To DVD or not to DVD?

Noa Put · March 7th, 2013, 04:18 PM

My experience is that most recent tv's can read mp4 without an issue, even my mpeg2 can be read on some but there are still new tv's, like these philips ambilight that can only handle divx avi files. I think if you would convert to a divx avi file about every tv should be able to read that.

Nigel Barker · March 7th, 2013, 05:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave Partington

Sorry if this has been covered and I missed it - but exactly what file format, container type, file extension and codec are you using on the USB stick?

I tried several file types tonight, including MP4, MOV and a couple of others and my TV didn't see any of them!

Time to get a new TV?

There is no need to muck about with a USB stick. The triple packaging that you see for some movies nowadays (Blu-ray, DVD & digital copy) don't have a USB stick for the digital copy they just have a download link. That leaves it up to the purchaser to figure out what they want to do with the digital copy & USB sticks are yesterday's technology when you can just click on the download link & import the movie into iTunes.

Dave Partington · March 8th, 2013, 05:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nigel Barker

Time to get a new TV?

Well, the question for me is always why should I? Since we're still not getting everything in 1080p, the TV still exceeds what is being transmitted! :)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nigel Barker

There is no need to muck about with a USB stick. The triple packaging that you see for some movies nowadays (Blu-ray, DVD & digital copy) don't have a USB stick for the digital copy they just have a download link. That leaves it up to the purchaser to figure out what they want to do with the digital copy & USB sticks are yesterday's technology when you can just click on the download link & import the movie into iTunes.

I totally agree. But we're trying to figure out how to streamline the post production workflow a little and offering a USB stick INSTEAD of DVD was one option I was considering, since it saves the MPEG2 compression time, loss of HD, building main menu, chapters, case design, label design etc etc. It's not a 30 minute job to make a DVD ;) While the raw cost of a USB stick and tin is more than the cost of some DVDs, the time to make them is worth something, so the USB stick could actually work out cheaper.

I'm seeing more and more people offering USB sticks, but I can't quite figure out what the best format would be. It seems my TV only plays USB sticks that are standard definition! Doh!

I guess we're stuck with the DVD workflow for now, unless some one can tell me how they actually make brides happy with USB only AND don't have to handle support calls when they can't play them!

The problem with the downloads (we do provide them now) is that untold number of people seem to have amazing problems with downloads. When I look at the sever logs they often have 5 or 10 attempts to download the files (from the same IP, so it's not multiple people) before finally getting it. that has to be frustrating for them, and any time they are frustrated (download, DVD, BD or USB stick), your reputation takes a hit.

Nigel Barker · March 8th, 2013, 06:11 AM

I wouldn't rely on the TV being able to play the file off a USB stick. More recent ones may do a decent job but many older ones won't even have a USB socket. Many other devices e.g. Blu-ray players, Freesat PVR etc can play HD MPEG4 files of a USB stick but your best bet is a dedicated standalone media player like one of these for just £26.99 (equivalent of $40 including tax) Xenta Full HD 1080p Media Player | Ebuyer.com

The downside for the client of delivery on USB stick is that they lose the convenience of the menu & navigation possibilities available with DVD or Blu-ray.

Dave Partington · March 8th, 2013, 06:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nigel Barker

The downside for the client of delivery on USB stick is that they lose the convenience of the menu & navigation possibilities available with DVD or Blu-ray.

I totally agree. I'm not sure if this craze will actually take here of or die a death one people realise they can only really play them on their computers reliably.

What about the guys in the USA? What are your experiences of this?

Roger Gunkel · March 8th, 2013, 07:03 AM

I've been offering USB and SD delivery options for about 18 months, and always have an example with me when I visit new clients. If they are interested in the formats, I try them on their TV to see if they run ok. If they do then they can have the final work in Mpeg4 so that they get a mich higher picture quality than with dvd.

