Horizon Media Express Blog

B2B Marketing With Video Production

DVD Production and Duplication

You’ve got it - Now what do you do with it? I’m talking about authoring your DVD. Are you putting together a presentation for a new product, making a resume DVD, promoting your company, or putting together a campaign video? Then you need to author your DVD. But what is authoring?

Authoring is taking raw video footage as well as audio and combining it into a playable DVD. It is adding menus, chapter points, correcting colors and tweaking the audio and turning out a fined tuned professional product.

When going through the DVD production process make sure the facility you choose has the equipment necessary to accommodate all of the tape formats you may have used and the expertise to author your DVD. Many projects consist of everything from MiniDV to iPhone video and may have several audio components. Without professional DVD production equipment you cannot compile material from several sources into a cohesive presentation.

The experience of the person that is going to author your DVD is a key component that should not be left to chance. Just like a good comedian, the person that authors your DVD needs to have a sense of timing and structure to produce your project as you envisioned.

In many cases the DVD label and cover design is included in the DVD production process to maintain a uniform look for your project. DVD duplication and printing is the final step of the DVD production process. Now you’re ready to market a new line of products, grow your business, or win the campaign.

Related Article:

DVD Authoring Buyer's Guide

 

The Benefits of CD and DVD Duplication

There are all sorts of reasons why a company might want to use CD and DVD duplication services. For one thing, promotional CDs and DVDs can be a great marketing tool. While other companies are sending out flyers and coupons that are most likely just going to be thrown away, the company sending their potential customers a CD or a DVD is sure to stand out.

The most obvious promotional uses of CDs and DVDs are in the entertainment industry. Let's say you're a music producer who wants to promote a new album. You can send CDs with sample tracks to radio stations, music magazines and websites, and anyone else you can think of with the power to get the word out. Similarly, if you're a film producer trying to generate award season buzz, you can send "screener" DVDs or Blu-Rays to all the people with the power to vote for your film, to make it easier for them to see it, and declare it the year's best picture.

There are plenty of other uses for CD and DVD duplication services, as well. DVDs aren't just a great way to keep people informed about your products--they're a great way to keep people informed of just about anything. They make an amazing teaching tool. If you have employees in locations all over the country who all need to learn the same things and know the same procedures, the best way to teach them is by making a training video and sending a DVD copy of it to each of your locations. That way you can be sure everyone is getting exactly the information they need without having to be in multiple places at once. Or maybe your locations already have their training DVDs they've used for years. But technology keeps moving forward. It might be time to make and send everyone out new Blu-Ray copies instead.

Jobs aren't the only places where training is done by video. More and more educational DVDs and media CDs are being used in classrooms, and multimedia teaching methods are becoming an integral part of curricula across the country. Which means that whether you're a big producer of educational programming or just an educator with a camera and a good idea, with the right DVD duplication service and a little creative marketing you have the potential to reach not just one classroom but thousands.

Whatever field you're in, be it education, entertainment, sales, marketing, or any number of others, the best way to convey a visual message is with a DVD or Blu-Ray, and the best way to convey an audio message is with a CD. And whatever content you have, if you want to convey it to a large number of people, you'll need to use a good DVD and CD duplication service.

5 Reasons to Use DVD Duplication and Replication Services

Digital Media Production Codecs

“Codec" is a technical name for compression/decompression and means to code and decode. Why would you need it or even care? Codecs such as MPEG and AVI are the heart of digital audio and video production, storage and sharing. Music and video files are large and difficult to transfer rapidly. Codecs shrink a signal for transmission and decode it for viewing or editing. Without codecs, downloads would take three to five times longer than they do now. More than 30 codecs and their derivatives are used every day in digital media production and when you need files transferred from a videotape to a hard drive, you will need to know which one to use. Some standard codecs are MP3, WMA, DivX, WMV, AIFF, H.264 and many, many more. You can look up a lot of info on the web. I am only trying to make you aware of codecs, so when you start transferring audio and video to digital files for editing, web videos, DVDs, music CDs, TV broadcast and other applications you find out which codec is best for your application. No one codec (type of digital media file) is best, or even works for every project.

