Can You Produce Your Own DVDs?

BillGodfrey asks: "I'm a small director (okay, I'm not, this is just academic question) and I would like to produce DVDs for use on regular players. However, I don't want to buy into any cartels, and I'd like to avoid as many 'stupid moves' as possible (no region codes, allowing fast forward, etc). How would I go about producing a master and getting copies produced?" Would non-profits and small time organizations need to pay the same production fees for a small run of content as major motion picture firms pay? Or is there still a loophole which the general public can use? We're not necessarily talking free, here...a discount would suffice. Update: 09/15 03:49 PM by C :Ugh! The atrocious grammar in the title has been fixed.

DVD "features"

[Xenu]

I've read that the CSS, region coding and macrovision are all optional, in fact they charge you extra money in licensing fees to use them on your disk.

i can't think of a good subject

[jbridge21]

Okay. Here goes.

As far as I know, CSS is completely optional. I am not 100% sure on this point, but pretty close. Thus, you can make a DVD with just straight MPEG2 system-streams and it will play fine on any player.

I know for SURE that region coding is optional. All you do is have the region code be at zero.... actually, just forget about it. TOTALLY FORGET about it. It only really applies if you're using CSS to scramble the content; otherwise, no need to unscramble it.

Macrovision is something that is done in the player hardware, it has nothing to do with the bits on the disk. Thus..... to sum it up.... all you need, to make a DVD, is the ability to create MPEG2 system streams, put them in the proper VOB files, and make a few other files of which I don't really know how they work. Then, just slap it all into a gigantic UDF filesystem, and burn.

As for the burning side.... well, that's another matter. Someone else can answer that bit.

Have a nice day!

-----

Re:Grammar??? [OT]

[BillGodfrey]

My original title was "How about EnCCS?"

Not my fault guv!

How to make your own DVD's... in a nutshell

[discreetlogik]

OK so I didnt write a book on it, but the company I work for builds systems for DVD authoring, Non-linear editing and 3D... basicly here is how it works. You edit your video to a finished product and output it in either a .avi or Quicktime depending on your platform. From there you take the final file and encode it to a Mpeg2 using either a hardware encoder board "real time" or a software encoder "long render" hardware cost more, software less all... basicly how much you want to pay or wait. Now the product is a Mepg2 "note there are many flavors of Mpeg2, only a few will make a DVD" You also can encode to different bit rates "within the DVD spec" depending on what your doing witht he output. Kinda like TiVo, high bit rate for sports or action, lower for talking heads. Now the Mpeg2 can be authored with a application that puts in menu's, titles, chapters... etc. Now you create a master on the harddrive of the DVD, then burn the DVD to a DVD-R for mastering... its not yet an exact science. Need more info or interested? Email me

Yeah.. But don't forget about .....

[twisteddk]

WEll, in essence You're right.. But You might be taking the more... Commercial view of making a DVD.. I think the dude wants to know if it's feasible for a PRIVATE user to make one (movie).

I usually tend the larger computer/consumer electronics shows and do articles/reviews of some of the products, and I did answer this exact question about 6 months ago.
I know 6 months is a long time, but the conclusions should remain the same:
You CANNOT buy a DVD recorder that can play DVD movies in Your stationary DVD player (sony, phillips, denon or whatever) for any even REMOTELY resonable amount of money.
You CANNOT buy an MPEG authoring program that contains more than the basic features of a normal DVD, such as subtitle/language selection to one video stream. The only "reasonably" priced software, (such as say, DVD-it and others) ONLY supports ONE videotrack, WITHOUT any overlays such as audio or subtitles. But has basic features such as selectable buttons and interactivity.

This kinda makes it unlikely that You'll be running Your own DVD movies in Your own player anytime soon... Phillips has a recorder on the way that's SUPPOSED to be able to record on Your PC and playback on Your stationary DVD player, or You can go and record directly on the stationary model. However, this still imposes the limitations of not being able to add in the "cool" DVD features.

However, if the user is willing to sacrifice a few of the features or compromise on the usability of the DVD it's possible to make Your own movies.

Using the new Matrox GT2000 hardware Mpeg encoder and complementary software, I've managed to make a DVD like movie setup on a CD. And recording it on a mediatype (mr. platinum, blue coated discs) that's playable on my Sony DVD-525, I managed to format it as a VCD, and thus attained a full 11 minutes of MPEG-2 quality homemade video, that I could playback on my DVD player... But it's unfortunately still a far cry from actually making my own DVD movies, or moving my VHS collection to DVDs. But I hope that the new 2nd generation DVD recorder from Phillips will change that in the near future.. It should hit the market around early spring 2001. This could force competitors into making the DVD a more publicly accessible mediatype.

Producing Your Own DVDs?

[coj]

That's unpossible!

Actually, we have DVD production equipment at work. I'm not intimately familiar with it, but I believe it includes:

1) a Windows NT machine
2) a DVD-R drive
3) a DLT tape drive (evidently a lot of DVD manufacturing joints use DLTs as the "master")
4) Some kinda pricey software

I think the whole joint cost us about $20,000. A *big* portion of that was software, and we didn't buy the bare bones/cheapest setup we could. So I bet you could squeak by with something quite a bit cheaper.

