What Equipment is Needed to Provide Instant DVDs of a Live Event? at DVinfo.net

Rey Lowe · October 3rd, 2012, 07:00 AM

I really despise these "instant" DVDs and swore I would never get involved with them, but I am being forced to at least research the process.

Assuming I were to use a single camera to shoot an event (such as a cheer competition) or provide my single wide shot to a director of different event for next day critiquing of their performance, what do I need to have on hand to provide this? The camera I would be getting the feed from is a Sony NX70U.

I've seen other companies do this through multi-cam switchers or from a single cam, but I am unsure of the workflow and required equipment involved to pull it off.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Josh Rudy · October 3rd, 2012, 07:45 AM

I'd say the fastest way (lowest cost as well) would be to record directly to the computer. Using that process in mind, personally if I was only concerned with the time saving aspect I would pre-assemble an intro/outro. Record using a simple program such as QuickTime Pro. Use a simple dvd program such as Toast Titanium or Nero. Drag the files in playing order into the software. Burn the master, and have a duplicator tower ready to copy the master.

You could make it a little more professional by prepping the dvds with labels, but thats up to you.

Warren Kawamoto · October 3rd, 2012, 09:20 AM

The fastest way would be a dvd recorder. Hit record, stop, then finalize. That's it!

John Estcourt · October 3rd, 2012, 02:45 PM

I've done the same thing as Warren, took a feed from the camera ( component out) and fed it into a DVD recorder.. ideal for quick and simple DVDs. not the best quality but if its required then its the easiest.

Rey Lowe · October 4th, 2012, 07:41 AM

Thanks for your input, gentlemen. Much will depend on timing. It's a cheer competition - 3-4 minutes per routine, but I am unsure of the delay time between performances to be able to produce a master.

Warren Kawamoto · October 4th, 2012, 02:04 PM

In that case, get 2 dvd recorders. I think you can get them for about $100 now. Alternate them, record on 1 and finalize, then switch unit to record the next performance.

Another not so instant way would be to record every cheer with 1 recorder, change dvd after every performance. When competition is done, finalize them one at a time and distribute.

Rey Lowe · October 4th, 2012, 02:08 PM

Great idea, Warren.
Does anyone have any recommendations of specific DVD recorders? Are we talking home units that you can find at any big box retailer or external USB drives?

Rey Lowe · October 9th, 2012, 05:38 PM

New question! :)

Do you guys/gals print your own discs for these types of events or outsource them?

Steve Slattery · October 10th, 2012, 02:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rey Lowe

Does anyone have any recommendations of specific DVD recorders? Are we talking home units that you can find at any big box retailer or external USB drives?

Ive done Cheer comps in the past using cheap and cheerful LG burners but I also had a couple of Toshiba's. Pretty much any consumer unit will do although some finalise faster than others. If you have access to a distribution amp that will help you feed two burners the same signal and use one while the other is finalising.

Steve

Rey Lowe · October 10th, 2012, 05:45 AM

I just ordered a couple of Toshiba consumer units. I'm hoping that they'll be what I need. I had planned on testing the workflow using a simple A/B switch between the two burners. Record one performance, start to finalize, switch to the second burner to record the next performance, etc.

Warren Kawamoto · October 10th, 2012, 08:51 AM

I've been using an obsolete Pioneer dvd recorder, originally it cost over $2000, but is very fast.

I was searching the Toshiba recorder, but came across a review that said it took 9 minutes to finalize a 4 minute video, which probably is too slow for your requirements.

Keith Dobie · October 10th, 2012, 09:57 AM

I'm trying to avoid using DVDs now.
If the client doesn't need the footage until the following day why not just do a quick basic edit back at your studio. You can output it as an MP4 and put it on a USB thumb, or upload it online. Your client will be able to easily view it, your footage will be seen in HD and look its best, and you could add some simple edits and graphics to make it look more professional. Put your company name and contact info at the end and anyone viewing it can get in touch with you for similar jobs. Good luck!

