Breathe Easy When It Comes Time To Submit For DVD Replication

Consistently successful disc releases require at least two distinct proofing / verification passes by an expert; once before replication to catch the author's errors and another round of proofing after replication, to catch any manufacturing errors. This quality control workflow is used by many of the "high-end" authoring studios. However, most of the independent, mid-tier authoring and production studios do not follow these proven protocols - which explains why there are so many discs with problems getting out into the market.

Most of Trai's clients have initially come to him with problems submitting Images to manufacturers for replication and/or with discs having issues playing in the marketplace. Trai's two-step verification and proofing workflow eliminates these problems and time after time provides a smooth and successful disc release experience - improving the company's bottom line...and 'quality of life' for all involved with the DVDs production.

Introduction to the "Two Proofing Pass QC Protocol":

• First proofing pass on DVD-R to find production and authoring errors: Even if your author is an expert with Photoshop or in editing with Final Cut Studio, etc., this does not qualify them for the 'basics of DVD Production. Less than a tiny percentage of practicing DVD authors in the world are trained in the essentials of the DVD-Video Specifications. This fact is not a 'show-stopper", if it is taken into account by experienced oversight...and verification. The 1% of authors in the world who are qualified in the DVD-Video specifications and the companies they work for, routinely engage a 3rd party for proofing of their DVD titles before submitting them to the plant for replication.

Note: This first proofing pass on DVD-R should not be confused with the client's final approval of the content and navigation checks of the DVD. Too often it is heard here at DVDVerification.com, from a DVD's author, when Trai is brought in to fix issues on a disc being recalled from the market; that "the client approved the DVD". Clients, as well, do not have the DVD Specification experience and verification tools to find hidden problems that regularly escape cursory examination on a DVD destined for replication and release into the market.

• Second proofing pass: The replicated Check Disc is proofed and approved by DVDVerification.com before the final printing, packaging and shipments to retail shelves - to make sure there are no manufacturing errors and for one final proof of the authoring, now that the 'real' (as opposed to DVD-recordable) DVD-Rom is available for final testing in players.

The cost for DVDVerification.com's two proofing passes is comparable to what other DVD proofing companies charge for proofing only the DVD check disc. Please contact Trai, directly, to discuss your needs and for pricing: 800-213-2297 - 610-924-9204.

More detail on Trai's DVD Check Disc and proofing packages below:

DVD-R "Release Candidate" Proofing -
Eliminate Errors & Improve your DVD's Performance

Whether you're a Hollywood production studio, corporate studio, content distributor or Indie studio, etc., your DVDs compatibility and navigation performance can be improved by sending in your DVDs to Trai Forrester and his staff- all in the course of one last proofing of your work before pre-mastering and your DVD Image is sent off to replication.

Note: Trai finds an average of several major settings or DVD structural issues that need correction, on discs sent to him for inspection by first time clients, regardless of authoring experience level. This is in addition to any outright DVD Specification errors that are often found.

Some of the world's largest (and smallest... and everything in between) studios depend on Trai to advise and clear their releases for replication and distribution.

Often referred to as "DVD Emulation" - this DVD-R Release Candidate Proofing package is the last chance to make sure everything is right and to make any corrections before the disc goes to replication. These can be intensive collaborative sessions with Trai that your production staff will be sure to benefit from.

Actions Performed:

MEI DVD-Video Verifier® testing - Makes sure your project was multiplexed perfectly by your DVD authoring system, and is clean of potential playback hazards caused by 'hidden' file system elements that are out of DVD specification.

Navigation Command routing inspection and project 'step through' by Trai Forrester, at the DVD Specification level of your project.

It's a good idea to have Trai proof your work before going to replication

Disc asset 'inventory' is taken, and forms the basis of the written report to be submitted. Menu Navigation and performance is fully tested. Also, asset spell checking is done. We'll make sure the disc navigates as intended, and follows basic navigation protocols. We'll also alert you to any cool navigation features that could / should be included on the disc - and how to implement them (most DVDs do not contain one or more simple elementary functionality to improve the viewer's experience with the DVD).

New Constellation Technologies' staff will watch all the streams on your DVD, in their entirety, and report any digital artifacts, encoding / decoding errors and any other anomaly (Important Note: Every time an authoring system multiplexes, there's potential for encoding / decoding artifacts to be introduced. Audio streams are checked on our Pioneer Elite / Klipsch 7.1 surround sound system.

A number of machines in New Constellation Technologies' Player Bank are also enlisted under this package, as needed; as often portions of the disc will be run through players to confirm various findings in the testing.

Note: Only at New Constellation Technologies is this proofing done in conjunction with the MEI DVD-Video Verifier® as standard, along with a battery of crucial utilities Trai has had programmed and/or collected, over the years.

Phone consultation time is also included during the testing. Upon conclusion - A written report is delivered - with a "Pass", "Marginal" or "Fail" designation, and detailed notes; along with recommended solutions for all problems found.

Note: This package should be used by DVD producers to help make sure their authoring studio contractor puts out a top notch product.

