DVD-Audio Creator. User Guide

DVD-Audio Creator TM User Guide

2002 Sonic Solutions. All rights reserved. Sonic DVD-Audio Creator User Guide - Sonic Part Number XXXXXX Rev A (3/99) This manual, as well as the software described in it, is furnished under license and may only be used or copied in accordance with the terms of such license. The information in this manual is furnished for informational use only, is subject to change without notice, and should not be construed as a commitment by Sonic Solutions. Sonic Solutions assumes no responsibility or liability for any errors or inaccuracies that may appear in this book. Except as permitted by such license, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of Sonic Solutions. SONIC SOLUTIONS, INC. ("SONIC") MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, REGARDING THE APPLE SOFTWARE. SONIC DOES NOT WARRANT, GUARANTEE, OR MAKE ANY REPRESENTATIONS REGARDING THE USE OR THE RESULTS OF THE USE OF THE SONIC SOFTWARE IN TERMS OF ITS CORRECTNESS, ACCURACY, RELIABILITY, CURRENTNESS, OR OTHERWISE. THE ENTIRE RISK AS TO THE RESULTS AND PERFORMANCE OF THE SONIC SOFTWARE IS ASSUMED BY YOU. THE EXCLUSION OF IMPLIED WARRANTIES IS NOT PERMITTED BY SOME STATES. THE ABOVE EXCLUSION MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU. IN NO EVENT WILL SONIC, ITS DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES, OR AGENTS BY LIABLE TO YOU FOR ANY CONSEQUENTIAL, INCIDENTAL, OR INDIRECT DAMAGES (INCLUDING DAMAGES FOR LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS, BUSINESS INTERRUPTION, LOSS OF BUSINESS INFORMATION, AND THE LIKE) ARISING OUT OF THE USE OR INABILITY TO USE THE APPLE SOFTWARE EVEN IF SONIC HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. BECAUSE SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES, THE ABOVE LIMITATIONS MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU. Sonic, Sonic Solutions, the Sonic logo, SonicStudio, Audio 2000, Sonic DVD Creator, First in DVD, DVD Now, DVD Production Alliance, DVD Ready, Constant Q, High-Density Audio, TimeTwist, Varispeed, MediaNet, and Sonic LightSpeed are trademarks of Sonic Solutions. NoNOISE is a registered trademark of Sonic Solutions. Dolby Digital is a trademark of Dolby Laboratories, Inc.Dolby Laboratories encourages use of the Dolby Digital trademark to identify soundtracks that are encoded in Dolby Digital. This is an effective way to inform listeners of the soundtrack format, and the use of a standard logo promotes easy recognition in the marketplace. However, like any trademark, the Dolby Digital logo may not be used without permission. Dolby Laboratories therefore provides a standard trademark license agreement for companies who wish to use Dolby trademarks. This agreement should be signed by the company that owns the program material being produced. Recording studios or production facilities which provide audio production or encoding services for outside clients generally do not require a trademark license. If you would like more information on obtaining a Dolby trademark license, please contact Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation. Information on trademark licensing plus instructions for using the Dolby Digital trademark and marking audio formats can also be found online at http://www.dolby.com. QuicKeys is a registered trademark of CE Software, Inc. JL Cooper is a registered trademark of J. L. Cooper Electronics, Inc. Apple, the Apple logo, Finder, Macintosh, Quadra, and Quicktime are registered trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc. Acrobat and Photoshop are trademarks of Adobe Systems, Inc. NuBus is a trademark of Texas Instruments. All other company or product names are either trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners. Written and designed at Sonic Solutions, 101 Rowland Way, Novato, CA. 94945, USA

