DECEMBER 2004 MEETING

High-Def DVD: 
Get Ready for the Next Generation

Douglas Dixon, Manifest Technology

Date:        Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2004
Time:        6:30 PM for food and networking, 7:00 PM meeting start
Location: Princeton Theological Seminary, Princeton, NJ
                      Templeton Hall Basement Studio, 
                      College Road off Alexander (Directions below)
Cost:         Free for Princeton and Philly Members, 
                      Other MCA-I members $5, Non-members $15

Additional Information
Directions to the Meeting

Feeling constrained by the 4.7 GB capacity of today's DVDs? Are you getting into high-definition video production with the new HDV format, and wondering how to actually deliver HD content? Don't fear -- Hope is near at hand with high-def DVD on blue-laser disc, promising capacities of 20+ GB on the street as early as next year.

However, just when you thought you had all the competing DVD formats figured out -- R / RW / RAM -- dash / plus -- and the new double-layer DL -- high-def DVD is also arriving with yet another format war to further confuse the picture, this time between Blu-ray and HD-DVD.

But why wait for new disc formats? Microsoft's Windows Media HD can deliver HD video at standard-definition rates today, playable on standard PCs. And the WM HD DVD format even can package HD productions on standard DVD discs, complete with a DVD-like interface.

Confused yet? It gets worse -- These next-generation HD formats will require dramatic changes to today's DVD authoring tools and processes. These formats blow away the limitations of today's DVD specification, moving from basic menus and links to a fully programmable interface, requiring new authoring skills more like multimedia and Web programming.

In this talk, Doug Dixon will provide a heads-up on how to begin preparing for these new developments for delivering HD content on DVD discs. Come learn about the technology behind these new formats, and the market forces that ultimately will determine their successes. See how the Windows Media HD format can be used today to deliver full HD / surround-sound productions. And get a preview of how DVD authoring will change in this new world.

About the Speaker

Douglas Dixon is an independent technologist, author, and speaker specializing in digital media. He makes his articles and technical references freely available on his Manifest Technology website (www.manifest-tech.com).

Doug is the author of four books, including the new "Adobe Encore DVD: In The Studio," "Desktop DVD Authoring," and "How to Use Adobe Premiere." He has published over 140 feature articles, and is currently editor-at-large for Mediaware magazine, contributing editor for Camcorder and Computer Video magazine, and a contributor to DV Magazine, CNET Reviews, and the U.S.1 newspaper.

Doug has organized and presented over sixty seminars and talks in the past four years on digital media topics, for professional groups and at conferences including NAB, CES, Government Video Expo, DV Expo, ShowBiz Expo, and the DVD International Conference.

Additional Information

Contact: Andy Kienzle, PMCA President,
         609-466-2828 ext. 20, akienzle@nxlevel.com

Princeton MCA-I
         www.movingimage.org

Directions to Princeton Theological Seminary

The Princeton Campus of Princeton Theological Seminary is between 
Route 206 / Stockton Street, Princeton Pike / Mercer Street (Route 583), and College Road, off Alexander Road in downtown Princeton.

Templeton Hall is on the right a short distance down College Road from Alexander Road (first right from Alexander going south from Mercer).

Enter Templeton Hall for the Basement Studio from the side door,
on the ground floor facing the street.

Maps at http://www.ptsem.edu/look/maps/campusmaps.htm

• Area Map (PDF)
• Princeton Campus Street Map (PDF)

Driving directions for Princeton Theological Seminary