Multimedia CD-ROMs : The Production Process
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CD-ROMs (Whether they be Cover-mounted or Promotional) are usually produced by us following our established guidelines. Here is a brief overview of our production process.
Filming
Due to the time required to effectively shoot and edit video to a professional standard, we often arrange with the client to acquire the relevant footage for the CD-ROM at the very start of an arranged production.
This may often require that we either develop or follow a prearranged shooting schedule, at which time we visit the venue with the appropriate camera equipment to film the event(s) required. In our capacity as filmmakers we can either conduct 'live' interviews (often involving a member of the editorial crew for instance) or can act as 'flies on the wall', producing a rougher, more spontaneous documentary style production. In either case, we supply our own cameramen, equipment, lighting and tape stock.
Editing
Once filming has been completed, we capture the video onto computer and begin editing the footage for CD-ROM, adding a soundtrack, transition effects and graphics where required. We are then able to output the video stream to a number of suitable formats. For CD-ROMs we have had the greatest success with the MPEG-1 format, which allows for superior quality, full motion, full screen video playback, although we also utilise Quicktime and AVI, Real Video and Windows Media (also used for web broadcasting). Once editing is underway, 'rushes' are sent to the client for approval, and subsequent changes are made if required until editing has been completed.
Authoring
During the editing process, one or more of our team members create the multimedia elements for the CD-ROM, including animation sequences, graphics, backgrounds etc. We create these elements from photos, text and other media supplied to us by the client, sometimes adding elements from our own copyright cleared image and sound libraries as and where required. All of these graphics, animations, videos and sounds are then woven together into a stand-alone multimedia product using Macromedia Director, the industry standard multimedia authoring package. Your entire CD-ROM is 'hard coded' in Lingo, Macromedia's powerful multimedia language, which we develop for PC and/or Macintosh platforms. The product is then extensively tested on a variety of computers.
Mastering
Your final master is then pressed onto a gold CD-ROM for viewing and testing. If changes are necessary, further amendments to the original are made, and another master gold disc is prepared ready for pressing.
At this point, many of our clients choose to have their CDs pressed by a major pressing plant, which we broker for them. We also liaise with printing and pressing departments to ensure that the CD-ROM is packaged correctly, paying special attention to any errors or omissions that may occur during the process, and ensuring that ultimately everything goes to plan and that the production is professional and error-free.
To view our past gallery of CD-ROM Productions, please visit our CD-ROM Client Gallery.
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