Professional DVD or Bluray Disc Mastering With Ease!

If you stick to the basics and follow these simple tips below you’ll be on your way to professional disc mastering created with as few hiccups and snags as possible.

1. Communication is Key

Smooth Operator…Coast to Coast LA to Chicago…

Nothing and I mean nothing can replace speaking directly with your studio or the production company regarding your master. Email can work but sometimes picking up the telephone is the simplest way to get from point A to B.

Bluray Mastering is required for 1080p Resolution

2. Content Delivery – The Correct Way

Check with your Disc Mastering Production Partner for vendor specific protocols for delivering content.  Many will prefer delivery on physical media (DVD, USB, HDD) but will be open to delivery digitally.  Remember to speak with your publisher regarding file size, runtime and filenames to make sure you are on the same page.

3. Provide a Manifest

Make sure to list your files and exact file names and run-times in the order you want them to play.  You can use md5 or sha hashes for digital continuity testing or you can use run times both can work. 

Laying out your files on a manifest, wire-frame or outline will help make sure your project is completed correctly on the first revision.

4.  Determine total run time and output

Standard DVD using the most common resolution and frame rates typically will yield around 90 minutes of runtime.  Dual Layer DVDs and Blu-ray are available which can extend your run-times per disc but come with added costs.  Think about your audience and your content when determining whether a multiple disc solution vs a dual layer solution might be the right fit.  In some cases we may be able to stretch the run time by adjusting frame rates and/or resolution but this is always at the cost of quality. 

It can be a tough decision to make and sometimes paying a little extra for a physical master to review at home can be worth the cost.

5.  Menu Considerations

Do you want to provide a menu for your audience to navigate or is the project better suited with an autorun where the disc starts playing through upon insertion. POS videos of product demonstration videos may benefit from looping.  If you do want a menu – it is imperative that you provide a high resolution digital file in the proper aspect t ratio to use as your background. 

DVD resolution is 480p so for legibility make sure that your use large bold san serif fonts and keep them away from the edges.

Blu-ray Logo

6. Resolution Considerations

This is one of the tougher questions for duplicators to answer.  DVD is a more widely available format than Blu-ray.  But any footage shot within the last ten years is likely 1080p or even 4K.  If you want to maximize your resolution Blu-ray is the solution you are looking for.   If you want to maximize your compatibility DVD may be your answer.  Smart customers are purchasing bundles which include a mix or ratio of each. 

Video Format Map

7.  Format Considerations

Audiences in the US will need video content formatted in the NTSC format.  Most audiences outside of the US (OUS) will require video content formatted in PAL.  Think about where you intend to distribute your content when determining the proper formatting.  **each format may be considered an additional title and charged according.

8.   Future Proofing Considerations

Now is the time to think about having your duplicator output a high resolution digital file for future distribution. Putting your content in the highest resolution on a large capacity USB Drive or cloud service provider so that you can distribute it digitally if necessary is a wise choice.  Ask your publisher about any additional fees, they may only add nominal cost.

9.  GIGO

GIGO Is a common acronym that stands for Garbage-In-Garbage-Out. Really it is just a crass way to say that disc producers aren’t magicians. They can’t add resolution to your footage. The output quality will depend on the quality of the video content you provide us.   We can do some minor corrections but we can’t fix bad audio or make low resolution or low frame rate footage look HD. 

For the best possible output provide us with your highest quality footage.

10.  Measure Twice Cut Once

Make sure to review your content multiple times prior to submission to make sure there aren’t any glitches, stutters or audio problems.  It is imperative that the content you provide is ultimately free of defects.

If your looking for more details about Blu-ray Production and the shift that's on from BDR as a content delivery vehicle to that of an artist support model head on over to our sister blog and read all about it -  The shift in Blu-ray Production.

We’d love to work with you on your next Disc Mastering Project 

Please call us at 952-944-0083 and we can discuss any questions you may have

USB DRIVE & SD CARD PROJECTS

Objective – promotional or content delivery?