Contents 1 DVD-Audio Creator Installation Say Something Special..................................1 Installing the Operating System...........................2 Partition Size....................................2 NTFS File System................................2 Installing Script Debugger.........................3 Setting the computer s name......................3 First-Time Startup...................................4 Windows 2000 Server: "Configure Your Server".......4 Windows 2000 Professional: "Welcome to Windows"..5 Installing Devices...................................5 Checking device drivers...........................5 Installing devices drivers..........................6 Hot-Plugging Devices.............................7 Installing DVD Audio Creator "SuperPro"-Dongle......7 SCSI ASPI-Drivers for Windows....................8 Performance Optimization (Windows 2000 Server)........8 Windows Service Pack Installation.....................9 Setting up the Network...............................9

4 T ABLE OF C ONTENTS Physical Connection..............................9 Preparing Windows.............................10 Windows Configuration of TCP/IP Protocol..........11 Macintosh-Configuration of TCP/IP Protocol.........11 Activating Macintosh File Sharing (Windows 2000 Server) 12 Sharing a Folder as Macintosh Volume (Windows 2000 Server)........................................13 Activating the File-Transfer-Protocol (FTP) Service... 14 1.6.8 Setting up the FTP-Server...................16 Virtual FTP Directories...........................18 1.7 Troubleshooting...................................18 2 Overview and Workflow DVD-Audio Creator Applications.........................21 DVD-Audio Creator Workflow............................23 Project Planning...................................24 Planning questions.............................25 Project design and asset list......................26 2.2.2 Asset Preparation..............................27 Audio assets...................................27 Graphic assets.................................28 DVD-Video assets...............................30 Album Production..................................31 Project Structure...............................32 Asset import...................................32 Authoring.....................................33 Project output..................................33 The DVD Production Workgroup.........................34 3 Creating a Project Structure Using the Tutorial PROJECT Folder.......................37

T ABLE OF C ONTENTS 5 Creating a Project Structure Manually.................... 38 4 Import Audio Workflow..................................... 42 Audio File Formats.................................... 43 Specify the File Format............................. 44 File Import Settings................................... 44 Audio file metadata............................ 45 Channel Groups and channel assignments......... 45 Setting the Import Type............................. 47 Designating the Source Files........................ 48 Specifying the Destination directory.................. 49 Setting the Channel Assignment (.bin only)............ 49 Setting the Resolution (.bin only)..................... 51 Fs and Q...................................... 51 Number of channels (Ch)........................ 52 Setting Downmix Parameters (.aif,.wav, and.bin only)... 52 Saving changes to downmix parameters (.aif,.wav and.bin only)..................................... 55 Files Containing Multiple Audio Tracks................... 55 The Track Editor dialog............................. 56 Defining Multiple Audio Tracks in a File................ 59 Saving changes to Track Editor parameters (.aif,.bin and.wav only).................................... 61 Displaying and Auditioning files and Tracks (.aif,.wav, and.bin only)............................................... 61 Opening a Stream Dialog........................... 62 Stream Dialog Fields and Controls.................... 63 Audio Data File Information...................... 64 Display Information............................ 65 Sound Playback............................... 66 Executing an Import................................... 67

6 T ABLE OF C ONTENTS Import operation results.........................67 Importing additional source files..................68 5 Import Menu Workflow......................................73 Menu Layers.........................................74 Background layer...............................74 Overlay layer..................................74 Button Hotspots layer...........................75 Menu Types..........................................75 Single-Page Menu..................................76 Multi-Page Menu...................................76 Linked Lyrics Menu.................................78 Marker names and times.........................79 Page layers and filenames.......................80 Subpicture Type......................................81 Overlay file colors..................................81 Button Hotspot mapping............................84 File Import Settings....................................85 Specifying the Source Directory......................85 Specifying the Destination Directory...................86 Setting the Import Type.............................88 Setting the Subpicture Type..........................88 Executing an Import...................................88 Import operation results.........................89 Importing additional source files..................91 6 Import VIDEO_TS Workflow......................................94 DVD-Video Material in DVD-Audio........................95 AUDIO_TS, AMG, and Domains.......................95

