Product specifications

Although these formats are the most common, some networks request masters using
other tape formats. Check ahead to see what’s required.
The only application in Final Cut Studio that’s suitable for outputting to tape is
Final Cut Pro. If you’re outputting a tape master, there are nearly always strict guidelines
about when the program should begin relative to the timecode on the tape, as well as
about the type and timing of leader elements that appear before the beginning of your
program. For this reason, it’s typical to use the Edit to Tape command to perform an insert
edit of your program onto a specific section of tape that’s been “pre-striped” (had timecode
and black recorded onto the tape in advance).
It’s typical for a tape being sent to broadcast to start at 00:58:00:00, with sections of bars
and tone, black, a title slate, and more black culminating with the actual beginning of
the program starting at 01:00:00:00 exactly. Specifications vary, so check with the
distributor in advance before doing your tape output.
For more information about using the Edit to Tape command, see the Final Cut Pro
documentation.
Tip: Although the Edit to Tape command in Final Cut Pro provides the means to create
automated leader elements, many editors prefer to change the sequence timecode to
begin at 00:58:00:00 and use color bars, text, and slug generators to build their leader
elements right in the Timeline prior to the beginning of the program at 01:00:00:00.
Creating Standard Definition DVDs
If you need to deliver a standard definition (SD) DVD, you can use DVD Studio Pro to
create a DVD project to suit your specific needs. If you just need a simple screening disc
for festival play, you can author a DVD that plays as soon as it’s inserted. If you’re creating
a distribution disc that you’ll be selling to your audience, you can create a multimenu
experience with your program, including chapter menus, extra features, closed captions
and subtitles, commentary tracks, and all the other features audiences have come to
expect. After the DVD Studio Pro project is created, you can either burn a disc yourself
or deliver the project and media to a facility that’s capable of replicating your disc in
quantity.
When preparing a program for authoring in DVD Studio Pro, keep the following in mind:
• You can add chapter markers to the Timeline ruler of your sequence in Final Cut Pro in
order to place chapter dividers at specific points of your program. These chapter markers
are encoded in Compressor or DVD Studio Pro and can be used to automatically create
chapter titles in DVD Studio Pro.
110 Chapter 7 Output and Delivery