1.    Promotional

  • Capacity required
  • Packaging required
  • Branding/Custom Printed
  • Custom Shapes
  • Lanyards

2.    Content Delivery

  • Capacity
  • Custom printed
  • Packaging
  • Regulatory Concerns: REACH, RoHS, CE etc?
  • Speed: USB 2 vs USB 3
  • Quality – is the quality of the nand sufficient
  • Bootable or Embedded Software
  • Lifecycle – one time use or long term?

Regardless if your USB or SD card project is promotional or content delivery we can help you pick the right solution.  Our knowledge and experience will help you seamlessly deliver your project on time and under budget.

Call us today to discuss how we can help you deploy your next USB or SD card project.

International Disc and USB partners for North American Distribution

We are helping International customers every day that need a partner to help with distributing their CD, DVD, Bluray or USB project to North American Customers.

We can help with:
* PAL to NTSC conversion and remastering
* Authoring
* USPS Postage Bulk Rates w/ tracking

* Affordable per unit fulfillment
* Graphic Design
* Unique Barcodes for merchandising
* Paypal or other payment options available
* Quick Turnaround
* Onsite
in stock packaging options

Call us at 952-944-0083 if you need help getting your content to your US fans or customers.

Rimage Disc Printer Problems – Lines on my Print

Do your disc prints have unexplained vertical white lines on them?

Dust or debris on your printhead is the most common problem associated with vertical lines that appear on your thermal printed discs.

What can I do to fix these problems-

Keeping your work environment clean is vital to minimizing the dust and debris that can build up on your printhead, causing a line in your print. Using a cleaning kit (swab & solution) regularly can help remove a buildup of dust or debris.

When cleaning your printhead it’s very important to never use anything that is abrasive, metallic or sharp. These types of objects can scratch the printhead and once it’s damaged the only option moving forward is replacement. If you’re unsure let us do the work for you

Is my Rimage Prism or Everest printhead damaged, or does it just need to be cleaned?

That is a question that may require us to physically inspect your printer.

What can Techware do to fix these problems-

Sometimes more work is needed and that’s where our service techs can help. We have the ability to break down your machine for a true deep cleaning. This removes the tough build up. We also work to identify any other problems that may be lurking in the printer. We’ll only recommend replacing faulty parts when absolutely necessary.

Our techs thoroughly clean the printer, then adjust & calibrate and restore your Rimage printer to like-new condition.

Why spend tens of thousands of dollars on new disc printing equipment when we can restore your systems for a fraction of the price.

Visit  our Disc Printer Repair page and get your repair started today.

Tips for putting your Graduation Ceremony on USB Flash Drives

We are seeing a large uptick in customer inquiries about Graduation/Commencement USB projects as COVID-19 has altered the in person celebrations dramatically.

I thought it might be beneficial to some folks that are newly tasked with creating Graduation Video USBs to answer a few common miss-steps in regards to USB production.

When you’re getting ready to produce a USB project here are some key items to keep in mind:

1. Actual Size vs Marketed Size – Actual size is always smaller due to Gigabytes vs Gibibytes

2. Format Concerns: Most drives are preformatted Fat32 which limits continguous file size to under 4GB. ExFat and NTFS allow for larger file sizes but are a bit more limited in their universal adoption.

3, Speed Concerns – Read/Write speeds will be a key factor in projects that run directly from the drive. If you intend to playback 4K footage directly from the drive you may want to invest in USB 3 drives rather than USB 2.

4. Spoilage – 2-4% spoilage of Promotional grade USB flash drive is not unheard of. Buy a few extra so you are not scrambling last minute to fill your gaps at walmart or bestbuy.

These are just a few of the things to keep in mind when your gathering information or starting to think about utilizing flash drives for content delivery.

We stock USB drives in just about all capacities and print and data load for customers all over the world right here in Minneapolis, MN.

We are always available to discuss your next project and of course answer any questions that you might have.

Surgical Masks and Disinfectant Sprayers to fight Corona

Techware Distribution is utilizing its extensive knowledge of Medical Supply Chains to bring COVID-19 fighting supplies to the medical community and general public.

Through our Maxoptix subsidiary that has been serving the medical community for over twenty years we will be distributing supplies to help fight the Corona Virus spread.  FDA and CE certified Disposable surgical masks are available for purchase at www.Maxoptix.com  on our COVID19 Supplies sub page.