T ABLE OF C ONTENTS 7 Groups, Titles, and Tracks........................... 96 Titles........................................ 96 VTSs and Tracks............................... 98 VTS limitations in DVD-Audio.................... 99 CSS Encryption...................................... 99 Import Settings..................................... 101 Specifying the Source Directory..................... 101 Specifying the Destination Directory................. 102 Executing an Import.................................. 102 Import operation results....................... 103 7 Author Workflow.................................... 106 Interface Overview................................... 107 Main window.................................... 108 Menus...................................... 108 Status Bar................................... 109 Layout window.................................. 109 Icons........................................ 110 Properties Window............................... 112 Defining properties............................ 112 File Operations................................... 113 Creating a New Project......................... 113 Opening an Existing Project........................ 114 Closing the Current Project......................... 115 Saving the Current Project......................... 115 Publishing the Current Project...................... 116 Exiting Author................................... 119 Project Layout and Icons........................... 119 Hierarchy and containers.......................... 119 Adding Icons.................................... 120

8 T ABLE OF C ONTENTS Icon names......................................121 Moving icons.....................................122 Deleting icons....................................122 Defining icon properties............................123 The Topmost Icon.................................124 Building a Project.....................................124 Starting an Album.................................125 Album Properties..............................125 Adding a Group...................................126 Title Types and Groups.........................127 Combining Titles in Groups.....................130 Group Properties..............................130 Adding an Audio Track.............................131 Specifying the XML file.........................132 Audio Track Properties.........................134 Working with Markers..........................135 Still Pictures in Audio Tracks........................137 Associating ASVs with Tracks....................138 Multiple ASV-series in a Track...................138 Access to multiple ASV-series...................139 Multiple ASV-series in an ASVU Range............141 7.4.5 Adding a Single-Page Menu....................141 Specifying the MENUPAGE file..................142 Single-Page Menu Properties....................143 7.4.6 Adding a Linked Lyrics Menu...................144 Specify the MENUPAGE file.....................145 Linked Lyrics Menu Properties...................146 Slideshows and Stillshows.........................147 Adding a Slideshow or Stillshow.................149 Slideshow Properties...........................150 Stillshow Properties............................151

T ABLE OF C ONTENTS 9 Adding a Slide................................... 151 Slide Properties............................... 152 Specifying the source image.................... 152 7.4.9 Adding a Multi-Page Menu..................... 153 Multi-Page Menu Properties.................... 154 Specifying the MENUPAGE file.................. 155 Adding a Video Track............................. 155 Limits on use of Video Tracks................... 156 Specifying the source file....................... 158 Video Track Properties......................... 159 Adding a Top Menu............................... 159 Menu Reference..................................... 160 Edit menu................................... 161 View menu.................................. 162 Help menu................................... 162 Right-click menu.............................. 163 8 Command Editor Setting the layer break................................ 168 Video Attributes..................................... 169 Audio Text Data..................................... 171 Copy protection (CCI)................................. 172 Return Menu........................................ 173 Track node Continuous Playback....................... 174 2 MB Buffer Limit for ASVU..................... 175 Setting the menu palette.............................. 176 Editing the Color Set.............................. 178 Adding button color families....................... 180 Copying color palettes between menu pages.......... 181 Set Menu Page...................................... 183 Editing a menu page.............................. 184

10 TABLE OF C ONTENTS Buttons Cursor Movement..........................185 Button Commands................................187 Button Command Types........................190 Comments for Button Commands................203 Auto Activate.....................................203 Button Order Number..............................204 Button Color Number..............................206 Forced Selection..................................206 Forced Activation.................................207 Cell Still Time....................................209 Number of Selectable Buttons.......................210 Button Offset Number.............................211 Visual Effects for ASV Transitions....................212 Start Timing......................................214 Copying page properties between menu pages.........214 PreCommands and PostCommands.....................215 Cell Commands......................................218 Defining Next, Prev, and GoUp..........................220 Slideshow node (playback timing).......................221 Linked Lyric node (Display Order).......................222 9 Format Using Format........................................223 Format Option....................................226 Book Version.....................................227 Formatting for Dual Discs..............................227 Specify in SFF.................................229 Creating Hybrid Discs.................................230 Truncating Audio.....................................231 Operation Parameters.................................233 10 Imager

