CATEGORY: CD/DVD/Blu-ray

Options for disc encryption

I get lots of inquiries from clients and prospects about copy-protecting their CDs and DVDs. 

In the heyday of vhs dubbing, we at Video Labs would add Macrovision encryption http://tinyurl.com/gzmrj, versions of which either added spikes in the voltage of the signal or added a “flag” in the vertical interval of the video signal . . . (that area you can’t normally see at the top of a standard def tv signal, where items like vertical interval time code, closed-captioning and SpoTTrac information is encoded.) 

As we have moved into discs, we’re now at the following point: 

Read the rest of this article »

What are AC-3 audio files?

To quote the site www.fileinfo.com, “AC-3 files, or Dolby Digital audio file format; may contain up to 6 channels of audio, including a subwoofer output (a.k.a. 5.1 surround sound)”

These have been referred to as  ”Audio Codec 3″ or “Advanced Codec 3″ or “Acoustic Codec 3.”

Regardless, this is the file format that was adapted for the audio portion of DVDs and Blu-ray discs.  Just like the mpeg2 files that make up the video portion of a  DVD or Blu-ray discs, the AC-3 files cannot be edited.  That was instituted on purpose of course, as an anti-piracy measure.

(As a side note, remember, in addition to not being able to edit mpeg2 or AC-3 files, you cannot drag those files as accessible elements from a DVD or Blu-ray video disc either: http://tinyurl.com/yj8wy3c)

Read the rest of this article »

“Why can’t I just drag mpeg2 files from my DVD?”

Ah yes, as the saying goes: “If I had a dime for every time I got asked this question.”

And I certainly understand the frustration.

Prospects and clients think they are doing the right thing to get their video assets transferred DVD, to a safe permanent digital format.

And they have.  But the issue gets complicated when they also want to then edit the footage on that DVD further.

The calls usually center around the prospect or client wanting to import the mpeg2 files into a non-linear editing system.

When answering, I like to use the following analogy: Think of a video DVD being like a wedding cake.

Read the rest of this article »

Do I have a CD or a DVD . . . (or a Blu-ray disc?)

I get that question asked of me many times.

And no wonder, without being clearly labeled, they look almost exactly the same.

Here’s an easy way to tell whether you have a “duplicated” CD or DVD. 

(Note: I say “duplicated” because  a ”replicated” disc is  almost always clearly labeled on the face label as to whether it is a CD or DVD.  Here’s my blog further explaining the differences between disc duplication and replication: http://tinyurl.com/2ox2rk

OK, turn the disc over in your hand so that the data side is facing up at you.

Read the rest of this article »