1. Non woven face mask.
2. Low breathing resistance with high filtration efficiency.
3. 3 layers of filtration, non-allergic, non-stimulating materials.
4. Conforms to international standards: CE,FDA
5. Ethylene oxide sterilization
6. Size 17.5 x 9.5cm;
7. Sterile Packing: 20pcs/bag

 

We have also teamed with the worldwide  leader in Industrial Electric Sprayers to bring the powerhouse M2 Electric Sprayer from Multi-sprayer Systems, Inc to our customers. 

This powered sprayer features a 2 gallon tank perfect for industrial disinfectant tasks associated with the fight against the Corona Virus.

Techware is committed to supplying the American medical industry and other industries with protective masks, sprayers and other Covid-19 gear.

Is your Rimage Printer “End of Life?”

 

Have you been told your Rimage PrismPlus printer and/or duplicator is end of life (EOL) by Rimage?

What does end of life mean?

Maybe your printer/duplicator can’t be fixed, maybe spare parts are no longer available, maybe as a cost cutting measure they’ve eliminated anyone on staff that knows how to repair your Everest printer.

One thing we know for certain –  it means Rimage would like you to throw it away and buy a brand new one from them. They all have one thing in common, every one of the aforementioned excuses steer you towards costly capitol intensive purchases buying new and often unnecessary equipment.   The cost on these Rimage Producer systems are roughly equivalent to shiny new car.

Good thing there is no EOL in the vehicle segment I guess.  We think it’s outrageous to scrap perfectly good disc producers.  That’s why we’ve worked so hard to source replacement parts and train our employees so that we can extend the life of your equipment.

If you need help, then give Techware a call to go over our cost effective Rimage repair options. We fix Everest II, Everest III, Everest 600, PrismPlus, and full systems like the 3400, 5400n, 7100n, 8100n, Amigo, 7200n and 8200n on a daily basis.

 

Have you have been told by the manufacturer that they want to ensure you an excellent end user experience and then deny you any help at all with your current Rimage printer? Give us a shot and call 952-944-0083 or mike@techwaredist.com

Our goal is to show you real customer service and savings, period. After all, these Rimage machines are designed and made to run for 10 or more years. Let us help you with that.

Hope to hear from you soon.

Primera Introduces New Bravo 4200 Series Disc Publishers

Primera has decided to go in an unorthodox direction with the new 4200 disc printer and producers lineup.  Where as the trend had been towards individual ink cartridges to save money on per print prices – Primera has decided to revisit single ink cartridges.

Bravo 4200 features the latest in inkjet printing technology from Funai Electric Company Ltd. Just one ink cartridge needs to be replaced instead of four tanks for CMYK, simplifying operation and on-going maintenance.

It’s an interesting play betting that IT admins and purchasing agents will pick simplicity over cost.  Of course we’ll keep our eyes and ears on the market and respond accordingly.

You can read more about the new printers here: www.finance.yahoo.com/news/primera-introduces-bravo-4200-series-130300908.html

We carry printing supplies from all the major manufacturers including: Epson, Primera, Microboards, Rimage and more. Combined with A grade CD and DVD from CMC, TY and others we are proud to provide rock solid disc publishing solutions to our customers.

One thing is for sure – if you need any type of disc printer or publisher or corresponding supplies –  at http://www.techwaredist.com and http://www.techwarestore.com we’ve got you covered.

Current State of MO Disks – Recertified

Lets talk about the current state of Magneto Optical Disks.  The product category has seen a tumultuous couple of years and now is as good a time as any to reflect.

sony-2300-recertified

Backstory:

For the past 10+ years all Magneto Optical disks have been manufactured by two companies:  Sony & Mitsubishi Chemical (dba Verbatim).  All MO disks made and sold recently regardless of the brand have been OEM from either of those two companies.  Roughly 4-5 years ago Mitsubishi Chemical decided the market was no longer large enough to support and exited the category.  This drove up the price a bit because now Sony was the only manufacturer producing the product.   Roughly 1.5 years ago Sony announced that they too were exiting the category.  This left zero companies producing the much needed optical disks.