Codecs are used in audio and video production to compress raw data (audio, video, graphics etc…) into a compressed file. The codec is furthermore used to decode a compressed file so a user may edit, listen or view the file. With all of the codecs in proliferation, many overlap in quality, capabilities and uses.

Many factors need to be considered before deciding on a codec for your audio or video project. We’ll cover a few of the factors here.

• Will you be editing the audio or video?
• If part of a larger project, you must consider the existing codec (and other settings) in use.
• What computer platform are you using (MAC or PC) and what editing software.
• Are you archiving footage?
• Is storage space a concern?
• Are you uploading to the web, emailing files or looking to store personal videos?
• “Social” websites have codec requirements.
• File size constraints affect email and uploading to the web.
• Some codecs have higher likelihood of non-obsolescence.

In our experience, the more common video codecs are:

• Apple Pro Res                                                                  
• Uncompressed
• AIC (Apple Intermediate Codec)
• XDCAM
• AVID
• H.264
• MP4
• MP2
• WMV

These are some of the factors to consider when working with digital files, editing video and audio files and producing digital media projects. A good understanding of codecs is an important part of audio, video and digital media production. What I’ve tried to do here is share some of the basics from a non-technical point of view. Wikipedia has additional information about codecs.

Video Production - It Ain't What It Used To Be

At one time video production was someone lugging a huge film camera to capture moving images. Then there was an editor sitting in a dark room smoking a cigarette and armed with a razor blade hacking and taping film together to end up with a cohesive finished product.

What is video production and editing today?  It is the process of capturing images on electronic media and someone sitting in front of a computer screen ingesting videotape, or any other form of video media and turning out a finished product.

Today, video production can range from someone acquiring footage on a cell phone, to a full blown movie using multiple cameras.  It can range from a one man band with a camera, to a production truck with a full television crew, multiple cameras and a complete sound crew. 

Modern video is edited by using images recorded electronically instead of on film or tape stock. Editing is a service and an art that allows video content to be transformed into a product demonstration, wedding video, TV commercial, TV show, movie, resume, YouTube video, corporate video, or any other number of uses. Images can be stretched, manipulated and computer enhanced. Computer images can be added until reality and fiction can no longer be easily defined.

A wedding videographer in our commuinty had his wedding shot with cell phone cameras to demonstrate how much technology is changing the video production industry.  He realized brides want a video of their wedding immediately.  By using cell phone cameras to shoot their wedding, he and his wife watched an uploaded wedding video the same day.  To see the wedding video go to First Wedding Shot on an iPhone.

Technology is rapidly changing our lives in many ways and video production is no exception. It is fun to see how video production continues to evolve.

 

Related Article:

iPhone 4S Camera Specs: by Jerry Ferguson, Photographer 

5 Ways DVD Duplication is used in Marketing

The way businesses do marketing has changed significantly over the last 10 years. Google became a public company with an IPO August 19, 2004, FaceBook launched in February 2004, YouTube was created in February 2005 and purchased by Google November 2006. Twitter was created March 2006 and rolled out to the public in July 2006. Can you think of any large corporations that are not using all of these as part of their marketing mix? Even small companies use some or all of these for marketing. Where does this leave direct mail, seminars, marketing CDs and DVDs, tradeshows and print ads? Most of us are inundated with so many internet marketing messages we have become jaded. How many websites with banner ads do you search before locating the product or service you want? Is my inbox the only one over crowded with messages? Many marketing managers stayed with DVDs and print ads while others are taking a fresh look at traditional marketing. Some dedicated internet marketers are starting to utilize direct mail, marketing DVDs, seminars and print ads to differentiate their business in a congested internet marketplace. Let’s take a look at some of the ways DVD duplication is used as part of an effective marketing program. Have you thought about using DVDs and QR codes together? Read on.        

Direct Mail 

Visualize your prospects watching a customized presentation about your products and services in the comfort of their home or office. A direct mail campaign with your presentation on DVD is a cost effective way to deliver a customized message directly to specific groups of prospects. With DVD copies you save 2 ways. DVD duplication is inexpensive compared to printing cost for folders filled with glossy marketing material and postage for a direct mail DVD is less as well.  

Seminars  

You’ve invited 50 people to a seminar and invested many hours developing a knock-your-socks-off presentation. But will they remember and respond to your offer? Send them home with a CD or DVD. They can review key points of the presentation, watch a video about your products, link to your company website, print out forms and documents and so much more.

