Digital Mastering CD and Authoring DVD

			HOME 	
			ARTICLES 				
			LIST NOW FOR FREE! 
			ABOUT US 
			CONTACT US 
			LOG IN			
		

Mastering CD and Authoring DVD
CD Mastering information, DVD auhtoring options and artfile preparation.

Go to Web Site

The CD Pre-Master

Acceptable pre-master formats to send for Glass mastering:

- Digital Master Tape on 3/4" U-Matic cassette
- Digital Audio Tape (DAT)
- Digital Compact Disc (CD)
- Digital Compact Disc Recordable (CD-R)
- Alesis Masterkink 9600
- Sonic Solutions Exabyte DDP tapes
- 1/4" analog tape
- Protools AIFF files
- MD (Mini-Disc)

Maximum guaranteed playing time on an Audio CD is 74 minutes.
Maximum number of tracks is 99.
Minimum time limit for a track is 4 seconds (including pause).
Maximum number of index points (subdivisions within a track) is 99 with no minimum time limit.
There is no set value for pause time (silence) between tracks.
Average pauses last from 2 to 4 seconds. Note: maximum playing time includes all pauses.
Your pre-master is the source you provide for both duplication (burning copies in limited numbers) or for glass mastering and replication (disc pressing in unlimited quantities).

The options in music pre-mastering are many, allowing engineers to re-balance, EQ, compress, reduce noise and assign channels to finalize the finished production. An extremely important function of the producer and artist at this stage is to carefully listen to your final pre-master on various speakers systems and head phones and make certain you approve of the pre-master sound (usually on a CDR disc) which will be sent for replication. All digital duplication and replication is optical (bit to bit) reproduction and manufactured discs will be virtually identical to your pre-master source disc.

It is always recommended to make an extra identical copy of the pre-master (at the same session the original is made) and store it as a safety and a reference.

For your copyright protection and the protection of all the contributors involved in your production, only send away digital pre-masters with a signed copy of an Intellectual Property Rights Declaration (IPR Form). Ask your replicator or download one from dmaconnect. Download IPR.

DVD Authoring

An edited DVD pre-master is required for DVD replication or duplication. You can find help for this process from one of the companies listed on our Video and Film pages. There are many enhancements available during Authoring that can enrich the viewing experience. Some of these are:

Language Subtitles
Toggle them on/off with your remote or via a special menu.

Cast/Crew Biographies & Filmographies
Information on the stars and crew.

Scene Index/Chapter Stops
Instantaneously access various ‘scenes’ or ‘stop-points’ of the movie through the remote control or via menus. Full motion inset lets you preview the scene you’ll be jumping to.

Previews/Trailers
Other films you wish to promote can be included as trailers and accessed via another menu option.

Photo Galleries
Set up photo galleries,complete with a variety of navigation options.

Alternate Audio/Language/Commentary Tracks
With the click of a remote button or via a menu option, you can select another sound track, language or a Director’s or Actor’s commentary. Up to eight separate tracks.

Parental Control
Control DVD access via encoding and/or passwords.

Regional Coding
If you’re limiting your distribution to specific parts of the world, it can be regionally coded for you so it will only be playable in the region you want it to be.

Dual Layers
4 hours of video plus features.

Multi-Angle
Makes different shots and angles accessible via the DVD remote.

Enhanced
Full screen or 16 x 9 widescreen can be a menu option.

Custom Menu Design
Visually appealing and user-friendly menu buttons can be designed.

Advanced & Motion Menus
Full motion / full audio menu intros, full background audio on menus and full motion scene indexes are all available options.

Copy Protection: various DVD copy protection systems applied at the mastering stage are to protect DVD content.
.
Approve your DVD premaster very carefully as the replicated DVDs will be virtually identical to it, in terms of imaging and performance.

Artfiles

The disc label art design and paper print design of booklets, inserts and media packaging can greatly affect the completion time of your finished package. Start the design and creation of these files as early as possible. For templates to design disc labels art, booklets, tray cards, CD Sleeves, DVD Covers or Inserts, click to the Art Templates page. For custom printing on CDRs or DVD Recordable media, you'll also find templates there on which to design your custom art.

Completed artfiles can be submitted on a recordable disc and Emailed or, if larger, uploaded to an FTP site. FTP Email for upload instructions.

Your pre-master, artfiles and order specifications are referred to as the "production assets". By preparing these assets in advance you will save time, money and ensure your products are what you envisioned.