The supply dwindled – the price increased as available inventory dried up on a worldwide scale.  In some cases prices have increased 600% on certain capacities!!

Current Situation:

Lots of folks still rely on this media to back up and archive data in the Medical, Aviation, Telecommunication and Defense channels.  Many times they simply cannot update their systems to new archiving media.  Procuring new media for our customers that rely upon MO disks on the open market is frankly way to expensive and more often than not impossible.

With that in mind we decided to begin the process of sourcing and recertifying Magneto Optical Disks.  It makes perfect sense when you think about it.  Here is one of the most rugged, redundant forms of optical media that is capable of hundreds of thousands of read/write cycles that is honestly mostly used once and then stored for legal purposes.

How do we do it?

1.  We source disks from internal customers that have purchased disks from us or other vendors and whose data has exceeded it’s archival life.

2.  We ship/receive the parcels via certified methods with tamper resistant seals and check in each and every disk.

3.  Each disk is collected, categorized and inspected upon receipt for critical defects.

4.  Each categorized Magneto Optical Disk is then inspected by a second digital media expert with over 16 yrs experience, he removes the labels, inspects the ODSM (optical disk shutter mechanism) for functionality and cleans any ink from the disk itself.

5.  The disk is then degassed multiple times using a proprietary process that runs at the SCSI Dos level.

6.  A read/write test is performed to ensure functionality

7.  Magneto Optical Disk is inspected by the third and final person who passes the disk for final assembly.

8.  The MO Disk is packaged in a brand new cardboard sleeve and shrink wrapped.

9.  The Magneto Optical Disk has now been fully recertified and is cataloged/received into our ERP for future sales orders.

 

While these procedures do have costs associated with them and we are unable to provide pre-discontinued pricing, often times the prices of re-certified media are 1/2 to 1/3 of the cost of new sealed media.  They are 100% guaranteed to function the same as the new sealed stock.  We also offer a more lenient return policy on this media.

Currently we are only making this re-certfied media available to our current customers but keep your eyes peeled.  It will be making it’s debut on our website www.techwarestore.com and available to the general public shortly.

 Update!

Sony 2.3 re-certified MO Disk are now available for purchase on our website.

Taiyo Yuden & CMC Join Forces!

Well that didn’t take long!

We recently received the following email communication:white cd joined copy

Taiyo Yuden Co., Ltd., a Japanese leading optical disc manufacturer, will license CMC Magnetics Corporation their technology knowhow, patents, Media IDs, and trademarks related with their high value-added products of CD-R, DVD-R, and DVD+R. On September 21st, 2015, the companies have signed the license agreement on this project for high-quality optical discs.

Taiyo Yuden , known as an inventor of CD-R ,is an advanced manufacturer focusing on the professional market with their high-quality and high-reliability products throughout the optical disc market.

CMC will enhance the technologies of their high-quality optical discs for professional use with Taiyo Yuden’s media IDs and the specialized technologies such as their manufacturing process and quality control knowhow, and improve the CMC’s high-quality disc products across the board featuring stable high-speed recording, high reliability, high compatibilities with optical recording drives and variety of high-quility printability . And CMC will seek the top status of the high-quality disc products with the aim of supplying high-performance and high-reliability products and the strategy in pursuit of high qualities instead of volumes.

This agreement, CMC comments, will help the company become a market leader. The CMC’s current plan is to launch the new product lines at the end of 2015. And will the strategy for the high value-added products, CMC intends to occupy the most advantageous position by further expanding the distances ahead of its competitors and winning the frontier markets.

Our understandings of the process so far:

  • CMC will be upgrading their production lines to TY specs
  • Discs will be Azo Dye and slightly thicker to accommodate TY specs
  • Production should not be affected
  • Distribution channels should not change.
  • Part Numbers may change
  • Product UID should stay the same
  • JVC branding is gone
  • Branding may include some sort of “powered by TY” type of slogan

This is great news to customers that expect the very best in  optical media.  Taiyo Yuden’s extensive knowledge of manufacturing high quality discs will be passed on to CMC in Taiwan.  Customer should experience only slight administrative pains dealing with changes in part numbers but production should be unaffected.

As always if you have any questions regarding optical media or need production help, don’t hesitate to contact us.