Preparation Of Reliable DVD's.

[Michael Slowe.]

I am now quite satisfied that I can prepare DVD's that will play on any player
known to man. I am using an encoder trade named BitVice which is made by
a company called Innobits. BitVice is amazingly flexable but I stick to
the formula of encoding at a variable bit rate (VBR) at an average rate arond
7.25 (depending on the running time of the production) and at parameters
of highest of 8.5 and a low of 5.5. I use the double pass setting which means
that a 15 minute film might take four hours to encode. Mine take longer
because the system is downscaling HD to preapare an SD DVD. The audio is
compressed by Compressor to an .ac3 file and the resultant video and audio
files are then built and formatted in Apple's DVD Studio Pro (version 4).
The burning is done in yet another application, Titanium Toast, which is
also used to make additional copies. I use the slowest possible burn speed
(2x) as this is important. All this gives a very high quality result which
(so far!) is rock steady no matter how I try and disturb the player. Speeds
of 2x, 4x, and 8x which used to drive my Denon player mad work perfectly
as does backwards, forwards and inside out. I don't complicate matters with
menus, most people and Festivals just want to play the film. Following Tom
Hardwick's advice I use blank Verbatim Photo Printable DVD-R 16x discs.

I go into great detail because we have all discussed the problems that have
arrison with DVD's but I am sure these occur when proper encoding is not
being done and sub standard discs are being used utilising high burn speeds.
DVD's are going to be (already are?) our method of distribution for the
forseeable future, whether in SD as at present, or HD very soon. This does
not mean that the longevity problem has been solved so I would always archive
to tape at present. Burned DVD's are more at risk to chemical change and
light than the pressed commercial ones and there are fears in this respect.
Having said all this sod's law dictates that the first festival that tries
to play one of my discs will have problems but I would be surprised.

[Peter]

"Michael Slowe." <forums@theiac.org.uk> wrote:

I am now quite satisfied that I can prepare DVD's that will play on any
player
known to man. I am using an encoder trade named BitVice which is made by
a company called Innobits. BitVice is amazingly flexable but I stick to
the formula of encoding at a variable bit rate (VBR) at an average rate
arond
7.25 (depending on the running time of the production) and at parameters
of highest of 8.5 and a low of 5.5. I use the double pass setting which
means
that a 15 minute film might take four hours to encode. Mine take longer
because the system is downscaling HD to preapare an SD DVD. The audio is
compressed by Compressor to an .ac3 file and the resultant video and audio
files are then built and formatted in Apple's DVD Studio Pro (version 4).
The burning is done in yet another application, Titanium Toast, which is
also used to make additional copies. I use the slowest possible burn speed
(2x) as this is important. All this gives a very high quality result which
(so far!) is rock steady no matter how I try and disturb the player. Speeds
of 2x, 4x, and 8x which used to drive my Denon player mad work perfectly
as does backwards, forwards and inside out. I don't complicate matters with
menus, most people and Festivals just want to play the film. Following
Tom
Hardwick's advice I use blank Verbatim Photo Printable DVD-R 16x discs.

I go into great detail because we have all discussed the problems that have
arrison with DVD's but I am sure these occur when proper encoding is not
being done and sub standard discs are being used utilising high burn speeds.
DVD's are going to be (already are?) our method of distribution for the
forseeable future, whether in SD as at present, or HD very soon. This does
not mean that the longevity problem has been solved so I would always archive
to tape at present. Burned DVD's are more at risk to chemical change and
light than the pressed commercial ones and there are fears in this respect.
Having said all this sod's law dictates that the first festival that tries
to play one of my discs will have problems but I would be surprised.

Very interesting and helpful Michael. I know you take a huge amount of trouble

making your films, right down to the burning of the DVD. Your system is obviously

very comlicated, as you explained when I saw you last.

I am paranoid about my files of expensively recorded music, and how to back
them up.
When I've spent £3,000 on making a commercial CD I don't want to lose the
files before
the CD hits the public, as it were. I don't trust backup CD's or DVD's -
so I also keep
the material on two seperate external hard drives. At least my material is
less than 100 GB
whereas I know yours is many times greater than that.

Best wishes

Peter