Marketing DVDs

Wouldn’t it be great to have one versatile marketing tool for your business? A marketing DVD works hard for businesses large and small. Mail them out when prospects contact you by phone or email, take them on sales calls, and put some on the front counter. Loop the DVD video in your showroom. DVDs can contain anything from a video about your company to a catalog. Selling boats? We made DVD and Blu-Ray copies of a new line of boats this week. Seeing those boats skimming across lakes and rivers made me want to go out and buy one. With on-demand DVD duplication you can get as many as you need when you need them.          

Tradeshows

Businesses display at trade shows to accomplish several goals. Putting your booth in front of prime prospects builds your business brand, protects your turf, moves prospects toward a buying decision, provides a platform to introduce new products, gives you an opportunity to meet with key decision makers and close the deal. DVDs are an inexpensive way to accomplish all these goals. A video DVD about your company builds your brand. A product catalog on CD/DVD is less expensive than printed catalogs and in this carry-on world clients are more likely to pack a thin 5”X5” CD/DVD catalog than a large print version. There is no better way to introduce a new product than with a presentation DVD.

The DVD can link from their computer to your website when they are ready to order. Whatever your goals, DVDs are an effective marketing tool for tradeshows.           

Print Ads

Most of you are familiar with DVD offers in print ads. The ad includes a picture of a DVD and the text reads, call today and request a DVD about our retirement village, cruise ship, riding lawnmower. I’ll take the cruise ship DVD.  Replace the picture of a DVD with a QR code and readers use their smartphones to link directly to an online DVD request form.  

For more information about ways to use DVDs and CDs in your marketing read two blog articles below.

Related Articles:
Cutting Edge Marketing: Using Custom DVDs and CDs

Can Print Marketing & Digital Marketing Work Together?

CD Duplication - Alive and Well

CD Duplication is alive and doing quite well. You may have heard rumors that CDs are dead and buried, they were killed by something called iTunes.  But, iTunes does not fit every occasion or need.

Many people enjoy the audio quality of CDs, which is better than iTunes! There are also many people that like to own something tangible. There are also people who appreciate the art on CDs, like to read the label, check out the top and tray card, and see what the artist may have to say.

Countless musical artists play in bars, honky tonks and night clubs.  Many play at weddings, bar mitzvahs, or on cruise ships.  For them, the CD is still king. Why? That’s easy.  Their CDs can easily be sold right after the performance.   

CDs can be easily reproduced at any duplication facility in almost any quantity at a price that is cost effective. The artist is only limited by his imagination and budget. CD duplication quantities of 50 or 100 are affordable and can be packaged in an assortment of packaging options such as jewel cases with top and tray cards, slimline jewel cases, DVD cases, paper sleeves and clamshell cases.

Many CD and DVD duplicators can also satisfy a customer’s needs of 1000 or more by handling CD replication. CD replication uses a glass master to press out the CDs and offers even more affordability. When the quantity gets to this level the CD packaging options also expand to include 2 and 4 panel pocket sleeves and Digi Packs as viable options.

It may seem contradictory for young people from Generation Y who grew up in the age of personal computers and electronic gadgets to want music CDs, DVDs and Blu-Ray movies, but they do. Once Generation Y (Net Generation) starts working and setting up house the collecting of things begins. Music CDs and Blu-Ray movies are some of the things collected. A friend in the media industry said physical media will be around as long as there is a Santa Claus. That may be a stretch, but for now CDs, DVDs and Blu-Rays are alive and well.    

Related Articles:

CNET NEWS: Will Music CDs Be Dead In 14 Months?

ABOUT.com: Do I still Need To Press CDs?

Video Production and Closed Captioning

Video Production and Closed Captioning

Some components of video production are similar whether producing TV programs, marketing and training videos or weddings. However there are differences and one element that experienced video production companies often overlook on their first project for broadcast is closed captioning. Closed captioning, when activated on your TV, displays audio information as text across the bottom of the screen. In 1996 Congress required broadcasters, satellite distributors and cable operators to close caption TV programs to provide a way for the hard of hearing and deaf to enjoy television and receive critical news and weather reports. For background information, go to the closed captioning section of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) website

Even if you have never used closed captioning, you have probably seen it in restaurants, sports bars and airports. Usually closed captioning appears as white letters in a black box near the bottom of the TV screen. This visual transcription of the audio is referred to as closed because only viewers who choose to activate the closed captioning feature see the captions on screen.

