Apple Final Cut Express 4 - Manual (Page 1042)

1042 Part XII Output
There are four phases to creating a DVD:
Step 1: Create and edit your source material
In addition to the main movie created in Final Cut Express, you can create still graphics
or short movies for use as menu backgrounds. All edits, special effects, audio fades and
mixes, and scene transitions must be created in Final Cut Express before exporting
them for use in the DVD authoring application.
Step 2: Encode your video and audio to DVD-Video compliant formats
Video DVDs require that all video and audio conform to DVD MPEG-2 specifications.
iDVD automatically converts any media files that are not compliant. This means that
you can export a standard QuickTime movie from Final Cut Express and import it into
your DVD authoring application, and all encoding and conversions are handled for you
automatically.
Step 3: Author your DVD title
This is the phase when you create DVD menus, tracks, and slideshows using your
DVD-compliant media assets. iDVD includes templates and tools to create professional-
looking DVDs with minimal effort.
Step 4: Build and burn your DVD
Once you have authored your DVD, you build (or compile) the files and then burn them
to a DVD disc. iDVD makes this a one-button process.
For detailed information on preparing video and audio sources and planning your DVD,
see the documentation that came with iDVD.
Video for Standard DVDs
All standard DVD video must be MPEG-1 or MPEG-2 encoded, using DVD-compliant
frame dimensions, frame rates, and bit rates. Larger frame dimensions and higher bit
rates result in better video, but at the cost of larger files.
When preparing video and audio for use on DVD, always use the highest quality
settings available. Any flaws in your media can be exacerbated by MPEG compression
on DVD. If you use high-quality source materials, you’ll get high-quality results.