http://library.creativecow.net/articles/alexzander_alex Alex Alexzander's library of tutorials, articles, reviews and more for media professionals world wide. en-us Sun, 29 Nov 2009 23:00:00 GMT PHP Script webmaster@creativecow.net webmaster@creativecow.net http://library.creativecow.net/articles/alexzander_alex/artfxual_review.php http://library.creativecow.net/articles/alexzander_alex/artfxual_review.php In this article, Alex Alexzander takes a thorough look at Avid Marquee Demystified from artFXual and hosted by Steve Bayes. Tue, 28 Mar 2006 08:00:00 GMT http://library.creativecow.net/articles/alexzander_alex/DMTS_avid_xpress.php http://library.creativecow.net/articles/alexzander_alex/DMTS_avid_xpress.php In this article, Alex Alexzander takes a thorough look at Inside Avid Xpress Pro hosted by Steve Bayes and published by Digital Media Training Services. Thu, 09 Mar 2006 08:00:00 GMT http://library.creativecow.net/articles/alexzander_alex/code_lock.php http://library.creativecow.net/articles/alexzander_alex/code_lock.php As many more users of DVD Studio Pro discover its scripting capabilities we see many more questions for basic examples exploring interactive scripting. In this article, Creative COW leader Alex Alexzander explores the Code Lock script -- one of the scripts most asked about. Thu, 10 Mar 2005 08:00:00 GMT http://library.creativecow.net/articles/alexzander_alex/edvd_review.php http://library.creativecow.net/articles/alexzander_alex/edvd_review.php Many DVD authors are familiar to some degree with the various DVD authoring applications that exist. Most of these authoring applications allow the author to add DVD-ROM content. DVD-ROM content is typically how the author provides additional assets to the viewer. In this article, Creativecow's Alex Alexzander takes a thorough look at Sonic's eDVD 3 Web Enhanced DVD. Wed, 23 Feb 2005 08:00:00 GMT http://library.creativecow.net/articles/alexzander_alex/avid_dvd.php http://library.creativecow.net/articles/alexzander_alex/avid_dvd.php The goal of this project by Alex Alexzander is to provide a very simple overview which describes how to go from the Avid Xpress Pro timeline to finished DVD using tools available in Avid Xpress Studio and Adobe's Photoshop. Wed, 02 Feb 2005 08:00:00 GMT http://library.creativecow.net/articles/alexzander_alex/dvd_menus.php http://library.creativecow.net/articles/alexzander_alex/dvd_menus.php In this article, CreativeCOW leader Alex Alexzander reviews Designing DVD Menus: How to Create Professional-looking DVDs written by Michael Burns and George Cairns, and published by CMP Books, 191 pages, December 2004, ISBN: 1-57820-259-0, and finds that... Designing DVD Menus is a book that fills exactly the gap left by the software publishers. This book doesn't specifically teach us to author DVDs using any one authoring application. Instead, this book is all about how to create professional-looking DVDs...This book is a lesson in creative design and intuitive navigation. Wed, 02 Feb 2005 08:00:00 GMT http://library.creativecow.net/articles/alexzander_alex/avid_xpress_pro.php http://library.creativecow.net/articles/alexzander_alex/avid_xpress_pro.php In this article, CreativeCOW.net leader Alex Alexzander reviews Avid XPress Pro and DV On the Spot written by Steve Hullfish, Chris Phrommayon & Bob Donlon, and published by CMP Books, 256 pages, September 1, 2004, ISBN: 1-57820-254-X. "As I write this, I have this big grin on my face. You see, you're in a forum reading this review, and the fact that you are in this forum reading this review is exactly what makes this book so perfect for you. Allow me to explain. We all go to forums, like this one, because from time to time we have a question. Sometimes we're not clear on how to accomplish a certain task or achieve a certain goal. Perhaps you're on the other side of this coin, and you arrived here to help others with their questions. No matter where you fit into this forum, you are no doubt someone who likes tips, shortcuts, and learning new techniques." Thu, 02 Dec 2004 08:00:00 GMT http://library.creativecow.net/articles/alexzander_alex/15_to_1.php http://library.creativecow.net/articles/alexzander_alex/15_to_1.php Offline editing started as a way to save disk space when hard drive-based storage carried a considerable premium. These days, although fast hard drives are not very expensive, there are still good reasons to use an offline editing workflow, provided certain conditions are met. Perhaps the most common situation is when so many tapes are involved that you simply don't want to devote so much of your storage to a project that will ultimately be cut to a mere fraction of the sources captured. Another reason is the use of a laptop for mobile editing in the field. A laptop's hard drive does not provide the needed bandwidth or capacity to edit more than a few hours of footage in the field if needed. Mon, 22 Nov 2004 08:00:00 GMT http://library.creativecow.net/articles/alexzander_alex/audio_feedback_menus.php http://library.creativecow.net/articles/alexzander_alex/audio_feedback_menus.php This article by Alex Alexzander started as a question that came up regarding how to create an audio feedback each time a button is selected. While this can certainly be done, it is somewhat slow. If