DVD Demystified

This is a cleaned-up version of the original DVD Demystified home page. It's mostly for historical value.

DVD FAQ reader feedback:

DVD FAQ

The original, one and only, DVD FAQ. Est. 1996.

UltraViolet FAQ

UltraViolet was a system for buying, download, and streaming movies over the Internet. More information in Jim's UltraViolet FAQ.

The Blu-ray Disc Demystified book gives Blu-ray the "Demystified" treatment with details on development, physical format, logical formats, applications, myth busting, advantages/disadvantages, and more. See BD Demystified for more.

DVD Demystified, Third Edition, McGraw-Hill (11/2005)
Jim was joined by renowned DVD developer Mark Johnson and award-winning video director Chuck Crawford to update DVD Demystified with details of the latest developments and formats. Detailed descriptions of DVD, HD DVD, Blu-ray Disc (BD), UMD, and more. Over 200 information-packed charts and figures, including a quick reference section. Clear and understandable explanations of features and technologies. Includes a DVD with samples from Broadcast DVD, Dolby, DTS, Joe Kane Productions, Microsoft, Ovation Software, THX, Widescreen Review, and others, plus WebDVD HTML files, spreadsheets, and more. Why you should buy DVD Demystified Demo disc contents Table of Contents Online Glossary Reader comments Errata				DVD Demystified 2nd edition is available in Japanese. Download barcodes for using the DVD Demystified disc with Pioneer 7400/7300/7200 industrial players.

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About DVD, McGraw-Hill (11/2003)
The most comprehensive, quick look-up guide to DVD facts, figures, and formats available anywhere General DVD information DVD's relationship to other products and technologies DVD technical details DVDs and the computer DVD production				This is the DVD FAQ in print. If you've ever wished you had a copy of the FAQ to read on the bus, at breakfast, or in the bathroom, your wish has been granted.

More Stuff From Jim Taylor

I keep a separate list of my presentations, publications, and other productions. Here are a few selections:

• DVD 101 and Then Some - Article from my appearance on Leo Laporte's Call For Help TV show.
• Top DVD Myths.

Stuff From Other Jim Taylors

• The music of James Taylor. He has his own FAQ.
• The official site of Jim Taylor, Football Hall of Famer.
• JimTaylor.com. The funny one.

Related Stuff

If you're interested in learning more about digital audio/video and related technologies, I recommend the following books:

• DVD Authoring and Production, by Ralph LaBarge. Takes up where DVD Demystified leaves off, explaining the ins and outs of producing, distributing, and selling DVDs.
• A Technical Introduction to Digital Video, by Charles Poynton. Very technical, but excellent and authoritative.
• Digital Video and HDTV: Algorithms and Interfaces, by Charles Poynton. Supersedes A Technical Introduction to Digital Video.
• Video Demystified, 3rd ed, by Keith Jack. A wealth of technical details on video and MPEG. (The title is similar, but there's no connection to DVD Demystified.)
• Principles of Digital Audio, 4th ed, by Ken Pohlmann. The top technical introduction to CD and digital audio.
• The Art of Digital Audio, 3rd ed, by John Watkinson.
• The Art of Digital Video, 3rd ed, by John Watkinson.
• MPEG-2, by John Watkinson. A good overview of digital audio, digital video, and MPEG-2.
• Digital Video: An Introduction to MPEG-2 by Barry G. Haskell and Arun N. Netravali. An understandable technical introduction to MPEG-2.
• CD-R/DVD Disc Recording Demystified, by Lee Purcell. A guide to burning CDs and DVDs.