I find as Dave said, creating menus, chapters, writing to dvd, artwork, printing etc is time consuming and a PITA! I'm not convinced on the download route, as it is only possible for those with a good reliable broadband download speed and the right package. Certainly on the UK outside main cities I can't see that being reliable enough.

Roger

Dave Partington · March 9th, 2013, 11:39 AM

Well, I've been looking in to this a lot more. Maybe I need to forget having the USB stick play in TVs at all. Some of them support HD, some only SD. Some need divx and can't play mp4, others want mp4 and can't play divx etc etc.

However, maybe it makes sense to just given the the HD files on the stick and be done with it. Even give them a link showing how to burn their own DVD from it if they want. It seems trivial in windows and for older macs with iDVD it's equally as trivial. Shame iDVD is no longer available and some macs don't even have a drive anymore!

Still, it's an option I think I'm going to offer, either as an alternative to, or as well as, DVD and Blu-ray.

Nigel Barker · March 9th, 2013, 04:29 PM

You don't need a USB stick to give them the digital files as you can just burn them to a DVD labelled clearly as a digital copy.

March 7th, 2013, 04:18 PM	#31
Noa Put Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Belgium Posts: 9,509	Re: To DVD or not to DVD? My experience is that most recent tv's can read mp4 without an issue, even my mpeg2 can be read on some but there are still new tv's, like these philips ambilight that can only handle divx avi files. I think if you would convert to a divx avi file about every tv should be able to read that.

March 8th, 2013, 06:11 AM	#34
Nigel Barker Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Norwich, Norfolk, UK Posts: 3,531	Re: To DVD or not to DVD? I wouldn't rely on the TV being able to play the file off a USB stick. More recent ones may do a decent job but many older ones won't even have a USB socket. Many other devices e.g. Blu-ray players, Freesat PVR etc can play HD MPEG4 files of a USB stick but your best bet is a dedicated standalone media player like one of these for just £26.99 (equivalent of $40 including tax) Xenta Full HD 1080p Media Player \| Ebuyer.com The downside for the client of delivery on USB stick is that they lose the convenience of the menu & navigation possibilities available with DVD or Blu-ray.

March 8th, 2013, 07:03 AM	#36
Roger Gunkel Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: LIncolnshire, UK Posts: 2,213	Re: To DVD or not to DVD? I've been offering USB and SD delivery options for about 18 months, and always have an example with me when I visit new clients. If they are interested in the formats, I try them on their TV to see if they run ok. If they do then they can have the final work in Mpeg4 so that they get a mich higher picture quality than with dvd. I find as Dave said, creating menus, chapters, writing to dvd, artwork, printing etc is time consuming and a PITA! I'm not convinced on the download route, as it is only possible for those with a good reliable broadband download speed and the right package. Certainly on the UK outside main cities I can't see that being reliable enough. Roger

March 9th, 2013, 11:39 AM	#37
Dave Partington Trustee Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: York, England Posts: 1,323	Re: To DVD or not to DVD? Well, I've been looking in to this a lot more. Maybe I need to forget having the USB stick play in TVs at all. Some of them support HD, some only SD. Some need divx and can't play mp4, others want mp4 and can't play divx etc etc. However, maybe it makes sense to just given the the HD files on the stick and be done with it. Even give them a link showing how to burn their own DVD from it if they want. It seems trivial in windows and for older macs with iDVD it's equally as trivial. Shame iDVD is no longer available and some macs don't even have a drive anymore! Still, it's an option I think I'm going to offer, either as an alternative to, or as well as, DVD and Blu-ray. __________________ Qualified UAV Pilot with CAA PFAW Aerial Photo / Aerial Video \| Corporate Video Production

March 9th, 2013, 04:29 PM	#38
Nigel Barker Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Norwich, Norfolk, UK Posts: 3,531	Re: To DVD or not to DVD? You don't need a USB stick to give them the digital files as you can just burn them to a DVD labelled clearly as a digital copy.