Rey Lowe · October 24th, 2012, 07:56 AM

Just as follow-up:

We ended up with three Toshiba DVD recorders. One was with me, connected to the camera, recording each routine. After each three minute routine was done, one of my children would take the DVD to our sales table where my wife would use one of the other two machines to finalize the disc (8:30 per disc) and then use our duplicator to make copies from it. Aside from an occasional bottleneck at the duplicator, this process served us very well to provide "bare bones" DVDs for parents to take home, but many opted for our "deluxe" version, which was priced slightly higher, but came with a menu, graphics, case and artwork. These are being mailed directly to the customer.

Thanks to everyone who weighed in on this. between the great people in this forum, some research and good ol' trial and error, our first live production event went as smooth as we could have hoped. Especially when we only had a few weeks to put it all together. Now, I just have to pay my children.

Paul R Johnson · October 24th, 2012, 09:36 AM

I have a couple of small cheap DVD recorders bought from the local supermarket that I use for this kind of thing - set max record length, hit record. Stop at the end then finalise and that is that. The quality is not the same as doing it our usual way, but perfectly adequate for this kind of thing, I often do two in parallel, then while the client is looking through one, the other is in the duplicator burning a few more as required.

October 3rd, 2012, 07:00 AM	#1
Rey Lowe Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Central VA Posts: 156	What Equipment is Needed to Provide Instant DVDs of a Live Event? I really despise these "instant" DVDs and swore I would never get involved with them, but I am being forced to at least research the process. Assuming I were to use a single camera to shoot an event (such as a cheer competition) or provide my single wide shot to a director of different event for next day critiquing of their performance, what do I need to have on hand to provide this? The camera I would be getting the feed from is a Sony NX70U. I've seen other companies do this through multi-cam switchers or from a single cam, but I am unsure of the workflow and required equipment involved to pull it off. Any advice would be appreciated.

October 3rd, 2012, 07:45 AM	#2
Josh Rudy Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Hampstead, Maryland Posts: 28	Re: What Equipment is Needed to Provide Instant DVDs of a Live Event? I'd say the fastest way (lowest cost as well) would be to record directly to the computer. Using that process in mind, personally if I was only concerned with the time saving aspect I would pre-assemble an intro/outro. Record using a simple program such as QuickTime Pro. Use a simple dvd program such as Toast Titanium or Nero. Drag the files in playing order into the software. Burn the master, and have a duplicator tower ready to copy the master. You could make it a little more professional by prepping the dvds with labels, but thats up to you. __________________ U.S. Marine Corps Combat Videographer

October 3rd, 2012, 09:20 AM	#3
Warren Kawamoto Trustee Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Honolulu, HI Posts: 1,435	Re: What Equipment is Needed to Provide Instant DVDs of a Live Event? The fastest way would be a dvd recorder. Hit record, stop, then finalize. That's it!

October 3rd, 2012, 02:45 PM	#4
John Estcourt Major Player Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Scotland, Ayr www.amour weddingvideos.co.uk Posts: 305	Re: What Equipment is Needed to Provide Instant DVDs of a Live Event? I've done the same thing as Warren, took a feed from the camera ( component out) and fed it into a DVD recorder.. ideal for quick and simple DVDs. not the best quality but if its required then its the easiest. __________________ john estcourt www.amourweddingvideos.co.uk

October 4th, 2012, 07:41 AM	#5
Rey Lowe Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Central VA Posts: 156	Re: What Equipment is Needed to Provide Instant DVDs of a Live Event? Thanks for your input, gentlemen. Much will depend on timing. It's a cheer competition - 3-4 minutes per routine, but I am unsure of the delay time between performances to be able to produce a master.

