Re: Amateur Recital Video Editing
 

Dear Brad,

That sounds like a good plan.

Do you think the blu-ray disk offer should have an expiration date?

All the best, Eric

Re: Amateur Recital Video Editing
 

Don't put labels on DVD as this is a real opportunity for playback problems either immediately or after some time for the balance etc to shift. Use printable media and print on an Epson printer ( for example ) will give much better quality results.

Ron Evans

Re: Amateur Recital Video Editing
 

For 140 DVDs you might consider sending the job to a duplicating house. For a double DVD package the price should be less than 4$ per unit.

Re: Amateur Recital Video Editing
 

I've already found somewhere online that will duplicate at a price of $1.09 each (disc) per qty of 100 (plus shipping) but I'm already out of $$ so I am going to attempt to do it myself. I started this project with nothing and have since bought 2 cameras, 2 tripods, storage media, PC upgrades, software, etc. This has definately been a learning experience and if I ever do it again, I will definately charge more for the DVDs. Because of my lack of confidence in what I may be able to produce, I let these DVDs go for a pretty low cost.

I know there are arguments for and against "sticking" labels on DVDs, but I personnally have never had a problem with a CD or DVD that has had a label applied to it. It's a risk I am willing to take. Many of the DVDs from the last several years of this same recital have stick-on labels on them too and my goal from the beginning of this project (as an amateur with NO experience) was to do at least as good as past DVDs at a lower cost. I have already purchased the blank media, labels, and cases for really good deals from online sources and am prepared to have a go at it!

Since I now have a Blu-ray burner in addition to my DVD burner, I am hoping to be able to burn 2 discs simultaneously, but I haven't researched yet to see how feasible that is. My thoughts are that I can have the source files for disc1 on one hard drive and the source files for disc2 on another hard drive and burn both discs simultaneously on separate burners. Anyone have any experience with this?

Re: Amateur Recital Video Editing
 

I would strongly recommend a DVD Sharpie

Sharpie | Sharpie CD/DVD Permanent Marker

instead of the sticky labels. Any label can warp the disk and cheap labels are much more likely to do this than expensive ones. Then concentrate on artwork for the dvd box.

Re: Amateur Recital Video Editing
 

Most burning software like Nero will burn multiple discs at the same time from the files on the PC. It is however best to have two of the same burner for max performance. Don't do anything else on the PC while the discs are burning and make sure verify is turned on to ensure discs are verified after burn.
I would still recommend against using labels. At best they have to be put on with a jig to ensure they are in the absolute center of the disc or they will not play on most players. For that number of discs a local reproduction house will make and print on them a lot quicker than you could do them and at higher quality.

Ron Evans

Re: Amateur Recital Video Editing
 

If it takes 20 minutes to write a DVD, apply the sticky label and verify it, then it will take 46 hours to write 140 of them. At minimum wage this is 340 dollars of work. Since duplication costs a dollar a disk, you could make an extra 200 dollars by sending the disks to a duplication house.

Re: Amateur Recital Video Editing
 

I apologize for not posting back in this thread to let you all know the outcome of the recital video. I had posted an upate in my other thread in the "Wedding / Event Videography Techniques" section but failed to realize that not evryone here had subscribed to that thread (thanks Eric for the reminder). Here's the post from the other thread....

"I just wanted to check back in here to thank my team (all of you) for the support and advice that you provided for this recital video production. If I hadn't come to this forum seeking advice, I would have failed miserably as I wouldn't have had adequate equipment from the start.

My DVD set is complete - captured, edited, resized, authored, packaged, and ready for delivery! I sold a total of 65 copies. In the beginning of this thread I mentioned that (as an amateur with NO experience) I wanted to be able to produce a video that was at least as good as those of prior years' recitals. After finishing my product and reviewing it along side the last 5 years of DVDs, I feel very confident that I have met (and exceded) my goal! You all helped make it happen!

I now have a wedding that I am doing this Friday! Some friends are having a simple outdoor wedding ceremony and reception and weren't planning to hire a videographer, so I volunteered to do a video for them. I had so much fun with the recital video, I just couldn't wait for another project!

Thanks again for all the support and confidence that you have given me! I'll look forward to more on future projects!"

Since that post on June 29th, I have received good feedback from a few customers, so I am pretty pleased with the outcome! Thanks to everyone who helped out in this Vegas thread too!