T ABLE OF C ONTENTS 11 Writing a Disc Image................................. 236 Imaging for Dual Discs................................ 239 11 Editing XML Files Using Two Streams in an Audio Track................... 241 Playback of dual-stream Tracks.................. 242 Requirements for streams in dual-stream Tracks... 243 Preparing streams for dual-stream Audio Tracks....... 243 Adding a second stream to an Audio Track............ 244 Adding a Silent Cell.................................. 245 Setting the Silent Cell Parameter.................... 246 Defining Indexes and Spotlights........................ 247 The DVDCELL tag............................. 247 12 DVD-Audio Format DVD-Audio Players.................................. 251 DVD-Audio Content.................................. 255 Audio Formats................................... 256 Audio Resolution............................. 257 Multi-Channel Sound.......................... 259 Playing Time and Meridian Lossless Packing...... 261 SMART Content and Downmixing............... 263 The Audio Object (AOB)........................ 264 Value-Added Content............................. 264 Still Pictures................................. 265 Modes, Effects, and Highlights.................. 266 Text Information.............................. 268 Video on DVD-Audio.......................... 269 The Structure of DVD-Audio........................... 269 Multiple Content Managers..................... 270 Logical Structure: Albums, Groups and Tracks..... 271

12 TABLE OF C ONTENTS Navigation and Program Chains..................272 Using Video in DVD-Audio.............................274 Video Soundtracks in DVD-Audio.................275 Additional Video Rules and Limitations............276 An Example DVD-Audio Title...........................278 13 Asset Preparation Preparing Audio Source Files...........................282 Audio Formats and Attributes.......................282 Formats supported by players...................283 Number of audio streams.......................283 Supported resolutions..........................283 Supported channel assignments.................284 SMART Content and Downmixing................285 Audio asset preparation............................285 Premastering and EDL preparation in SonicStudio HD286 Encoding the EDL in OneClick DVD...............287 Preparing Graphics for Menus and Slides.................288 Still Pictures in DVD-Audio..........................288 Naming Source Files for Menus..................289 Graphic File Considerations.........................289 Aspect Ratio..................................290 Pixel shape...................................290 Television safe area............................291 Color palette..................................293 Definition and detail............................293 Graphic File Requirements..........................294 Letterbox and Pan/Scan for 16:9 albums...............294 Background and Button Hotspot source files for 16:9 295 Overlay source files for 16:9.....................296 13.3 Preparing a VIDEO_TS for DVD-Audio................298

T ABLE OF C ONTENTS 13 Limitations on DVD-Video material in DVD-Audio.. 298 Authoring DVD-Video material for DVD-Audio..... 299 VIDEO_TS Prepared in Scenarist.................... 299 VIDEO_TS Prepared in DVD Creator or DVD Fusion for Macintosh...................................... 303

14 TABLE OF C ONTENTS

1 DVD-Audio Creator Installation Say Something Special DVD-Audio Creator is a suite of seven applications that run on a workstation using the Microsoft Windows 2000 operating system (Professional or Server). The most efficient workflow for the production of DVD-Audio albums is typically achieved when the workstation running DVD-Audio Creator is part of a networked workgroup that includes a Macintosh workstation running SonicStudio HD. If the albums to be produced include DVD-Video content, the workgroup may also include a Macintosh running Sonic DVD Creator or a Windows machine running Sonic Scenarist. This Chapter covers installation of the DVD-Audio Creator suite [need description of this installation], setup of the Windows 2000 operating system for using DVD-Audio Creator, and network setup for the production workgroup. For up-to-date details about the recommended hardware and operating system configuration of machines running DVD-Audio Creator, please refer to the DVD-Audio Creator Configuration Guide, available for download from the Sonic Web site: www.sonic.com/get the real url

