OT: DVD question

StormMarc wrote on 1/21/2005, 10:50 AM

I have a client that wants to make a DVD instructional video that includes the ability to hit a button at any time during the presentation and have the program back up 10 seconds. Does this sound possible in the DVD format? I've never heard of this type of feature.

Thanks,

Marc

Comments

BillyBoy wrote on 1/21/2005, 11:07 AM

AFAIK that isn't supported.

I suppose you could set a chapter every 10 minutes and have jump points to take you back to such a menu but I think it would end up looking kind of Mickey Mouse based only on time since for sure sometimes the break would be at a odd moment soley based on time.

Something more along the lines of having the end action return to a sub menu page where the end user could jump back or forward is probably a better way.

bStro wrote on 1/21/2005, 11:10 AM

Put your video on a TiVo -- it has an 8-second instant replay. ;-)

Rob

Randy Brown wrote on 1/21/2005, 11:27 AM

May be a dumb quetion but why do they not want to hit rewind?
Randy

StormMarc wrote on 1/21/2005, 11:43 AM

May be a dumb quetion but why do they not want to hit rewind?

I agree but we are talking about clients here :)

10 seconds backs to them seems like it will make it easier for the person watching to quickly review missed comments without getting confused by the rewing controls. I think on CD roms you can do this which is where they got the idea.

Thanks,

Marc

Jsnkc wrote on 1/21/2005, 12:46 PM

The only way within the DVD spec would be to put chapter points every 10 seconds. The minimum amount of space you can have between chapter points is 5 seconds so you should be alright. Doing this shouldn't affect the playback of the video at all, it should still run smoothly.

Coursedesign wrote on 1/21/2005, 12:51 PM

I recently saw an inexpensive Samsung DVD player at Best Buy or some place like that, with "10 second FF" and "10 second REW" buttons.

ScottW wrote on 1/21/2005, 12:55 PM

As long as the movie is less than 16 minutes (so you don't exceed the 99 chapter limit), I think chapters every 10 seconds would work great. Otherwise it needs to get broken up into multiple movies that are chained together - which is certainly do-able.

--Scott

riredale wrote on 1/21/2005, 8:42 PM

If they watch the DVD on a PC, I know that WinDVD can easily do this, and they can set the amount of "backup" from 1 second to 600 seconds. But that's not what you're asking to do.