a brief overview of Apple's DVD Software - iDVD, interactive digital video software from Apple Computer Inc - Brief Article - Statistical Data Included

Brandweek, April 16, 2001 by Bruce Nazarian

Apple's desktop movie products have been around now for several years and have met with great success. We have all witnessed the proliferation of Final Cut Pro systems in dozens or hundreds of new or updated editing suites. Likewise, iMovie and iMovie2 have opened the eyes of many former video consumers who are now video producers using their own Macintosh "desktop video studios."

The DV Revolution has been alive and well for a while, but something has been missing. Despite the end-to-end workflow that allows video to be created, edited and delivered to QuickTime downloads, e-mail boxes or streamed by Web sites, Apple's desktop video movies have so far lacked a direct connection to the hottest video format ever to hit the planet--DVD.

When Apple purchased Astarte, GmbH (creators of DVDirector), industry watchers speculated that Apple might have a Final Cut Pro DVD "afterburner" in the works. Sure enough, after months of feverish work, Steve Jobs announced at the January 2001 MacWorld the release of two new DVD products designed to complete Apple's end-to-end desktop video workflow. With iDVD and DVD Studio Pro, Apple stunned the DVD world by announcing a hitherto unheard of low price for DVD Studio Pro, a complete DVD Production solution. Anyone who can create a QuickTime movie can now learn to create an interactive DVD Project and burn it to a DVD-Video disc. Coupled with the equally significant announcement of the 733 MHz G4 Mac equipped with the new DVDR/DVD-RW "SuperDrive" ($3,499), and you have a complete desktop DVD studio for under $5,000. This is a major shot in the arm for DVD production, as DVD-R burners alone prior to this time have retailed at $5,000 or more. The SuperDrive writes to DVD-R General media, which is compatible wi th most consumer set-top DVD players, and practically all computers with DVD capability as well. Apple has succeeded in combining the software, CPU and DVD-R hardware into a complete package at a price that will empower and entice many newcomers to the DVD revolution.

Adding even more ammo to the DVD revolution, Apple has bundled a remarkable new program named iDVD at no cost with the 733 MHz G4/SuperDrive combo. iDVD is literally a one-window application, and does everything from create the menus to burn the disc. iDVD simplifies the complicated areas of DVD authoring (i.e. creating menu graphics, buttons, navigation, etc.). DVD Studio Pro can access an attached Digital LinearTape drive (DLT) to create master tapes for producing fully professional, replicated DVD-Video discs.

iDVD has been optimized for maximum quality with minimum fuss. This limits the amount of video you can include on an iDVD disc to 60 minutes. This is a deliberate compromise to keep final quality as high as possible while maintaining ease of use.

DVD Studio Pro, on the other hand, allows you to create single or dual-layer DVDs, using multi-angle video, multiple audio tracks, and multiple subtitle tracks. DVD Studio Pro can also easily create standard still frame and motion menus, multiple stories and slideshows. Completing the package is A. Pack (to create Dolby Digital Audio tracks), the Subtitle Editor and the updated Apple DVD player (which provides previewing for DVD Studio Pro while authoring).

Taken together, both iDVD and DVD Studio Pro comprise a double-barreled DVD strategy that is sure to increase the legions of satisfied DVD creators nationwide.

Bruce Nazarian, MPSE, is a well-known DVD instructor and consultant. He owns Gnome Digital Media, a company that creates and produces DVDs. Nazarian is the author of The DVD Companion, and Webmaster of his DVD