I think most of us would agree DVD-R is the clear winner in the single layer recordable realm but DVD+R rules in the dual layer world. Dual layer multiplies the storage capacity of a recordable DVD to over 8GB making it unnecessary to span discs single layer DVD+R discs.
Dual layer dvd discs do cost more, almost three times the amount of a single sided DVD recordable disc but in recording a video stream that is over standard length (feature length) it is useful. It's actually two layers: two recording layers with a special laser sensitive dye stacked on top of one another that the laser focuses on (selectively). Some of you may wonder why this can not be done in more layers?.... Very difficult. Not impossible but very difficult to do it economically. Two dye layers appear to be difficult enough considering the quality of dual layer DVDs. Verbatim seems to still rule with FTI and Ritek, CMC pulling up the rear. Then again Verbatim makes some not so good discs but this is looked at as branding to specific low margin markets. Singapore made dual layer plus R blanks really are the cream of the crop.
DVD-R and DVD+R are Write Once Read Many discs, referred to as WORM.
DVD-RW and DVD-RW are rewritable discs that use phase change technology to record and erase data
DVD+R DL (and one flavor in -R) is for dual layer.
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I'm always amused when the discussion comes up about on-demand downloads and how they will replace optical media (CD-R, DVD and Blu-ray Disc) Nothing could be farther from the truth.
First let's get the Hollywood fantasy out into the open: On-demand Downloads for MPEG-2 (DVD) and MPEG-4 (Blu-ray). To understand the technology one must be aware that the MPEG formats are compression methods. Now what does that mean? It means that the data will not fit on the disc in an un-compressed form and so a method was created to squeeze the data in (compressing) by removing repeating frames (this is a simplification of the process). This creates an inferior copy of the un-compressed video but for the most part we can not tell the difference. There are "artifacts" that are created and if you understand how the compression method works you can see them in a DVD. Blu-ray is much more refined and looks far better, stunning in fact.
What does this have to do with on-demand downloads?
The Internet also has compression methods: the one most people are aware of is MP3 or MPEG-1 layer 3.
This is a lossy compression algorithm that creates an inferior copy of a audio file. It essentially clips the highs (and lows) of a audio recording, similar to what radio stations use to conserve power in broadcasting.
That means it sounds bad unless you blew out your eardrums with those little buds.
Now if you have ever downloaded MP3 or listened to streaming audio you would be very much aware of the buffering issue (even with a high speed connection). Now if like me you also like to look at video clips on line you would observe a similar phenomena. Now imagine trying to squeeze 4.3 GB (or 25GB+ for blu-ray)
(instead of a couple of megabytes file). LOL you might never finish downloading that "DVD Movie"
So what does the "on-demand" crowd come up with: Oh let's compress it more so it looks like a VHS (or more like MPEG-1, used for video CDs).
So now you get a very poor copy of a video... Just think what happens to a high def video? There is no point to on-demand downloads unless you are looking at a movie on your cell phone (I'm not going there).
High fidelity and the Internet as we know it today do not mix. Now if everyone started downloading full length movies on a large scale (has not happened to date) the pipeline would slow down to the speed of a very slow turtle. Even now people complain about the draw on resources that U Tube puts on network systems (a 3 minute video).
Now where did this all start?
Apple came up with a plan...
Not that others had tried the same thing....
But Apple was able to bring it all together and package it well. Actually they packaged two things very well...
The iPod
...and iTune, digital download and management system for both the desktop, laptop or iPOD, double barrels...brilliant (I hate Steve ;) )
I remember opening one that had been given to me as a gift. It just broke my heart to break open the packaging (and as all the Macs I have owned had the same Aura around them....). I did mention I hate Steve ;)
OK I had one from John Sculley's rein (I actually liked him and his vision (powerPC all the way!!!) of course contrary to the course that was taken, Steve did not consult with me so he got stuck with the iPodand iTunes I could have saved him from this foolish mistake :D
Now why the sarcasm and all that? Because Steve Jobs was brilliant. He was able to overcome several marketing issues with the related and unrelated elements and sprinkle some magic dust and the darn thing glimmers glossy white with some minimalist graphics on it. I use PC's with MS stuff and Linux now. I have found them more economical...I may have owned more macs that most people out there. I know some of you out there still are holding onto your Apple II and LISA. Of course from that came the Mac (darn Steve again, not listening to me).
I digress.
Convience ruled over High Def.
People sacrificed quality for convenience.
I did mention I own and use my iPod?
So I'm not pointing fingers.
I also happen to own several CD players and recording systems and DVD... have not gone Blu-ray yet. I'm a recordable man. Got to have Blu-ray recordable. It's here but very expensive for poor folk like me. Discs offer an excellent off-line storage method. I can store a bunch of home movies on my hard drive for quick access and watching "on-demand". I have tried streaming it across my network but it looks like it may need gigabyte ethernet to move it fast enough.
