DVD Authoring

For any video production job that we work on, we can output the final cut on DVD. There are several options that we can provide:

1) Basic "Video-only" DVD - This is the simplest form of DVD, with just one movie and no menus.  As soon as you put the disc in, it plays just like a VHS tape.  And just like a VHS, you have to fast forward or rewind to get to the scene you want.

2) Simple menu - The next step up is a DVD with one main menu, containing several selections that may involve playing the main movie, or one of several special features.

3) Full menus - Similar to a professional DVD movie you would buy or rent from the video store, this option gives you overtures, multiple nested menus, with music and motion, scene selection, and special features.

4) Custom DVD - For more professional, complex projects, we have the capability to create menus from scratch using custom artwork, as well as supporting multiple languages, subtitles, and so forth.


Formats

In addition, there are several different formats that we can create:

1) DVD-Video: For large runs (1000 or more copies), this is the recommended format for DVD. This is the identical format you get when you rent a movie at Blockbuster, or buy a commercial DVD disc. It will be guaranteed to play on any DVD player.

2) DVD-R: The "official" consumer level recordable format. Good for one-offs or small runs, it will play on most, but not all, DVD players. In general, the newest model players (those that have come out in the last couple of years) will play DVD-Rs, and many of the early model DVD players can play them as well. 

3) DVD+R: An alternative to DVD-R. Although it is not officially endorsed by the "DVD Forum" (the organization that sets the standards for DVDs), many companies are backing DVD+R as a better format.  It does seem to mimic the characteristics of a physical DVD-Video disk a bit better, so in general DVD+R will play on most set top players.

Although there is considerable debate over which format enjoys the highest compatiblity, we have found that DVD-R will play on virtually every computer DVD-ROM drive, where sometimes DVD+R will not.  However, DVD+R seems to playback on more set-top DVD players.  

As of late, we have been distributing the DVD+R format to customers, and only producing DVD-R when there is a compatibility issue - and there rarely is.


Packaging

Each disk that we create is delivered with professional labeling, in a DVD-Movie case with a full-color insert.  For custom DVD-Video dics with large runs (over 1000), we will take care of all print work (4-color layout, producing films, silk-screening the discs and printing the inserts).  For one-offs, we will print up the artwork using high quality ink-jet printed labels and inserts.  Either way, you will end up with a product you can be proud of.