October 4th, 2012, 02:04 PM	#6
Warren Kawamoto Trustee Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Honolulu, HI Posts: 1,435	Re: What Equipment is Needed to Provide Instant DVDs of a Live Event? In that case, get 2 dvd recorders. I think you can get them for about $100 now. Alternate them, record on 1 and finalize, then switch unit to record the next performance. Another not so instant way would be to record every cheer with 1 recorder, change dvd after every performance. When competition is done, finalize them one at a time and distribute.

October 4th, 2012, 02:08 PM	#7
Rey Lowe Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Central VA Posts: 156	Re: What Equipment is Needed to Provide Instant DVDs of a Live Event? Great idea, Warren. Does anyone have any recommendations of specific DVD recorders? Are we talking home units that you can find at any big box retailer or external USB drives?

October 9th, 2012, 05:38 PM	#8
Rey Lowe Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Central VA Posts: 156	Re: What Equipment is Needed to Provide Instant DVDs of a Live Event? New question! :) Do you guys/gals print your own discs for these types of events or outsource them?

October 10th, 2012, 05:45 AM	#10
Rey Lowe Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Central VA Posts: 156	Re: What Equipment is Needed to Provide Instant DVDs of a Live Event? I just ordered a couple of Toshiba consumer units. I'm hoping that they'll be what I need. I had planned on testing the workflow using a simple A/B switch between the two burners. Record one performance, start to finalize, switch to the second burner to record the next performance, etc.

October 10th, 2012, 08:51 AM	#11
Warren Kawamoto Trustee Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Honolulu, HI Posts: 1,435	Re: What Equipment is Needed to Provide Instant DVDs of a Live Event? I've been using an obsolete Pioneer dvd recorder, originally it cost over $2000, but is very fast. I was searching the Toshiba recorder, but came across a review that said it took 9 minutes to finalize a 4 minute video, which probably is too slow for your requirements. Last edited by Warren Kawamoto; October 10th, 2012 at 04:12 PM.

October 10th, 2012, 09:57 AM	#12
Keith Dobie Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada Posts: 172	Re: What Equipment is Needed to Provide Instant DVDs of a Live Event? I'm trying to avoid using DVDs now. If the client doesn't need the footage until the following day why not just do a quick basic edit back at your studio. You can output it as an MP4 and put it on a USB thumb, or upload it online. Your client will be able to easily view it, your footage will be seen in HD and look its best, and you could add some simple edits and graphics to make it look more professional. Put your company name and contact info at the end and anyone viewing it can get in touch with you for similar jobs. Good luck!

October 24th, 2012, 07:56 AM	#13
Rey Lowe Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Central VA Posts: 156	Re: What Equipment is Needed to Provide Instant DVDs of a Live Event? Just as follow-up: We ended up with three Toshiba DVD recorders. One was with me, connected to the camera, recording each routine. After each three minute routine was done, one of my children would take the DVD to our sales table where my wife would use one of the other two machines to finalize the disc (8:30 per disc) and then use our duplicator to make copies from it. Aside from an occasional bottleneck at the duplicator, this process served us very well to provide "bare bones" DVDs for parents to take home, but many opted for our "deluxe" version, which was priced slightly higher, but came with a menu, graphics, case and artwork. These are being mailed directly to the customer. Thanks to everyone who weighed in on this. between the great people in this forum, some research and good ol' trial and error, our first live production event went as smooth as we could have hoped. Especially when we only had a few weeks to put it all together. Now, I just have to pay my children.

October 24th, 2012, 09:36 AM	#14
Paul R Johnson Inner Circle Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Lowestoft - UK Posts: 4,015	Re: What Equipment is Needed to Provide Instant DVDs of a Live Event? I have a couple of small cheap DVD recorders bought from the local supermarket that I use for this kind of thing - set max record length, hit record. Stop at the end then finalise and that is that. The quality is not the same as doing it our usual way, but perfectly adequate for this kind of thing, I often do two in parallel, then while the client is looking through one, the other is in the duplicator burning a few more as required.