Differences In “DVE” Versions
Dear Gary: Is there any difference in the D-Theater and DVD versions of Digital Video Essentials?
Anonymous
Contributing Editor Joe Kane Comments:
Yes, and the differences are significant. Most important, video test patterns have to be run in real-time on tape as opposed to single frames on a DVD. As an example, we’ve determined that convergence patterns need to be on-screen for at least an hour in their entire sequence to begin to allow time to properly set up a CRT projector. In a DVD, that’s just a few frames, far less than one second of material. On tape it’s one hour of time. The tape is 145 minutes long with more than 90 minutes of video test patterns. Even at 90 minutes I feel the test patterns might have been run longer. Add in audio and video demonstration materials and not much time is left for the tutorial. Some of the cuts were easy. Sections of the DVD devoted to DVD player operation were the first to go in the D-Theater version. After that the cuts got more difficult. The original program was scripted for DVD. When D-Theater came to my attention in December of 2001 we added material to the DVD script that included a discussion of the format. In deciding to release the program in that format I was faced with the problem of the program being scripted for an interactive, nonlinear format. The D-Theater format couldn’t play the tricks we scripted for the DVD. The format is not yet big enough to justify a completely new script, especially since it would run well over the 150-minute maximum program length. The solution to cutting the program came down to eliminating the nonlinear, interactive material. Among the cuts were the instructions on how to set up the front-panel controls for video. The DVD allows picture stops on test patterns or still images at points where the viewer gets to play with the controls. They can be up on-screen as long as they are needed and there is an easy ability to shift among many images where they are provided. The D-Theater format doesn’t allow this. Running those patterns and images in real-time would have exceeded the maximum program length. The complete tutorial on how to use the test patterns can be found in the DVD of DVE, which is planned for a July/August release in both PAL and NTSC formats. Once you’ve learned how to use the test signals from the DVD, skip forward in the D-Theater tape to the test patterns and use them as instructed in the DVD.
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