CD-ROM Developers
Level |
Job Category |
Typical Tasks & Skills |
Software |
Years |
I |
Tester |
(Also known as QA or Quality Control.) Detail oriented; able to identify bugs in scripting or programming, isolate repeatable bugs, and document them accurately. |
Whatever the playback (end-user) software is for the project. |
|
II |
Assistant Production Manager |
Aids Project Manager and/or Creative/Art Director in production tasks. Internal liaison between groups. Able to work independently and with team. Responsible for traffic management. Has basic writing skills. Helps track and execute project map. Can burn preliminary (beta) versions of CD-ROMs. |
Technical: Toast, Photoshop,
DeBabelizer |
1+ |
III |
Producer / Project Manager |
Proven written and verbal communication skills. People-management skills, including hiring and supervision of both staff and freelancers. Able to see big picture while simultaneously being detail oriented; good at prioritizing tasks. Can work with clients. Can create project map. Able to plan production time, assess time cost of revisions, create budgets, and more. Has breadth rather than depth of software knowledge. |
MS
Project, Word, Excel, |
1+ |
IV |
Content Manager |
Responsible for coordinating text, graphics, audio, and video. May also be known as “Editor” at the high end or “Traffic Manager” at the low end. |
As above |
1+ |
V |
Interface Designer | Understands human / computer interaction, perceptual psychology, graphic design, and typography. Good at creating graphic layouts and “elements” (buttons, banners, etc.). Probably knows HTML. | Photoshop |
2+ 4+ 4+ |
VI |
Creative Director or Art Director | Integrates different types of content (script, design, video, audio, etc.) into artistically powerful whole. Grasp of interface-design issues. Understands optimization of different elements for CD-ROM throughput tradeoffs. Many years of design experience. | Pencil
and paper |
6+ |
VII |
Multimedia Programmer | Intermediate: Knows
Lingo (Director), toolbook, authorware, iconauthor, HTML,
Javascript, Visual Basic. Advanced: Can
write code directly in one or more of the following: C, C++,
objective C, Java. Helps prepare preliminary and final (mastering) version of CD-ROMs. Can program CD connectivity to Web. |
Director, Authorware, Codewarrior, other development environments, BBEdit, Nisus, other text editors | 4+ |
VIII |
Audio/Video Engineer | Knowledge of current A/V formats for both Windows and Mac. Can record (capture), digitize, and edit. In-depth knowledge of codecs (compression / decompression methods) and related tradeoffs. Helps prepare preliminary and final (master) versions of CD-ROMs. | Audio: Pro
Tools, Sound Designer, Deckii, Soundedit 16 Video: Premiere, After Effects, Media 100, Avid Media Composer, Movie Cleaner Pro |
3+ |