Please call (610-924-9204) or email Trai Forrester with any questions on any component of this service, and about the great pricing on this package.

Having your DVD Check Discs tested and the run cleared for release into the market by New Constellation Technologies, is one of the most important decisions you and your client can make.

Introduction

What is a DVD Check Disc?

Check Discs are a small sampling of your replication run, usually around 10 or 20 or so DVDs, that have not had their label printed on them yet, and have not been placed in the final packaging. The Check Discs are ordered from the replicator prior to the delivery of your DDP Image to the plant. All replicators offer to provide check discs, at no or minimal charge.

The replicator will hold up the completion of your order, usually after having produced the entire amount of DVDs (on smaller runs), until you approve the Check Discs. The idea is, if an error(s) is found during testing, or changes are deemed to need to be made; then at least the expense of printing the labels on the discs and the costs of having the discs placed in packaging and shrink-wrapped, will have been saved - just the cost of a new glass-master(s) will need to be engaged for the eventual redo of the run.

The main purpose of Check Disc Proofing, is to make sure your replicator manufactured good discs and that they play without a hitch in all players. The discs need to be checked for manufacturing integrity because the replicator is not going to do it. Please see this article about Trai's original research on this issue, and how he has developed a fast, and no extra cost, way to proof the manufacturers work.

Of course, authoring mistakes, and other issues can be found at the Check Disc Proofing stage, as well. But this can be minimized and even completely eliminated as a possibility, if full-scale "DVD-R Release Candidate Proofing" is engaged prior to sending in the Image to be mastered.

Fact: Very few medium size and smaller DVD production enterprises and authoring studios are ordering Check Discs from the replicator, or even advising their clients of the recommended practice. By contrast, All Hollywood and medium to larger Content Distributors order Check Discs of their productions for testing, before the DVDs release into market.

Proofing Actions Performed on your Check Discs:

Preparatory Procedures Before Testing Your Check Discs, for Viability in the Player Bank

1) New Constellation Technologies is unique in our standard "Pre-DVD Player Bank Testing Flight" tests. Disc Navigation Command and Structural Domain asset placement and routing Inspection, is the first thing we do. How a disc has been authored affects absolutely, the DVDs navigation performance. We'll know, precisely, any potential 'weaknesses' in the navigation on the disc, and will zero in on any noted areas as we go through the Player Bank, to make sure playback holds up in the players. Note: Of course, if we've been involved in the project at some point earlier in production before receiving your client's Check Discs, there won't be any weaknesses, in this regard.

Again, New Constellation Technologies highly recommends that we see the project before the DVD Check Disc stage, as we will almost always find important issues that need correcting on discs we see for the first time, or at the bare minimum will find ways to improve the performance of your disc that will be easy to implement (again, please see the "DVD-R Release Candidate Proofing Package").

Depending on the verification package, the MEI DVD-Video Verifier® testing can be run - Before we place your client's Check Disc in a single DVD player, we will know if there is anything out of DVD specification. Neither the replicator, nor any of the "West Coast' DVD player testing entities will run this test on your disc. This is just one of the reasons discs are released into the market with serious errors.

New Constellation Technologies currently maintains 168 players, including 20 Blu-ray players, a portion or all are used in the Check Disc Proofing, with all the major brands and years of manufacture, representing a high percentage of players currently in use on the market today - Check out the List.

The Importance of Performing an Eclipse ImageAnalysis© Test on the Check Disc before player Bank Testing

While not the equivalent of a CATS physical test of the disc, the Eclipse ImageAnalysis® Disc Read Performance Scan tab of the Check Disc (on properly calibrated optical drive and computer) will show any areas of the disc that players might have a tough time reading. Any drops in Disc Read Performance (DRP) are noted by NCT staff, and these locations are checked for stuttering or other playback anomalies as the discs are tested in our banks of DVD players.

This is what your DVD Check disc's Eclipse Read Performance profile should look like. Perfect Disc Read Performance.

Above is an example of a perfect Eclipse® Disc Read Performance test. The disc is first read by Eclipse Image Analysis on New Constellation Technologies' proprietary hardware, starting at the inner hub of the disc at around 6,000Kbps and steadily increases read speed as the laser moves towards the outer edge of the disc. Any major interruptions (see below) in the steadily increasing pattern can translate into playback problems of the disc on DVD players

This Check Discs showed all kinds of decoding artifacts in players, starting at around 2/3's of the way through the first layer of this DVD-9.

Send in those Check Discs

Have your replication facility overnight us at least 10 of your stamped DVD Check Discs, and we'll run a sampling through the gauntlet that is our 'pre-flight' tests, as described above. Then we'll test several of the Check Discs in our battery of DVD players and computer configurations. We will check any features you specify, as well as test the areas based on our findings from the preparatory procedures.

A full written report of all of our findings, and any needed actions, are included. With a "passed" report, years of experience has shown, your DVD will play well in the market, and not become a tech support 'nightmare' for you, your client and their customers.

Please contact Trai Forrester with any questions and for great pricing. Or, call: 610-924-9204.