The answers to everything duplication blog

The safest way to send CD audio or CD-Rom content electronically is saving it as a disc image. A disc image is a copy of a CD all wrapped in one file. Instead of sending the individual songs or tracks all you’ll be sending is one file. Once the image file is created, it is best to zip it using Winzip or Stuffit before it is transferred electronically to a FTP.

Here’s the step by step on how to do that in Toast (the version we have in this example is Toast 7)

1. First burn a CD and verify the contents are correct.

2. If all is correct insert the CD into the CD-Rom, open Toast

3. Click on Copy tab, Click on File menu and select Save as Disc Image

4. For audio CDs the file extension will be .sd2f, data content CD file extension will be .toast

5. Zip the file using Stuffit or other utility tools for upload

If you got a DVD and need to make some copies to send over to some clients over in the UK, here are some of the things to consider:

- Decide whether or not to make a PAL DVD master. Consider this: the majority of PAL players will play NTSC discs, you will probably be able to get by without a PAL master if the quantities you are distributing is small. However, if you are planning a considerable amount of copies distributing to overseas, creating a PAL master will give you a highest possible compatibility.

- Make sure the DVD is region free or in the region that you are distributing to. Region codes is a way that studios control releases in different regions. In the US we are region 1, therefore, if the DVD is set at region 1, it cannot be played in Asia, or Europe. If you are not sure, ask for a region-free master, which means it will play anywhere in the world.

Here’s the burning question, how do you ensure the disc you made will not skip or freeze on playback? While there are no guarantees that a duplicated DVD-R will play on EVERY DVD player, here are a few pointers to ensure the highest percentage of compatibility:

1. Keep maximum bit rate under 7. Some older DVD players have troubles playing back DVDs with bit rates that are too high (>8). The average of 6 to 7 is optimal.

2. Do not use uncompressed audio files. Use compression format such as Dolby Digital Audio (AC3).

3. Burn your master at the lowest speed possible. Some DVD authoring program such as DVD Studio Pro does not allow lowering burn speeds. In that case build your project to a video TS folder, and burn it with Toast. The latest version of Toast 6 allows burning of video TS folder to DVD.

4. Use high quality DVD-R media. Taiyo Yuden, Ritek, Mitsui etc. Keep it well protected.

5. Do not use paper labels. If they are not applied properly it causes unbalance while spinning in the DVD player. The heat that is generated from playback might also melt the label, causing problem in the DVD player as well.

Testing - most important and final step
All and all, if you have followed the above steps to create a master DVD, the most important step is to watch it, from start to finish. You will not believe how many clients of mine have missed this step. Do not depend on your replicator or duplicator to do the quality checking for you. After all, you are the creator of the project and no one knows the details better than you. The checks that are performed before duplicating or replicating is for unreadable sectors, incomplete data and physical damage of the disc. It has nothing to do with the quality of the video, audio levels and menu navigation. That is an important concept to keep in mind.

It might be trivial to write about this. However a master that is poorly prepared and kept is indeed a waste of time and effort! So, we have to at least talk about it once.

How to burn the master?

Use a high quality media. A reputable brand DVD goes a long way. Maxell, TDK, Ritek, Taiyo Yuden and Mitsui, to name a few, are trusted brands that we recommend.
Handle your media carefully, even blank ones. The disc has to be lint, fingerprint free before recorded on.

When burning the master it is best to keep it at low speeds. Even if you are capable of burning 8x, keeping it slow on the master will ensure data accuracy.

Forms of master

There are 2 forms of acceptable master, DVD-R and DLT (Digital Linear Tape). Back in the days DLT was the only acceptable format of master. Nowadays most replicators will take DVD-R as well. There are pros and cons to both formats. DLT tapes are more durable, reliable and therefore considered a low-risk format.
DVD-R in general is more fragile, easy to scratch and not capable of storing CSS, region code, Macrovision and other copy protection data. A common problem with DVD-R is the existence of unreadable sectors. They can be caused by bad media, burner problems and mishandling. DVD-R is increasingly popular because it is widely available, cheaper and can be tested on DVD players.

Testing? What testing?

The DVD has been testing in simulation mode, and a master has been carefully burned. The replicator will do the rest right? Well, before you send it off, it is crucial that you do final testing on the master. Play it on your home/office DVD player, from start to finish. Try all menus and buttons. Make sure navigation, video and sound are what you expect. Play it on your computer DVD player as well if you have one. Replicators do not assume any responsibility if the master sent has defects that are unrelated to mastering and replication process.
If you are unsure how your master will turn out as replicated, ask for a check disc from the replicator. Check discs are usually free. The extra couple of days it takes to create the check disc will give you peace of mind and reduce the risk of spending thousands of dollars on a faulty master.

Sending the master

Finally you are near the end of the tunnel, the master has been carefully created and tested. Make sure when it is sent out, it is securely protected. Use a paper sleeve, jewel case or amaray box to hold the DVD. A physically damaged or scratched DVD can cause unreadable sectors and you will end up sending in duplicate masters.
If there is more than one master, store them in separate boxes. NEVER send your only copy of the master! Always save a copy for yourself. If the master disc does get damaged during transit, you will not be left with re-creating the master all over again!

How much can you fit on a DVD?
DVD video quality is measured in terms of kbit/s. Since there is a finite number of bits you can store on a DVD, if the video is longer, you cannot store as many bits per second. In plain English, when creating DVD, keep in mind that for a DVD-5 will fit up to 90 minutes of DVD quality video. If you have more than 90 minutes of footage, consider doing a double DVD-5, one DVD-9 or editing down to 90 minutes. Otherwise you will be sacrificing the video quality.
To determine the optimal bit rate for the video, try the bit rate calculator at www.videohelp.com/calc.htm.

Bit Rates: is higher the better?
Let’s say your video is only 15 minutes long, and you are thinking about encoding it at the maximum bit rate. Should you do it? The answer is NO. The maximum bit rate is not necessarily better. We suggest encoding at no higher than 8 megabits per second. Certain DVD players might not be able to handle videos that are encoded with too high of a bit rate. So higher is certainly not better.

Can encoding improve quality?
You want to make a collage of video clips on DVD from VHS tapes that were created from years ago, now you are onto encoding. Would the encoding improve the quality of the video? NO. Encoding is simply the process to convert the video to digital format. It does not improve the quality. So the fading and flickers that exist on the tapes will still be there on the DVD. The same goes for other formats.