The post-production process usually begins when all or most of the source material has been acquired.  The elements include:

This first phase is typically called Line Production, which includes all the things that need to be done prior to sitting down for the full edit session.   This includes:

• Creating a DVD “window dub” (when requested) of some of all of the video footage for client review / selection.   This has a superimposed rolling time-code for accurate logging and annotation.

• Capturing / importing / converting / processing all of the production elements into the editing computer and its external drives

• recording voiceovers

• music selection, editing and licensing

• create in-house graphics—the animated or still titles, panels, backgrounds, effects, etc.

Everything imported into the editing system (or created for the project) must be carefully logged, with each element having it’s own unique file name and organized into appropriate bins (folders).

Once all or most of the elements are in their proper place, we begin placing them where they belong on the timeline.  Usually, we start at the beginning and add to the timeline in proper order, but with the flexibility of digital non-linear editing, we can work on any section, move things around, and add elements at a later time.

The timeline consists of two sections:  Video Tracks in the upper section and Audio Tracks in the lower section.  Track 1 is the Base Track, and any other clips we stack above this will appear layered over the track below it.  We use these additional tracks to add superimposed titles and other visual elements we want to layer over the lower tracks.

Once the edit is completed and approved, it’s time to Master our project.   In almost all cases, clients want their distribution copies on DVD, and often as a web-friendly format (if you need other formats, we can do that too).  There are four steps left to go:

• Tape Master—we make a Master on the network-quality BetaSP format

• Compression—the video and audio files on our timeline are compressed to the DVD-standard m2v, AC3 and aiff files.

• DVD Authoring / Mastering-- TPT offers a Basic and Advanced option for your DVD, depending on what you want the viewer to see/hear when the DVD is inserted for playback, and what navigation options are desired.   (Click here for more information on these options).  In either case, this is where the compressed video and audio files are multiplexed into the standard VOB files recognizable by set-top DVD players and DVD-equipped computers.

• DVD Duplication—TPT has in-house DVD duplication equipment, including printing desired text and graphics on the face of the DVD. 

DOWN THE ROAD:

As often happens, a year or so from now, some changes in the production are required.

TPT will keep the still-graphic, text, and project information files for your project stored indefinitely.   Captured video footage stored on the editing systems external drives use up a huge amount of space.  Even though we currently have 2.8 terrabites of drive space, we must clear out this storage within a reasonable time after final approval.

However, the project information files contain all the information necessary to re-create the project.  This will require re-capturing the footage, but once it’s in the system, we’re back to where we once were at the end of the edit session.

A less expensive option, if there are only minor changes, is to just capture the program from the BetaSP Master, then perform the necessary edits only on the required areas.   Then, we would re-do the Mastering process.

(Note:  DVD’s themselves cannot be practically edited.  Video/audio material must be captured onto the editing system for editing, then re-mastered as a new product)

DETAILS:

Here’s how we get the various elements into the editing computer and its external drives:

Here is the software we use in the post-production process:

• Final Cut Pro 5.1—the main editing software

• Final Cut Pro Effects—for adding video transitions, adding video filters and audio filters

• Live Type—for creating animated superimposed text, backgrounds, objects and visual effects

• Boris Title 3D—for creating static superimposed text

• Adobe Audition or Soundtrack Pro—for creating / editing audio

• Photo Impact or Photo Shop—for creating / processing still photos and graphics

• Motion—for creating multi-layered animated effects

• Compressor—for processing the completed edit into an m2v file for DVD authoring

• DVD Studio Pro—for creating the Master DVD, with menus and multiple titles if desired

• Microboards DX-1—for duplicating the Master DVD into distribution copies

• Microsoft Excel—for organizing the script log into an Edit Decision List

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