Q: Will DVD replace VCRs?
A: In one word...yes. DVD player sales exceeded
VCR sales in 2001. DVD recorders will hasten the death
of VCRs once the price difference is small enough. DVDs
have many advantages over tapes, such as no rewinding,
quick access to any part of a recording, and
fundamentally lower technology cost for hardware and
disc production. Some projections show DVD recorder
sales passing VCR sales in 2005. By 2010 VHS may be as
dead as vinyl records were in 2000.
|
Q: What video
tape formats can you convert to DVD?
A: We are able to transfer your movies from the
following formats: VHS, VHS-C, Hi8 / 8mm & MiniDV in
the NTSC video format. Additionally, we
accept all digital video files (MPEG, QuickTime, AVI,
WMV) for example, and DVDs of all types, as well as digital
pictures.
|
Q: What are the
features of DVD-Video?
A: A single-layer disc can hold up to 2 hours of
high-quality digital video, a dual-layer disc can hold
about 4 hours of high-quality video. Support for
widescreen movies on standard or widescreen TVs (4:3 and
16:9 aspect ratios). On-screen menus and simple
interactive features. Instant rewind and fast forward.
Instant search to title, chapter. Durable (no wear from
playing, only from physical damage). Not susceptible to
magnetic fields. Resistant to heat. Compact size (easy
to handle, store, and ship; players can be portable;
replication is cheaper than tapes or laserdiscs).
|
Q: Why is there a limit
of 2 hours per disc?
A: While it is possible to fit more than 2 hours
of video on a DVD, we do not produce such discs because
of quality degradation. In order to fit more data on a
DVD more compression is required. MPEG2 compression used
in DVDs is lossy: the more you compress, the lower
quality you get.
|
Q: I am worried about
the quality of the output movie. Does conversion from
VHS to DVD degrade the quality?
A: Just the opposite! The quality of output movie
is usually slightly higher, but you should not expect a
dramatic improvement. We do not perform any additional
movie cleaning but digital quantization itself brings
some noise filtering. Of course the higher original
quality, the better final result. When the source movie
is digital, there is no analog to digital conversion and
the result is excellent.
|
Q: Can recorded DVDs be
played in my DVD player?
A: Most DVD players can play recorded DVD. We
estimate that about 95% of players available on the
market are DVD-R compatible. Please check the
specifications of your DVD player before placing an
order. We use the best discs available on the
market. They are very reliable and playable in the
widest range of DVD players. We do not use cheaper,
generic discs because they are unreliable.
|
Q: Do
you view your customers home movies?
A: Your videos are private and we respect your
privacy. We don't view your videos, except for editing,
if needed. And we do spot check the final DVD for
quality assurance purposes.
|
Q:
Can you make a DVD of a VHS video movie I bought at a
store?
A: We cannot transfer (convert, copy, record) any
copyrighted material including commercial movies,
concerts, sport events, TV shows, etc. unless you
procure us with a written permission from the copyright
owner. While it is true that according to "fair
use" regulations you are entitled to make yourself
a backup copy on another medium (DVD for example), we,
as a third party charging money for our services, cannot
legally do it for you.
|
Q: Do
you keep a any copy of your customers video?
A: After successfully transferring, video data is
erased and we don't keep any video copies of our
customers. Only upon special request and for an
additional charge will we keep a copy of your video,
should you need future duplicates.
|
Q:
How should I clean and care for DVDs?
A: Since DVDs are read by a laser, they are
resistant to fingerprints, dust, smudges, and scratches.
However, surface contaminants and scratches can cause
data errors. On a video player, the effect of data
errors ranges from minor video artifacts to frame
skipping to complete un-playability. So it's a good idea
to take care of your discs. In general treat them the
same way as you would a CD.
Your player can't be harmed by a scratched or dirty disc
unless globs of nasty substances on it actually hit the
lens. Still, it's best to keep your discs clean, which
will also keep the inside of your player clean. Don't
attempt to play a cracked disc, as it could shatter and
damage the player. It doesn't hurt to leave the disc in
the player, even if it's paused and still spinning, but
leaving it running unattended for days on end might not
be a good idea.
In general, there's no need to clean the lens on your
player, since the air moved by the rotating disc keeps
it clean. However, if you use a lens cleaning disc in
your CD player, you may want to do the same with your
DVD player. It's advisable to use a cleaning disc
specifically designed for DVD players, because there are
minor differences in lens positioning between DVD and CD
players.
Periodic alignment of the pickup head is not necessary.
Sometimes the laser can drift out of alignment
though, especially after rough handling of the
player, but this is not a regular maintenance item.
|
Q:
How should I care for and handle a DVD?
A: Handle only at the hub or outer edge. Don't
touch the shiny surface with your popcorn-greasy
fingers. Store in a protective case when not in use.
Don't bend the disc when taking it out of the case, and
be careful not to scratch the
disc when placing it in the case or in the player tray.
Make certain the disc is properly seated in the player
tray before you close it.
Keep discs away from radiators, heaters, hot equipment
surfaces, direct sunlight (near a window or in a car
during hot
weather), pets, small children, and other destructive
forces. The DVD specification recommends that discs be
stored at a
temperature between -20 to 50 °C (-4 to 122 °F) with
less than 15 °C (27 °F) variation per hour, at
relative humidity of 5 to 90 percent. Artificial light
and indirect sunlight have no effect on replicated DVDs
since they are made of polycarbonate, polymer adhesives,
and metal (usually aluminum or gold), none of which are
significantly affected by exposure to light. Exposure to
bright sunlight may affect recordable DVDs, specifically
write-once DVDs (DVD-R and DVD+R) that use
light-sensitive dyes. Magnetic fields have no effect on
DVDs, so it's ok to leave them sitting on your speakers.
|
| Q: Is
it ok to put labels on DVDs?
A: It depends on
the label. If a label or adhesive strip is heavy enough
it can unbalance the disc and cause read errors or slow
down the disc speed. As DVD-ROM drives get faster and
faster, an unbalanced disc becomes more critical.
Pressure-sensitive adhesives break down over time, or
may be weak to begin with, so it's possible for a label
to come loose while the disc is spinning and damage the
player or drive. There are full-size round labels
designed to go on recordable CDs and DVDs, but they have
been known to cause problems, especially if not applied
smoothly and straight. A better (but more expensive)
solution is to use the lightScribe®
laser-etching technology, which is what we offer. If you
do use adhesive paper "donut" labels, it's
best to get one of the devices that helps you center the
label on the disc.
Writing with a marker in
the clear (not reflective) area at the hub is better
than using a sticker, although there's not much room to
write. It's best to write inside a 44-mm diameter, since
writing elsewhere with certain kinds of inks could
possibly eat away the protective coating and damage the
data layer underneath. |
|
|
|
|