-Ed

easy solution

[runlevel0]

I am a video producer/editor at a graphic design firm. I use an sgi O2 with a/w composer 4.0, but that's not necessary to produce dvd's. To produce a dvd, all you have to do is locate a duplication/mastering house in your city. Most larger places have dvd capabilities. We end up sending either a betacam sp tape, or a dlt tape. The O2 captures and outputs uncompressed video frames in real time. When the video is rendered, it is a simple matter of just copying the files to dlt, and sending them on their merry way. Depending on the production house, they might ask for certain file formats, depending on their mastering equipment. The cost for all this isn't bad, they usually charge per minute for encoding, and then a fee for the master disc. Additional discs are quite a bit cheaper after that. Good luck!

Re:i can't think of a good subject

[substrate]

I know for SURE that region coding is optional. All you do is have the region code be at zero.... actually, just forget about it. TOTALLY FORGET about it. It only really applies if you're using CSS to scramble the content; otherwise, no need to unscramble it.

Actually, I've read that while a region code of zero is legit right now the MPAA is pressuring for players to refuse to play region 0 discs. I don't know if they'll be successful or not, but they've got boatloads of clout.

Here's a possible solution.

[fwc]

I just did some research along these lines. The following is a summary of the solution I found. I can't really guarantee that this will work but everything I read indicated it would.

DVD-R Burner. Pioneer makes a DVD-R drive (Model DVR-S201) [pioneerusa.com] which according to spec will write a DVD-R which is readable in a Consumer DVD player. It also will support "Cutting Master Format" which will (in theory) allow you to burn a DVD and send it off to be pressed into "real" DVD's. About $5k.

Mastering Software and Capture Hardware. There's a whole bunch of options. I was looking at the stuff from Pinnacle Systems [pinnaclesys.com]. I was more specifically looking at the DV500 [pinnaclesys.com] product. It runs about $1000, but includes not only a Video codec (ala capture card), but also all the software you need to get going with DVD production. There are also other options, but this seemed to be the best value.

The best store I located on the net which has all of the above, plus more is videoguys.com [videoguys.com]

Good Luck!

Re:i can't think of a good subject

[Detritus]

The DVD tells the player whether or not to turn on the Macrovision circuit. It costs extra money in licensing fees to produce a DVD that uses Macrovision.

What's your e-mail address? [OT]

[Mr. Penguin]

Not meaning to troll, but you don't have an e-mail address specified anywhere. How can a /. reader get in touch with you?

DVD FAQ on the internet

[sid crimson]

Check out this website: [dvddemystified.com]

It should answer some questions. It IS possible to do it all with a decent PC and DVD-R burner. Total cost for hardware plus software? Prolly $15K. Maybe less if you shop around or get by with a lesser PC.

Good luck!
-sid

This is how...

[Malc]

There are DVD authoring tools available. Three companies spring to mind, Sonic, Diakin and Spruce. I can't tell you off hand how much their software costs, it could be quite dear (talk to them about discounts?) I'm sure that they will allow you to author region 0 (all regions) DVDs. I'm also not sure where you would go to get the DVD's burnt... I presume the equipment is too expensive. Another, alternative option might be something like Creative Lab's DVD-RAM drive [creative.com], but I don't know what it comes with, or whether it will fulfill you needs.

I work for InterActual Technologies, Inc. [interactual.com] I've been working on a piece of software that integrates into third-party tools (DVD Authoring tools to be precise). This allows DVD Authoring tools to integrate web content with DVDs. Sonic are (still planning?) shipping their low end product which allows you to create a DVD utilising PCFriendly. In the near future, more companies will be offering DVD Authoring tools that integrate with the as yet unreleased InterActual Player 2.0.

Re:Grammar??? [OT]

[Clifton Wood]

I can let some spelling and grammar mistakes slide but this blantant grammar faux pas should really be cleaned before it goes public. Its in the title of the article! Even a 5th grader knows the grammar above is incorrect.

What can I say, eh? It was a LOOONG day yesterday and things usually go better than it did. You've had some of those, haven't you?

Anyway, It's been fixed, and I have loads of egg on my face.

Sorry 'bout that.

Next-Gen DVD-ROMs should work

[Cato]

Panasonic say that 'next generation' DVD-ROM drives will accept DVD-RAM - this is a read/write format with optional caddy, a Panasonic-sponsored standard but now accepted by DVD Forum. You normally use the disc in a caddy but can take it out for use in (certain other) DVD-ROM drives and DVD players.

Unfortunately you can only do 2.6 GB per side with DVD-RAM currently, but it would be quite handy. The real question is how common these so-called next-gen DVD-ROMs are becoming in practice.

There are lots of format wars, out there, e.g. RW (formerly DVD+RW). The Panasonic site, http://www.panasonic.com/industrial_oem/computer/s torage/dvd-ram/prods/tech/prove.htm, has some info but is bound to be biased, so read the DVD Faq at www.faqs.org for the full details.

Re:i can't think of a good subject

[aphr0]

Hm. Why does the MPAA care if players will play region 0 discs? As long as the region encoding works, the studios can region lock their discs, the home producers can non lock theirs, and everyone will be happy. This just seems like the MPAA simply wants to control everything about DVDs.