Technical DVD Questions

Do the DVD-R media play back in all DVD Players?
The DVD-R media will play back in all DVD players except first generation players. The official DVD specification does not require DVD players to support recordable media. Most of second and third generation players now support DVD-R playback. We have an extensive list of which DVD Players will play DVD-R media. Click here to see our list.

My DVD Player is listed not compatible, what should I do?
First check with the manufacturer, some do provide firmware updates. Others may replace the player with a new one. Unfortunately, some DVD players simply will not play DVD-r media.

What's the difference between first, second, and third generation DVD Players?
The difference varies between manufacturers. However, the general rule is that 1st generation players do NOT play any recordable media. Second generation players are generally 10 bit players and can play recordable media. Finally third generation players offer advanced features, such as nuon capabilities, DTS playback and MP3 playback. All current players are at least third generation.

Will the DVD-R media work in Playstation and X-Box machines?
Yes, all DVD's we create are compatible with Playstation and X-Box machines.

How do Commercial Movies hold more then 2 hours on a single disc?
Commercial DVD's are "pressed media". Pressed Media (or often called Stamped discs) are a different type of disc. They can hold to a capacity from 4.7gb.(DVD-5) up to 17gb. (DVD-18). Where as a DVD-R can hold up to only 4.7gb. These discs can be played in every DVD player. However, these discs must be produced in quantities of 500 minimum.

How much video can you fit on a DVD?
For a recordable DVD (DVD-r) which is 4.7 gb. We recommend no more then 2 hours. It is not to say we can not put more. However, more time and high quality masters are required.

What exactly is DVD-r media?
DVD-r media is a recordable DVD disc. Somewhat similar to what CD-r is to CD. Although not 100% compatible, this media will play on most DVD players.

If DVD-r media is not 100% compatible, why should I use it?
DVD-r media is ideal for small runs and personal use. Pressing DVD discs generally get cost effective after 500 discs and are always recommended if selling your DVD to the public.

Can you create DVD-5, DVD-9, etc?
Absolutely, please contact us regarding large order replication.

Is there anything DVD Video Solutions can do to make a DVD-r work in an incompatible player?
Unfortunately not, the public should understand that the fault is not with the media nor how the disc was make. Rather the lack of ability of the player to play the disc. Hopefully, DVD players from now on will be able to play any media.

What resolution are MPEG-2 files for DVD?
We strictly encode all of our MPEG-2 files to DVD spec. Which is 720x480 (29.97fps) for NTSC. & 720x576 (25fps) for PAL. We can also encode 1/2 D1 MPEG-2 and low resolution MPEG-1 for DVD's also.

Why do DVD discs use MPEG-2 compression?
Uncompressed video is the best quality you can get. However, only a few minutes of uncompressed video can fit on a DVD disc. Hence, some type of drastic compression is needed. MPEG-2 is a complex compression standard that can yield high video quality with taking up only a fraction of the space. The downside is that to get high quality, a combination of high end encoders and skilled operators to get the best results. That is what we provide.

Can a single DVD contain 2 versions (one in PAL and one in NTSC) of a video?
No, A DVD can contain only a single format. (PAL or NTSC)

I have a video source recorded in 16x9, can you transfer 16x9 on a DVD?
Yes, we are able to record in both 4x3 and 16x9 aspect ratios. We can also flag a DVD as Anamorphic is the source is a true Anamorphic video.

Do you encode in one format (such as an AVI) and then convert to MPEG-2?
No, many other companies do this. It is never recommended to convert a lossy compressed format (such as AVI) to another compressed format (MPEG-2). The quality will drop when this is done. Furthermore, this process takes a considerable amount of time. All of our encoding is done in real time, straight to DVD compliant MPEG-2 files with no intermediate format.

Once my video is on DVD, can I edit it on my computer?
Although DVD is a distribution media (meaning, it is for viewing) there are programs that can convert a DVD (vob files) to other files (such as AVI or Quicktime) which can be edited on computers. We do however provide in house editing services and recommend that they be edited before put on a DVD.

Is DVD equal to High Definition?
No, a DVD is only digital video at 480i or 480p. Hence not HDTV spec. There are two competing formats (Blu-Ray and HD-DVD) that are capable of providing HD signals on a disc similar to a DVD. We will be offering conversion to these formats when they are commercially available.

Can I provide a master with a 24 frame rate?
Yes, we can apply inverse telecine during encoding.

What is Replication and Duplication?
Duplication is burning on DVD-r media. Ideal for small runs under 500 units.
Replication is pressing DVD discs with 100% compatibility rate. Quantities can start from 500 unites.

What kind of special features can your company do?
We can provide any feature under the official DVD spec. This can include: Multiple sound tracks, multi angles, surround sound, multiple subtitles, graphic/animated subtitles, seamless branching, easter eggs, weblinks, conditional content access, DVD-Rom content, multi aspect ratios.