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Related Links:
- Blu-ray discs
- DVD Duplication and Replication
- DVD Subtitles vs. Video Subtitles
What is DVD Authoring?
DVD Authoring is the process of creating a DVD Video. A DVD video is typically what you rent from Netflix or Blockbuster: it generally contains a combination of menus (with buttons) and videos, and plays on so called "table top" DVD players (stand alone or hooked to a TV) or on DVD players inside computers. Everything in the DVD authoring process follows the DVD specification: the authoring software is DVD compliant, the disc itself is too, as well as the burner, and most of all, all the assets used to author the DVD (videos, audio streams, subtitles streams, graphics, menus, etc.) are all prepared in DVD compliant formats/codes/sizes.
So... what else is there besides a DVD Video?
Now that's a very good question! There are two other types of DVDs: DVD Audio (barely used), and DVD rom, aka data DVD. The data DVD is the equivalent of a CD ROM: it just uses the disk as a storage medium for any type of files, and it contains around 4.7GB of data for a single layer, single sided DVD (aka DVD9). We'll typically send you a data DVD if downloading the files by ftp takes too long, or just if you ask for it!
Multilingual DVDs for corporate communications
One of the several breakthrough features that has made the DVD so successful is the possibility to include several languages on one disc, as separate audio tracks or subtitle tracks, without having to create a new video for each language, and therefore barely increasing the amount of space needed on the disc for additional languages. While this has allowed the major Hollywood studios to distribute their content worldwide without exponential production and distribution costs, it has also been very attractive for corporations that need to communicate internationally, whether with clients or their subsidiaries, as well as small businesses that are offering their services to a global audience. Training DVDs, marketing DVDs, DVDs for tradeshow kiosks...the possiblities are endless.
Should you distribute on DVD or stream through the Web?
It is argued that web distribution is already replacing the DVD. This is only partially true, and the DVD stays the number one choice in many different circumstances - from trade shows where you want to give out a physical asset to your prospects, to training in remote locations where internet access is unreliable or not available at all. In some cases we even recommend CD authoring over to DVD, for example if the training is taking place at remote locations where every PC might not be equpiped with a DVD. Also, keep in mind that autoplay CDs are indifferent to PAL and NTSC.
Why JBI Studios for your DVD authoring?
Experience: We've seen it all...while the entire process of DVD authoring follows the DVD specification, any DVD editor knows that the specification is far from perfect and compatibility issues between DVD compliant assets and players are endless. Experience, trial, and yes, error... are all necessary to master the art of DVD authoring. By going with JBI Studios, you save yourself the learning curve.
Multilingual Specialization: Over 95% of the DVDs we author here are in several languages, so we know the ins and outs of producing multiple audio streams, the sync issues you could have when converting to different frame rates for different markets, the key settings so that your DVD works well with the buttons and with the remote... as well as the ins and outs of producing multiple subtitles streams: how to get the best antialiasing on your text, adjusting the time codes when going from PAL to NTSC and back, and many more... all learned the hard way.
PAL/NTSC support: Being specialized in multilingual DVDs for international markets, PAL/NTSC conversions are part our daily routine. We use state of the art hardware for these standard conversions. When producing video for PAL and NTSC DVD delivery, we shoot at 24 fps for easy adaptation to both standards. If you need input on whether you should NTSC, PAL, or both, for your DVD, contact a JBI DVD expert today!
Blu-ray ready: Although our DVD authoring software of choice is DVD Studio Pro, we use Adobe Encore DVD for your Blu-ray needs, and take full advantage of the recent integration of Flash technology into Encore DVD. Note that we shoot our own videos in Blu-ray ready, H264 based, AVCHD codec.
In-house duplication services: Why have 4 different vendors working on your one project? Save yourself time with our full in-house duplication services, and let the last day of authoring become the first day of duplication!
For inquiries about our multilingual DVD authoring services call us now at (818) 592 0056 or email info@jbistudios.com.
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