Appendix 1

The Filmmaker’s Guide to Final Cut Pro Workfl ow
Professional DVDs are authored by skilled people using much more complicated software than the
average home enthusiast. Final Cut Pro Studio comes bundled with DVD Studio Pro, one of the best
authoring systems in use. While it can be very simple to use, it can also “go deep,” becoming a very
complicated, robust system capable of authoring even the most elaborate DVDs.
DVD authoring software usually comes with some type of compression system that is often automatic.
The user may be compressing without even knowing they are doing it. But for professional
DVDs, compression must be controlled and optimized. There are many good compression applications
available. Final Cut Pro Studio also comes bundled with Compressor, another great piece of
software (see Figure 10.2). This, too, is often used professionally. While many Final Cut Pro Studio
users may never use it, preferring to let DVD Studio Pro compress automatically, those who want
to fi ne-tune their DVDs will fi nd Compressor invaluable.
Figure 10.2 Compressor is used to compress the video and audio down to something compatible
with DVD or Internet Streaming
As this is a book on workfl ow, we won’t go into the use of DVD authoring and compression software.
Instead, we focus on the steps necessary to deliver the project to the DVD author, and the various
workfl ow steps he or she needs to go through in the process.
The fi lm is delivered to the DVD author as a complete fi lm exported as a media fi le. In Final Cut
Pro, this will be a QuickTime movie. Although the fi lm may have been edited in reels, it must be
brought together in one timeline. Then, all that is needed is to Export QuickTime from the File
menu.
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