DVD Technical Information Data Sheets:

• Introduction
• Input Formats Accepted
• Copy protection
• Creating DVD Titles
• Pre-mastering and testing
• Manufacturing DVDs
• Silk screening Disc Art

DVD Introduction

In the 1980s, CD Audio was a great boost for the music industry. The nineties saw the explosion of CD-ROM. Today, thanks to the DVD's exceptional capacity, the potential is simply enormous. The DVD sits poised to revolutionize the world of video, audio, multimedia and data storage. It is the next logical step in a data-hungry world. DVD offers new outlooks, with fantastic features and sales potential.

With full ISO9002-backed production capabilities, CDman can handle any DVD job you have. All aspects of DVD mastering and production stamping is available to you, right now.

Please call your CDman DVD sales representative for the latest groundbreaking news and pricing at 1-800-557-3347.

A great resource for all things DVD can be found on Jim Taylor's web site DVD Demystified

Input Formats Accepted:

CDman will accept your DVD program in following format:

• DLT III, DLT III XT and DLT IV.
• DVD -R or +R General Grade. (for all DVD-5 masters)
• DVD-R or +R Authoring Grade. (for all DVD-5 masters)
• DVD+R DL (DVD 9 plus R dual layer for DVD-9 masters)
• Replicated DVD disc without CSS encryption.

DVD-RAM is generally not suitable for mastering because, unless the data on the disc has been fully erased, or it is a new disc, the files may not be contiguous.

Compatible input media

Data Format:

We accept DDP 2.0 or CMF 1.0 format.
DLT tapes and removable hard drives must contain the Image file, DDP file (2.0 or CMF 1.0 (also called DDP 2.1) and Control.dat file.\

• DLT Tape players:
  
  We accept the DLT tapes, which have been recorded on Quantum DLT 2000, 2000 XT, 4000, 7000 and 8000. The data must be recorded in 10/15 MB uncompressed format.
  As default tape players are set to record the data in compressed mode. The compression mode has to be over written.
  
  
• Compatible tape players
  

  Quantum Tape player Format	.
  DLT 2000	10/15 uncompressed
  DLT 2000 XT	10/15 uncompressed
  DLT 4000 XT	10/15 uncompressed
  DLT 7000 XT	10/15 uncompressed
  DLT 8000 XT	10/15 uncompressed
  DLT-1 not accepted at this time	.
  SDLT 220 not accepted at this time	.

  
  Note:
  Currently we do not accept DLT tapes, which have been recorded on Quantum DLT-1 and SDLT 220 tape players.

MEDIA	TAPE TYPE DENSITY	OTHER INFORMATION
DLT	TYPE 3 (uncompressed) TYPE 4 (uncompressed)	Must contain pre-mastered image with DDP 2.0 control files
DVD -/+R	DVD -/+ R (minus or plus) for DVD 5 masters DVD+R (plus R) for DVD 9 masters	The DVD-Rs should be written in Disc At Once Mode. For Discs which need CSS Encryption and/or Macrovision, a DLT is required.

Data must be identified as DVD-5, DVD-9 or DVD-10.
In case of DVD-9 and DVD-10, data must be further identified as layer 0 or layer 1.
 

• DLT must be recorded with ANSI labeling.
• Do not write DLTs in compressed mode.
• Take care not to drop DLTs - this can cause internal damage and render the tape unreadable.
• DVD-R (minus R) should only be used in DVD-5 capacity mode

CDman offers two kinds of copy protection:

Method 1: To prevent copies only from DVD to VHS, we suggest Macrovision (analog copy protection).

With Macrovision copy protection solutions you deal with Macrovision directly (call their rep in your area) and your master would come to us from the authoring house (or yourself) already Macrovision ready. The details can be obtained from Macrovision. Our role is just to report to Macrovision how many were made, that's it.

Method 2: CSS encryption is digital and prevents all digital copies (hard disc, etc.). CSS Encryption works in the following way:

CSS encryption encodes the disc which would in turn require "keys" to unlock the digital data. The disc will play normally, but digital "dupes" would not be possible.

Note: this kind of copy protection has already been cracked on the internet. It does prevent casual users from copying but not the
pro's. You might check with Macrovision for the latest updates in this rapidly evolving subject.

Side note: "CPPM" is the new kind of copy protection the industry is looking at (for DVD-audio especially) and is still in the works.

DVD is also an excellent way to distribute large data files such as multi-language presentations. DVD can be menu-driven and can feature interaction with Internet connectivity. Now that prices are falling, get a price quote through this on-line price quote wizard or call us at 1-800-557-3347. You'll get a reply as soon as you submit the form.

• CSS ENCRYPTION NOTES

  When submitting CSS encrypted masters, please indicate which of the following applies:

  A) The encryption keys are present on the DLT.
  B) The encryption keys are present on a customer-supplied floppy disc.
  C) CDman is to provide the encryption keys.

  If CDman is to provide the encryption keys, please submit the following information:

  Total number of VTS (Video Title Sets)
  Total number of VTS for each DLT (DVD-5 and DVD-10 only)
  Total number of VTS for both DLTs combined DVD-9 only

CREATING DVD TITLES

The production process comprises of authoring, pre-mastering and manufacturing. Multimedia titles for DVD can be created using similar tools to those used for CD-ROM titles such as Macromedia Director, Flash, Java etc. Your target audience could be people with DVD installed in their computers which can simply act as data storage devices. Your options are limitless in what you can place on a DVD disc.

Where MPEG-2 video files are to be incorporated, DVD-Video authoring tools will also be required to encode the audio and video, add navigation and create the VOB files. Suggested platform for this process would be Sonic Solution's DVD package, or Apple's DVD Studio Pro or iDVD for simple prsentations.

PRE-MASTERING AND TESTING

The authored files that you create are finalized using software that is designed to format the data using the UDF Bridge file system and according to the DVD specification.

For a hybrid disc, the DVD-Video and/or DVD-Audio files must be contained in the appropriate directories.

This finalizing process will result in a disc image, which should then be written to DLT (Digital Linear Tape) or DVD-/+R (DVD recordable) for archival transport to our Pre-Mastering work station. CDman is able to make final "check discs" for testing purposes (additional charges apply).

MANUFACTURING DVD DISCS

The manufacturing process is similar to that of CD-ROM where as a glass stamper is formed in order to produce a nickel stamper which in turn makes the DVD discs.

The final DVD disc can be a DVD-5, DVD-10 or DVD-9 depending on the data size and whether a double-sided disc is acceptable. DVD-9 and DVD-10 discs will require two DLTs, one for each side/layer

ON DISC PRINTING PROCESS (DISC ART)
 
 

• CDman can reproduce any color from the Pantone Color Formula Guide 1000 as well as the Pantone Metallic Color Guide. We do not print matte colors.
• We strongly suggest that you do not use any fluorescent colors since they rapidly lose their luster.
• Please be aware that slight color deviations may occur between color printed on a white surface and the same color printed on the DVD aluminum colored surface. This is due to aluminum reflecting light (the color might seem darker on the disc than on white paper).

Screen area

Please see our Graphic Design Templates for printable areas.

CDman thrives on offering the best service to our customers. We believe that DVD is set to become the all-embracing optical disc format of the future. In addition to our DVD pre-mastering and disc manufacturing services, we also provide information and advice to our customers where and when they need it.