
Is this guide good? Did it answer the basics? E-mail
us. Feedback is desired. Thanks.
Page Last Updated: May 13th 2005
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