Closed captioning guidelines are different for prerecorded programs than for live broadcasts. Closed captioning for prerecorded programs allows the user to understand not just the dialog being spoken, but the sounds they would otherwise miss, like a phone ringing or a baby crying. It also differentiates between several people speaking on the screen by saying something like announcer or man in blue. Closed captioned live broadcasts such as sporting events may not include as much detail. Although it was primarily designed for the hearing impaired it is also used as a reading aid for children and individuals learning English. When producing commercials for local businesses video production companies in small and mid-size TV markets often ignored closed captioning guidelines. Over the last several years the FCC has encouraged everyone producing TV programming and commercials to comply with closed captioning requirements.   

Advancements in technology have often made it difficult for the public to have access to closed captioning. When HDTVs came on the market in the United States it was a challenge to deliver high definition video with closed captioning information through broadcast, cable and satellite systems to HGTVs in homes. To complicate the situation users had to go through a series of steps to setup cable and satellite set-top boxes to display closed captioning. During the early years of HGTV closed captioning problems were common. Many of these problems are discussed in the Scrippsnews article “HDTV Wreaks Havoc on Closed Captioning.” Most of these problems have been addressed by broadcast providers and equipment manufacturers.

As more of us watch streaming video on computers, tablets and smartphones the demand for access to closed captioning on these devices increases. A July 18, 2011 column by Alfred Poor in HDTV Magazine HDTV Almanac – Closed-Captions Coming to the Internet, said, “Some individuals with disabilities – particularly those with limited hearing – are closed out from this video content because it does not include closed captioning.” Some of the big players in streaming video are making significant progress. In a February 29, 2012 blog Netflix announced they reached their captioning goal for 2011 in mid-December when more than 80% of the hours streamed in the US offered content with captions or subtitles available.

An umbrella organization Coalition of Organizations for Accessible Technology (COAT) has been working with the FCC to ensure accessibility of all broadband, wireless, and internet technologies for people with disabilities. January 13, 2012 the FCC released Internet Protocol (IP) TV Captioning Rules as a component of the 21^st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act. How do these new FCC rules impact the video production industry? The FFC ruling requires owners of video programming to incorporate captions of at least the same quality as TV captions of the same program for IP-delivered video. Programming owners will also be required to send caption files along with program files for IP-delivered video. Read the report from COAT about compliance deadlines and a more complete list of the new FCC rules. As the world moves full-throttle into digital media, closed captioning continues to be an integral part of video production and distribution.              

DVD Duplication - A Cost Effective Business Promotion Tool

Want to sell your product or service?  Whether your                                   
business is large or small, business to business or retail,
using DVDs or Blu-Ray Disc can be a great benefit.
Perhaps you are a financial planner, or motivational
speaker, or maybe you are a musician.  Duplicated DVDs
can help you sell your product or service. 
Many professional offices now have high definition TV’s
in their lobby playing a DVD or Blu-Ray Disc to
demonstrate their product or explain their service. 
A car or motor home dealership may use a DVD to
highlight the differences between models.
Duplicated DVDs are a valuable tool at trade shows.  Demonstrate your product or service by using a looped DVD that will play continuously.  DVDs are easy to hand out to potential customers.
DVDs and Blu-Ray Discs can be easily reproduced at any duplication facility in almost any quantity at a price that is cost effective.  You are only limited by your imagination and budget.  Small quantities of 50 or 100 are affordable and can be packaged in an assortment of DVD packaging options such as DVD cases, slimline DVD cases, jewel cases with top and tray cards, and paper sleeves.  Many DVD/CD duplicators can also meet the needs of those requiring larger quantities of 1000 or more by offering replication.  DVD Replication offers even more affordability and packaging options that include 2 and 4 panel pocket sleeves and Digi Paks.
Start promoting your product or service by using DVDs or Blu-Ray Discs to spread the word about what you have to offer.   DVD duplication is a cost effective way to promote any business from start-ups to large corporations.