There was an attempt to bring forward DVD-Audio (because CD actually is ...how do I say this? "compressed".. Although to most of us it's hard to tell the difference and it adds to the overhead of the track)
At any rate that's all audio discussion. Video and High Definition is something different. Will be choose a better quality image or the convenience of on-demand (if it were possible on a wide scale) with the same or better quality? I believe that people will choose quality over convenience in the video market (there will be some niche video like we see now on the Internet, that certainly will not go away). I say this because unlike audio the trend has been towards bigger and bigger screens even before LCD and Plasma. That being said I think the cable companies with a hard line to the subscribers could pull something off but that's not really the Internet, more the internet or wide area network. I think the Internet video scene will evolve into a Indie oasis. It certainly is on it's way now. I think that is where it rules as a means of marketing music and video with the understanding that it's not the High Def version. Like listening to the radio. You want to collect the inferior quality video or audio or the high definition ...
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Duplicators come in three basic configurations. Tower duplicators, Rack-mount duplicators and automated duplicators.
Tower duplicator
CD, DVD and Blu-ray Tower duplicators hold between 1 and 15 drives in a single enclosure. There are systems that use a "daisy-chain" cable which allows additional towers to be connected and operate off one disc image across 200 machines (the highest tested was 2000 drives). Another method of connecting towers (or rack-mounts) is using a network as the means of connectivity between towers.
Tower CD, DVD and Blu-ray duplicators contain a Power supply, fan(s), recording drives, reader*, hard drive* and a controller. They can also have a USB/Fire-wire connection depending on the configuration.
The Controller is really the brain of the standalone duplicator, be it tower, rack-mount or automated duplicator. The controller has a 2 line LCD screen (or LED indicators) with a keypad for inputting instructions to the controller. The CD, DVD and Blu-ray duplicator controller has built-in memory to store configurations and to buffer the read / write stream. This is not to be confused with a built-in hard drive.
Hard-drives offer two important features: buffering the read/write stream by copying the disc image to hard drive. This eliminates issues with the read/write stream being interrupted by speed differences between the reader and the writer. The second feature is disc images can be saved and labeled using the keypad. This allows for pulling up different disc images and burning them over to endless amounts of discs. No reader required. The catch being the image has to be loaded into the hard drive and then recorded to the disc. This cycle only happens once. After that it burns at the same time or faster demanding on the size of the files.
Some other features include track extraction, this feature allows you to extract tracks and store them on the hard drive, building a music compilation. Most support multiple language support ( Spanish being an important feature in many parts of the world).
Cooling is important for high cycle recording. The more fans the better. The power supply has a fan (or should) but that fan does not really count in overall cooling. It's job is to cool the power supply which creates it's own heat. At at least one additional fan as a minimum for a low volume system (5 drives and less) 4 for high volume (7-11). Drives start to malfunction without excellent cooling.
USB and Fire-Wire connections provide means of using a single CD, DVD or Blu-ray drive to master a disc connected to a PC or Mac. It does not provide a connection to the hard drive. It's of limited use in most applications.
Rack-mount CD, DVD duplicator
Rackmounts are essentially a CD, DVD, tower duplicator turned on it's side with the drives re-oriented. They provide a means of grouping a large number of duplicators together stacked one on top of another. They require special rails (usually not included) and a rack enclosure. There is some variations in racks so the idea is you match your racks rails to your unit and not the other way around.
Besides the standard rack-mount there exists a class of "live" recorders that can record audio and video to a hard drive (or directly) to CD or DVD disc. several are networkable or daisy-chainable.
You pay a premimum for rack-mount enclosures: they are specialized. They become higher when additional drives are added (2U-8U) 9 drives is a big system.
Automated CD, DVD and Blu-ray duplicators and publishers
Standalone CD, DVD and Blu-ray duplicators and publishers (Controller Based): Controller based duplicators are the most simple of the automated duplication systems. Like their tower duplicator brothers they use a special controller (mini computer) that manages the duplication process. Some even incorporate printer systems into the duplicaton process to create a complete duplication-printing system called a "Publisher" One of the most convenient systems is a networkable system like R-Quest. All the advantages of standalone and the features of PC connect. Essentially the automated duplicator appears on the network under it's own IP address like a network printer and you send jobs to it. Cabled or wireless (you would have to set up the network). The faster the better. Of course the system caches the file locally so it's not trying to pull it at the same time as recording.
PC connected (some support Mac): PC connected systems use the PC (or Mac) to control the robotics, recording and printing. PC connect are sort of the poor man's auto duplicator. It's not that they are inexpensive but they rely on the other part of the system that makes or breaks it.
Embedded PC: Embedded systems are true turn-key solutions. They have the software and optimized hardware for the purpose of running the CD, DVD and Blu-ray duplicator and printer. Usually they are networkable. Almost all are running on a Microsoft OS so that adds to the cost of the system. Controller based systems do not have this limitation. Licensing actually costs more then the hardware.
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