2 Chapter 1, DVD-Audio Creator Installation Installing the Operating System Installation of Windows 2000 Server and Professional involves setting or entering values for various parameters. This section covers the parameters and values to set for optimum operation of DVD-Audio Creator. PARTITION SIZE During the installation you will be asked which partitions you want to create on your hard-disk(s). It is recommended to keep your data and the operating system in separate partitions. This makes it easier to recover lost data or to re-install the operating system. The preferred size of the partition for your operating system depends on the size of your hard-disk. The minimum size for this partition is four Gigabytes; 8GB is recommended. If you plan to keep all your data files and documents on external hard-disks, you can use one partition on the internal drive for the operating system. If you are installing a second copy of a Windows operating system [Q: does this mean an additional copy (two at once on the machine), or a copy that replaces the existing operating system? A: two at once. For details, see e- mail from Simon 9/15] you can choose the same partition that is used by the already-installed operating system. Windows will automatically create a boot menu. NTFS FILE SYSTEM Authoring DVD-Audio requires the ability to work with very large files stored on a hard-disk. The only file system able to work with sufficiently large files in the Windows environment is NTFS, which should be selected as the file system for all hard-disks used to store data files. In Windows 2000 Server Edition, the NTFS file system is also required for the startup disk. Use of NTFS for the operating system s hard-disk is recommended for Windows 2000 Professional Edition as well.

Installing the Operating System 3 If you are installing a second copy of the Windows 2000 operating system [additional or replacement?] in the same partition as the existing operating system, you will be asked to choose a drive formatting option. Do not choose to format the drive with NTFS. Instead, either choose to leave the existing file system intact or to convert it to NTFS. Note: NTFS hard disks cannot be accessed by the Windows 95, Windows 98 or Windows Millennium Edition operating systems. Converting a hard disk containing one of these operating systems to NTFS will cause the previous operating system to be unusable. INSTALLING SCRIPT DEBUGGER During the initial installation of Windows 2000, the installation wizard will display a list of optional additional components that you may choose to install at the same time. Check the checkbox for the "Script Debugger" component. Script Debugger offers a better environment in which to edit XML and other text-based files than Windows default text-editor application (Notepad). To install Script Debugger after Windows has already been installed, use Add/Remove Programs in the Control Panel folder (accessed via the "Settings" submenu on the Start menu). SETTING THE COMPUTER S NAME When computers are used together on a network, or connected directly via a cross-cable connection, every computer must have a unique name. The name is defined during the initial installation of Windows 2000. In addition to identifying the computer on the network, the name identifies the computer in the Chooser application when file-sharing with a Macintosh.

4 Chapter 1, DVD-Audio Creator Installation During installation, Windows will ask if the computer should belong to a workgroup or a domain. If you are using a cross-cable connection only, [what if you are connected to a network?] the recommended setting is "workgroup." The name of the workgroup does not affect communication between Macintosh and Windows machines. Note: If you need to connect your Windows machine to an enterprisewide LAN (local area network), it may be necessary to connect using a domain. In this case, consult with your network administrator. First-Time Startup When starting up for the first time after installation, each version of Windows 2000 will present a different window. This section covers recommended user response to these windows. WINDOWS 2000 SERVER: "CONFIGURE YOUR SERVER" During the first startup of Windows 2000 Server, you will see the "Windows 2000 Configure Your Server" window. The window asks if you would like to configure your server, meaning that Windows is offering to help you set up enhanced server services, including the ActiveDirectory, which is Microsoft s implementation of a Domain Controller service. Note: Because installing a domain controller may decrease system performance, it is strongly recommended that you choose not to configure this server at this time. After clicking on "Next," un-check the "Show this screen at startup" checkbox for the wizard. The "Windows 2000 Configure Your Server" window includes some useful information on how to setup server services like "File Sharing." However, it is not needed for any set up related to DVD-Audio Creator.

