Comments

radcamdvd wrote on 5/29/2003, 4:45 PM
There is a difference between duplication and replication. Replicated discs are made from glass masters which are pressed onto the molten substrate. This is how theatrical movie DVD's are made. With a run of 1,000 you may be better served with replication as the cost will be under $2 per disc. You can have your graphics silk-screened onto the disc surface for a little bit more.

Duplication will cost considerably more. First, the media itself will be more than $2. You can't afford to use any media from companies with a spotty history for playback compatibility. Stick with the Japanese media for compatibility with newer and older DVD players. Next, there will be the cost of labor for the duplication. If you select on-disc printing, there will be a cost associated with that. Finally, you need a package label and final assembly. You can likely put the packages together yourself over a few days, or pay to have that done as well.

Look on the web and you'll find several replication houses from which to choose. Remember, replicated discs are the type you're used to buying in the store or renting from Blockbuster. Duplicated discs have a purple bottom and require some effort to mimic replicated media.
richard-courtney wrote on 5/29/2003, 4:48 PM
There are several that can make a glass master. (you find they become
cost effective at 500 or more)

When looking for a company consider the following:

1. Full service - they cut the DVD, silk screen the disc, print "trap sheet" case insert,
optional print an folder sheet (chapter list), shrink wrap,
optional place the antitheft strip, print a mailer cardboard box.
2. What media - DLT, DVD-R Authoring, hard drive
3. Copyright and trademark releases - you supply the contract paperwork
for trademarks (such as Dolby Digital, DVD Video) and
copyright royalties (such as music ASCAP & BMI).
4. Artwork - don't laugh they have experience in making eye
catching displays and artwork.
Spike_ wrote on 5/29/2003, 5:02 PM
Thanks guys,

Sounds like I need to make sure it is "replicated" then.

Also, will this make it so I know it will work in all players? and what about PAL I need to have some in PAL format as well. My guess is that I need to burn a PAL one for that, right?



I have been using DVD+R, will that work for what I give the replication company?



richard-courtney wrote on 5/29/2003, 5:10 PM
Most companies will say SORRY. They don't take +R and it must be under the
3.9 GB limit.

DLT is the prefered method.
DVD-R for Authoring (using a Pioneer burner) is second.
Recently some will take info on a removable hard drive.
Spike_ wrote on 5/29/2003, 5:33 PM
I have the HP 200i burner....


What to do....

radcamdvd wrote on 5/30/2003, 9:10 AM
There are also replication houses that will accept an upload of your completed project as an ISO file, you'll just have to check around. The DLT method has historically been the preferred method because DVD-R for General can not write to the area of the disc that contains the CSS and RPC coding information. If you title is not scrambled with CSS or region coded (both are unlikely unless your project was authored with Scenarist Pro) you should be fine with a DVD-R pre-master. A lot of replication houses don't like to use DVD-R for mastering because of potential imperfections in the DVD-R media that would be replicated on every copy. DVD-R for Authoring as mentioned is the second choice, but because of improvements in replication technology, this method is rapidly becoming obsolete. DVD-R for A can write to the CSS and RPC areas of the disc, but the drive (Pioneer 201) that does this is priced at over $4K.

Good luck.
SonyEPM wrote on 5/30/2003, 9:38 AM
The final decision on which duplication house to use will of course need to be yours, but
Vaughn (http://www.alliedvaughn.com/) is big, reputable and verified DVDA's output prior to the release of DVDA, so there shouldn't be any tech issues. You can send them a DVD-r, 1394 drive, dlt, or ftp the project.
AZEdit wrote on 6/7/2003, 10:18 PM
Spike,
If you have not found a replicator yet- I can have your DVD+R replicated at a cost of $1.36 each and that includes 5- color silkscreen label (4 color over a white flood coat)
Mike
AZEdit wrote on 6/7/2003, 10:22 PM
Just read your PAL requirement...what we have found:
99% of NTSC DVD's will play in PAL locations. There are no real "PAL" DVD's- there are NTSC DVD's with built in converters. We have tested this theory in England with one of our clients and have been fine with DVD NTSC DVD's so far....another 2 cents!
MFoley wrote on 6/8/2003, 4:59 AM
Mike,
Just for future reference, what is the minimum order at the cost you quoted Spike? You may respond offline to:
mark@foleyproductions.net

Thanks!
Mark
Spike_ wrote on 6/9/2003, 3:23 PM
built in converters?

If this is true, it could save us a lot of cost.

One run will be half the cost of two..


So how can a prove this, the boss will not go for it without some type of backing...

And is this true for the whole world?

Only one type of DVD?
AZEdit wrote on 6/9/2003, 3:49 PM
Almost all DVD players sold in PAL countries play both kinds of discs. These multi-standard players partially convert NTSC to a 60-Hz PAL (4.43 NTSC) signal. The player uses the PAL 4.43-MHz color subcarrier encoding format but keeps the 525/60 NTSC scanning rate. Most modern PAL TVs can handle this "pseudo-PAL" signal. A few multi-standard PAL players output true 3.58 NTSC from NTSC discs, which requires an NTSC TV or a multi-standard TV. Some players have a switch to choose 60-Hz PAL or true NTSC output when playing NTSC discs.
Bottom Line: NTSC discs (with Dolby Digital audio) play on over 95% of DVD systems worldwide. PAL discs play on very few players outside of PAL countries
AZEdit wrote on 6/9/2003, 3:50 PM
Do a test with the DVD you produce at your company...make a demo version DVD for your PAL client to test...should work and your boss can have first hand proof of the test!
Spike_ wrote on 6/9/2003, 4:03 PM
This is great news!


I am going to send a NTSC one off to England for testing.



Thanks for your help with this issue.



If this works, it will make my day....



Spike_ wrote on 6/9/2003, 4:36 PM
I just heard it from enough people now that I know it will work just fine in NTSC.

Thanks for all your help on this.

You guys are the best!!!

Spike

Spike_ wrote on 6/20/2003, 5:19 PM
For the record, Allied Vaughn (http://www.alliedvaughn.com) is replicating our DVD's

They took my DVD+R and will work with it. Also the price was good.

$1.06 each for 1500 run...

They are easy to work with and very helpful

I will let you all know how it turns out...

Spike

puttes wrote on 6/23/2003, 3:03 AM
I use to buy DVDs in stores anywhere when in the US and then go home to England to play it there. Thats never been a problem.
flashlight wrote on 7/28/2003, 1:54 PM
AZEdit,

I have a video that I have done in 12 different languages. Some will be going to PAL countries and some will be going to NTSC countries. Is the NTSC/PAL coding on the disc, or is it the mpeg 2 stream? If I have an english version of the video and burn it as Chapter 1 on the disc and encode it as NTSC, and also put a German Version on the disc and encode it as PAL, will that work? Can you have different formats on one disc, or is the whole disc NTSC?

Flash
thrillcat wrote on 7/28/2003, 4:43 PM
Another question for Spike (thanks flashlight for bringing this thread to the top so I didn't have to search for it :) )

I'm working on a project that will be a 2 DVD set in one box. How much for large quantities (1000+ on each run) of this, and this is replication, right, not DVD-R or +R?

thrillcat wrote on 7/28/2003, 4:44 PM
oops..another question for AZedit...sorry.