you need such a function, this is for you, otherwise Alex wouldn't recomend doing this. Mon, 08 Nov 2004 08:00:00 GMT http://library.creativecow.net/articles/alexzander_alex/dvd_studiopro3.php http://library.creativecow.net/articles/alexzander_alex/dvd_studiopro3.php CreativeCOW leader Alex Alexzander reviews Apple Pro Training Series: DVD Studio Pro 3, written by Adrian Ramseier and Martin Sitter, published by Peachpit Press, 736 pages, August 2004, ISBN: 0321256107, and concludes that "This book is quite possibly the only book you will need to master DVD authoring with DVD Studio Pro." Read on to find out why..... Mon, 08 Nov 2004 08:00:00 GMT http://library.creativecow.net/articles/alexzander_alex/tt_encore_dvd.php http://library.creativecow.net/articles/alexzander_alex/tt_encore_dvd.php In this article, CreativeCOW leader Alex Alexzander reviews "Total Training Presents: Adobe Encore DVD Essentials hosted by Daniel Brown. Alex concludes his review by saying that this training "...are among the better lessons I have seen on the market today. The instructor has a very good style and sense of humor that makes these lessons very enjoyable." Tue, 19 Oct 2004 07:00:00 GMT http://library.creativecow.net/articles/alexzander_alex/dvd_authoring_encore.php http://library.creativecow.net/articles/alexzander_alex/dvd_authoring_encore.php In this article, CreativeCOW leader Alex Alexzander reviews DVD Authoring with Adobe Encore DVD written by Wes Howell, and published by Focal Press, 345 pages, March 2004, ISBN: 0240805631, and finds it "...pretty close to perfection, in my opinion. If it had been printed in color, it would be over the top." Fri, 15 Oct 2004 07:00:00 GMT http://library.creativecow.net/articles/alexzander_alex/designing_menus_enc.php http://library.creativecow.net/articles/alexzander_alex/designing_menus_enc.php Recently Alex Alexzander decided to explore Adobe's new video collection. As many often do, he found himself looking for that all-important supplement to the product manual before long. In this article, Alex reviews his choice: Designing Menus with Encore DVD by John Skidgel. Read on to find out why Alex gives this book 5 COWs. Wed, 08 Sep 2004 07:00:00 GMT http://library.creativecow.net/articles/alexzander_alex/dvdsp3.php http://library.creativecow.net/articles/alexzander_alex/dvdsp3.php Alex Alexzander gives Creativecow members the ultimate DVD Studio Pro 3 review-- even a tip or two. Tue, 08 Jun 2004 07:00:00 GMT http://library.creativecow.net/articles/alexzander_alex/bitshifting.php http://library.creativecow.net/articles/alexzander_alex/bitshifting.php BitShifting is a simple technique you can use to shift bits from one location to another inside a register. If you have ever wanted access to more GPRM registers than you have available then this is for you. Recently Alex Alexzander had the desire to create a playlist function but quickly realized that he would not have nearly enough GPRMs to keep track of the button selections made for each track, let alone to keep track of which track was selected first, second, third, and so forth. Thu, 06 May 2004 07:00:00 GMT http://library.creativecow.net/articles/alexzander_alex/menus.php http://library.creativecow.net/articles/alexzander_alex/menus.php In this 3 part tutorial, Alex Alexzander discusses everything you need to know about menus in DVD Studio Pro 2. The chapters include Standard Menus vs. Layered Menus; Motion Menus: Compositing / Looping with Highlights; Aspect Ratios between Compositor and Photoshop and Basic Scripting with three project examples. Mon, 23 Feb 2004 08:00:00 GMT http://library.creativecow.net/articles/alexzander_alex/setup_and_resume.php http://library.creativecow.net/articles/alexzander_alex/setup_and_resume.php The purpose of this tutorial by Alex Alexzander is to illustrate how to create a setup menu that allows the user to activate varying audio streams and subtitle streams as well as to turn off subtitles. In addition, our setup menu will feature a special resume function. The special feature here is that our resume play is going to first check to see if a track can be resumed, and if so it will resume play of that track; otherwise, the resume function will simply take the user to the main menu from the setup menu. Sat, 03 Jan 2004 08:00:00 GMT http://library.creativecow.net/articles/alexzander_alex/single_track_dvd.php http://library.creativecow.net/articles/alexzander_alex/single_track_dvd.php This project from Alex Alexander covers a simple sample of DVD@CCESS and DVD-ROM file storage within your DVD project. If you wish to author a DVD and provide a file or files and/or a web links such as web page or email link this tutorial will help clear up the DVD-ROM and DVD@CCESS functions in DVD Studio Pro 2.0 Wed, 17 Dec 2003 08:00:00 GMT http://library.creativecow.net/articles/alexzander_alex/dvdaccess.php http://library.creativecow.net/articles/alexzander_alex/dvdaccess.php This project from Alex Alexander covers a simple sample of DVD@CCESS and DVD-ROM file storage within your DVD project. If you wish to author a DVD and provide a file or files and/or a web links such as web page or email link this tutorial will help clear up the DVD-ROM and DVD@CCESS functions in DVD Studio Pro 2.0 Wed, 12 Nov 2003 08:00:00 GMT