Apple DVD Studio Pro 4 - Manual (Page 16)

• In addition to supporting SD MPEG-2 video encodes, HD-based DVDs support HD
MPEG-2 and H.264 video encodes. These are discussed in HD Video Assets .
Blue Laser Disc Media
Due to the improved video resolution possible with HD video, the encoded video files
for HD resolution DVDs can be larger than those used with SD resolution DVDs. For that
reason, a media format based on a blue laser was designed specifically for DVD projects
containing HD video. See the following table for a comparison of SD and HD disc sizes.
Blue laser capacity Red laser capacity Disc
15 GB 4.7 GB Single-sided, single-layer
30 GB 8.54 GB Single-sided, dual-layer
In addition to blue laser based DVD media, an HD project’s DVD video zone can be written
to DVD media based on the red lasers used by traditional DVDs. (The obvious limitation
is that you will not be able to fit as much video data on the disc.)
Important: SD-based DVD players are not able to play DVD projects containing HD content,
whether they are on red or blue laser media. Additionally, only HD projects on special 3x
DVD-ROM red laser media are officially supported in the HD DVD specification. You can
burn HD projects to traditional red laser media on your system; however, the discs might
not play in all HD DVD players.
Supported Video Resolutions
All video resolutions supported by SD-based DVDs are also supported by HD-based DVDs.
This means that an HD-based DVD can use an HD video resolution for the main feature,
then use an SD video resolution for extras. The following list includes the SD and HD
video resolutions supported by DVD Studio Pro.
Note: MPEG-1 encoded video files are not supported in HD projects.
NTSC
Frame rates with an “i” indicate the interlaced scanning method; those with a “p” indicate
the progressive scanning method.
Notes Aspect ratio Frame rate Resolution
Also known as SIF format 4:3 29.97i 352 x 240
Also known as 1/2 D1 4:3 29.97i 352 x 480
Also known as Cropped D1; 16:9 is anamorphic 4:3, 16:9 29.97i 704 x 480
Also known as Full D1; 16:9 is anamorphic 4:3, 16:9 29.97i 720 x 480
HD only, also known as 480p; is anamorphic 16:9 59.94p 720 x 480
HD only, also known as 720p 16:9 59.94p 1280 x 720
HD only; 16:9 is anamorphic 16:9 29.97i 1440 x 1080
16 Chapter 1 Overview of Using DVD Studio Pro