Installing the Operating System 5 WINDOWS 2000 PROFESSIONAL: "WELCOME TO WINDOWS" After starting Windows 2000 Professional, Windows will display a window providing tips and tricks for beginning to work with Windows. This window can be deactivated by using the checkbox at the bottom of this window. Installing Devices For best performance, Windows 2000 requires compatible, up-to-date drivers for devices connected to the computer. This section explains how to ensure that the proper driver is installed for each device. While most hard disks and optical drives do not require special drivers, drivers are required for controller boards (SCSI-Controllers, RAID- Controllers, or IDE-Controllers) connecting these devices to the system. It is recommended that you use drivers especially designed for your specific controller. CHECKING DEVICE DRIVERS During installation, Windows 2000 checks for hardware devices in the system. However, Windows may not associate the correct drivers with your hardware, in which case some functions may not be available or the hardware may run in slower compatibility mode. To double-check the drivers with which your devices have been associated, open the Computer Management application in the Administrative Tools folder on the Windows Start menu. Click on the Device Manager tab to display a list of all installed components. The list will have several branches. Open each branch of the component tree to see the listed components. [Image: computermanagement.bmp]

6 Chapter 1, DVD-Audio Creator Installation In some hardware configurations, especially those involving newer Ethernet controller and display adapter hardware Windows may not find a suitable driver for a given device on its installation CD. In this case, the device will be displayed in the Other Devices branch of the Device Manager tab. Some devices, especially PCI cards, will be listed in this branch as just a generic device type, without the actual brand or name of the product (e.g. "Ethernet Controller," "USB Token," or "Video Controller"). [Image: computermanagementunknown.bmp] To use devices listed in the Other Devices branch, you must first install the appropriate drivers. INSTALLING DEVICES DRIVERS All hardware vendors include CDs or floppy-discs containing drivers working with your computer, but it is recommended to look out for new drivers on the Internet to ensure you are using the latest drivers providing the highest performance and stability. Windows 2000 (all editions) supports drivers designed especially for Windows 2000 and some so-called WDM-drivers which can be used on other Windows platforms, too. If available, it is recommended to use "native" Windows 2000 drivers. First of all, you have to select the device you want to install a driver for by clicking on its name. If Windows did not install a driver by itself, the device will be listed in the section "Other devices", otherwise you will find it in the appropriate section of the component tree. By clicking on the name with the right mouse button and selecting "Properties" a new window will appear. Using the button "Reinstall Driver " will open a new window which will guide you through the installation of the driver. Some drivers have to be installed using an installation program provided by the hardware vendor. In such a case, Windows will not find any suitable drivers on the inserted CD or floppy disk.

Installing the Operating System 7 Depending on the hardware you are installing, you will have to restart Windows after installing a new device driver. HOT-PLUGGING DEVICES Some controllers used to connect external devices to your computer support hot-plug functionality. This means that you can plug-in and use your hardware without shutting down your computer. After such hardware was installed Windows will open the "Device Driver Wizard" which will guide you through the installation of the driver required to use this device. For some devices not needing a special driver or devices for which a driver is already available Windows will not open the abovementioned wizard and activate the driver by itself. SCSI-Devices should not be connected after starting up the system, connecting additional devices to an already running SCSI-Chain should be done after the system was shut down. Also do not turn of the power of currently used devices or disconnect them while the system is running. You should always ensure that the device at the end of your SCSI-chain is terminated properly! Active Terminators are recommended for chains containing hard disks and wide SCSI devices! INSTALLING DVD AUDIO CREATOR "SUPERPRO"-DONGLE Using the DVD-Audio Creator software requires to install a hardware dongle (USB) along with the dongle s drivers. The drivers are included on the DVD- Audio Creator installation disc and have to be installed before the dongle can be used. The driver is supplied as an installer file with a filename including the name "rainbow", after the manufacturer of the dongle. When starting the installation by running this file from the installer CD-ROM you have to connect the dongle to your computer. Windows will now associate the drivers to the hardware device. For the actual installation follow the