Dual Layer DVDs?
 

I'm wondering if anyone is using dual layer DVD to deliver their weddings on? I played around with them a few years back and they seemed very unreliable back then has anything changed since then?

We've stopped using them and try to stay away from them since it is quite unreliable in terms of its compatibility with DVD players. Lots of unnecessary headaches, Once, we even had to purchase a DVD player for the client just so they can watch their video... Just our experience though:)

We have had good luck with these:

FTI FalconMedia Pro White Inkjet Hub Printable 8X DVD+R Double Layer Media 50 Pack in Cake Box - SuperMediaStore.com

Burned and printed close to 1000 for clients with no returns. I would say I have had maybe 10 that were bad burns and tossed, but so far very happy.


Ben

Me too. So far I have burned about 5 weddings worth and no complaints. I always worn the client that very old DVD's may not play back, so they must update their DVD player, which they can buy at best buy for under $80.

These come in handy when we do really long Indian weddings. Make sure you buy a well known brand.

If my weddings go over 4.3GB then I now supply the couple with a dual set of disks. One for the prep and ceremony and photoshoot and then one for the reception. It usually only happens if they have long-winded speeches!!!!

First of all I pay 29c for single layer disks here and a whopping $2.50 each for dual layer. My DVD authoring software has an issue with dual layer and refuses to display the menu and lastly the last DL disks I bought were only 4X so it took ages to burn compared to 16x for single layer.

If my couple does have a long recording then they also seem to be suitably impressed when they get a 2 DVD set!!! It's hardly worth the hassle to go out and buy DL disks and struggle!!!

Chris

Yeah DL DVD is problematic. I used to that. Only one customer having trouble playing back. However, the reliable DL DVD I can find is Verbatim. But they don't make pretty DVD printout like those TY watersheild. Besides, customer love the luxurious look of a dual DVD set if I split the content onto two disc

I once did a school play that was rather long so I put it on a DL disc.

Of the 40 discs, only ONE played fine for the students. Of course here at the house they were all fine... but 39 out of 40 SUCKED EGGS.

So that ship has sailed...

Our studio uses DL verbatim printable disks all the time and haven't really had any problems at all.

I tried a few brands ... say like none of the Ridata DL disk can be played back in DVD player. They are all fine checking in computer and playback. it's just they won't play, or only play the first layer in DVD player. Then I switch to Verbatim DL, all works fine.

I've try it once and decided to stay away.

The wedding was 3 hours long so it won't fit on normal DVD. It took me 3 attempts to burn it on a D9 and it won't play on the DVD player....

I just split it into 2 DVDs. From preparation to ceremony in one DVD, the reception in the other..

3 hours will fit to a single layer DVD. You just have to lower the bitrate. You can fit up to 4 hours in a DVD too.

DL disc is perfect for a long event to put on one DVD, I used DL verbatim printable disks and they are pretty good, there are two problems with DL disc:
A lot of DVD players have a problem reading the mark when the DVD goes to the second layer.
The second problem that I have is most DVD duplicators also have a problem duplicating DL discs, I have a Reflex DL duplicator and all the DL DVD that came out of it was bad, so I had to do few hundreds of DL DVD one at a time and that was not fun !!!
I wish there is a solution out there for DL DVD that you can do without getting callbacks.

The argument against long programmes went out of the window with VHS tape. We produce chaptered DVDs and we use dual layer DVDs whenever the need arises - without any comebacks.

To lower the bitrate below the optimum (8Mb/s to allow for the idiosyncracies of older Sony players which I was always told don't accept anything higher) is simply unacceptable to us - we produce a quality product and degrading it to save a few pennies is simply unprofessional. Why bother with HD cameras if you're going to make it look rubbish anyway - and if your budget is really tight, increase your price a few dollars/pounds to compensate.

We already give the clients a two-DVD product - their wedding videos and our unedited transcription of their honeymoon video which we lend them a camera to record - that's what we call a full service product.