DVD reproduction services - any suggestions?

morten

morten

Well-known member
I need to run about 250 ex of a recent project I finished. Dual layer DVD with a nice jacket, thermal printing and a 4 page booklet.

Anyone have any ideas on where I should go to get this done cheaply? I've looked locally (vancouver, BC) but couldn't really find anyone with decent services and good prices (either overpriced or burned disks).

I've heard there are some companies that offer print-on-demand services on the web...

I dunno... any help will help I guess.....


mor10
 
Talk to Envision. He is a member here. He does replication and he is from your neck of the woods I believe.
 
morten said:
I've looked locally (vancouver, BC) but couldn't really find anyone with decent services and good prices (either overpriced or burned disks).
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You only need 250 but don't want burned discs? That will be rather pricey. I have a list of my usual sources, but the price may not be right for quantity that low. Print on demand services are going to be burned discs as well. What is your target price range?

For burned discs definitely talk to Envision... other folks on here can vouch for the quality of his work. I've bought a few DVDs from people that he has produced.
 
The problem with a 250 piece run is you are below the typical minimum for replication. I would suggest that you consider increasing the quantity to a point that you can get a replicator to waive the glass masters. I have run as few as 1k DVD-9s (dual layer, single side) for $1.35 spindled. The problem you might run into is the time of year. Excess capacity tends to disappear late in the summer and usually doesn't return until just after the holiday season.
 
Envision doesn't do replication (unless I'm mistaken); he does duplication. His duplication looks fantastic and absolutely first rate however.

I don't know of anyone who does a replication run below 500, and the cost-per-disc at 500 qty ends up being about twice the cost-per-disc of a 1000 qty, which means you'll shell out the same amount of cash so might as well get the 1000.

I use www.cdtechnical.com.
 
ok guys. you won me over. I had a feeling I would have to go with duplication but I wanted to check....

I'll see if I can find this envision person and take it from there

mor10
 
Thanks Larry for sending me the e-mail about this ... I've sent you a PM, Morten.

Also thanks Tim, Owen, Larry, and Barry for the props. Much appreciated. I can offer replication, but it's no different than any other duplication house, it's outsourced. If any company tells you they actually replicate in house, ask them where they have their multi-million dollar replication labs set-up. :)
 
Hi Morten, I'm not in my normal office right now to e-mail you and would PM you, but this is relevant enough thought it'd be worth posting in the thread as well.

I've been checking with several of my vendors for dual layer DVD's, specifically ones that can handle the heat of the Rimage Everest printer (what we use for our thermal transfer prints), and it is EXPENSIVE!!! No wonder the quotes you've gotten have probably seemed outrageous ... Just on my hard costs alone, I could put out 3-6 discs of standard single layer DVD-R's vs. the cost of just one dual layer DVD (depending on quality of the dual layer disc used/purchased).

So with that, if you're unable to fit all your content onto one single layer disc, I'd suggest for the most cost effective approach for you to instead go with a dual disc package ... besides, the end consumer will 'feel' like they're getting more, as most don't understand the concept of single layer vs. dual, how much content is on the disc, etc.

Also, the average speed of those dual layer discs are running at 2.4x, vs. the ones I run (single layer) are 16x, so the burn/duplication time would be greatly increased as well ... possibly another reason you've been getting the high quotes.

Let me know your thoughts ... I'll PM you as well to draw your attention to this thread.
 
bleah.... I'll do what I can to make it one disc, or as you suggest make a two-disc package... still experimenting with Adobe Encore's compression settings

thanks tho... this makes a lot of sense

mor10
 
Barry_Green said:
Envision doesn't do replication (unless I'm mistaken); he does duplication. His duplication looks fantastic and absolutely first rate however.
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I'll be the noob. What exactly is the difference between the two? Can you get better or more relibable DVDs out of replication?
 
I'll give Envision a call. I guarantee that he will answer your question at 7:19PM Eastern Time / 4:19 on the Westside!
 
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Hey Matt,

Replication is a more professional end result. Instead of 'burning' the discs onto a DVD-R or other format, the discs are 'pressed' from a glass master that's made. You can usually tell the difference by looking at the bottom of the disc ... replicated discs look consistent across the surface of the bottom vs. duplicated you can see where the burn ended, etc.

Replicated are supposed to be 100% compatible with all Region 1 DVD players (North America - or for whatever Region they're mastered/pressed for). Most would say they ARE 100%, but I'll say they're supposed to be because I've personally experienced one of my kids' Veggie Tales DVD's not working on one DVD player, yet it'll work on another.

Anyway, if you're working in mass quanities (typically 1,000 or more units, sometimes as low as 500 depending on the vendor), it's usually more cost effective to go with replication because of the sheer automated process that's involved ... but if you're going with LOW runs, then it's very expensive per unit/disc because of the glass mastering process that's involved and more.

Dupliction, on the other hand, is still very professional depending on the route you choose. If you choose low end packaging, ink jet printed surfaces, etc. ... you'll look like any other person who's printing them from home. But there are many duplication houses that will use higher end equipment and/or packaging, and can put out high class results which will impress the heck out of your clients.

A down side of duplication compared to replication is that for higher number runs it's more expensive (though much more cost effective for low runs), and if duplicating to DVD-R (most widely accepted format for burned discs), they're still only 93-97% compatible ... meaning of 100 discs, you have the chance that 3-7 people will say they couldn't play it on their DVD player, even though you could take it back & it'll play on yours. Typically these folks have first generation players, and it's a simple matter of asking them if they have another player in their house to test it out on (ideally one that's 4-5 years old or newer).

Sorry for the rambling ... hopefully that answers a few questions for you, or touches on a few differences between the two.

Oh, one more thing. You need to plan further in advance with replication, as standard turn around time for replication is 3+ weeks, vs. duplication can usually be turned around (even with larger runs) in 5 business days or less.

EDIT: Owen answered it so much more effeciently. :thumbsup:
 
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