Off Topic: Onsite DVD duplication

[pdxJoe]

I consider this community my primary peer group, so please allow me to ask a slightly off-topic question.

I'm starting to produce a number of sporting events and I'm being asked about the ability to purchase a DVD of the event. I make the vod available online, but people still like to own a dvd and use their big screen tv.

What is the best workflow to create an onsite master and then handle the duplication? I'm nervous to offer a DVD without going through some post, but the onsite sale is the best opportunity.

I'd love to hear how others are making this happen.

Thank you,

Joe

[SportsJunkie]

Joe,
I primarily do high school sporting events - not college. I get asked for DVD's at almost every game. My issue is not technical, it's logistical.

Only during a Thanksgiving or Christmas tourney do we ever have "all day" events. Therefore, we must go to the arena, stadium, etc. and set up, film and tear down before the cleaning crew starts getting grumpy about us still being there. There is not enough time after the event is over to hang around, finalize the DVD and then duplicate.

Unless you have another person dedicated just to duplication, at the all day events, there is usually only a 15 minute period between the end of game 1 and the start of game 2. Again, not enough time.

I'd be interested in hearing how others are able to provide immediate duplication services.

[KWeaver]

Hi Joe,
It really depends on how often and your price point.
You can burn and print ~5 to 50 DVD's/ hour for about $2500 to $5500 equipment investment and between $.50 to $.90/DVD (ink and cost of DVD).
Or, if you can preprint the DVD's you can do that for about half the cost!
If I have enough lead time and a lock on the DVD label, I have them preprinted and than use a tower duplicator on site.
I prefer the "watershield Taiyo Yuden Media premium". Least return issues for only a few cents more! Be careful of knockoffs! High return issues!

Ken Weaver

[bbailey]

For UIL Marching contests here in Texas, I have to hand a finished DVD to each band director to take with them as well as make a master of all the bands for sale to the Band Parents. I have four DVD recorders at the stadium. I have a distribution amp taking the video feed to all four DVD recorders. I record deck one and deck four for the first band and at the same time I'm recording a DVCAM tape. I've already printed the band directors DVDs. At the end of the first band I stop it's DVD from recording and stop the DVCAM and deck four. I start finalizing deck one. At the beginning of the second band I start deck two recording along with the DVCAM and deck four. At the noon break I change the DVD in deck four and the DVCAM cassette and I've given all of the morning's band directors their DVDs. I've found three DVD recorders to be enough to easily keep up with the band director's DVDs. Deck four is just a backup for my DVCAM deck.

Once the contest is over I go back to the studio and make a master DVD for the morning bands, one for afternoon, and one for the evening. I do a little post to each band adding an open and close and chapter each on it's respective disk.

This beats the tar out of the way I used to have to do this on VHS cassettes.

[ZachSchuster]

I would have to say that pre-printing labels.. whatever amount you feel safe doing without having unused copies afterwards, and then using a tower duplicator would be the best choice.

We use a Primera Bravo SE2 for regular duplication projects (one printer, one burner), but in your situation, that would take too much time to make any usable number of discs. I don't mean to rant, but we used to have a Rimage 2000i. In five years we went through three units (and believe me, we UNDER-utilized the equipment). Completely unsatisfied with Rimage's technical and customer support. I cannot recommend Rimage to anyone. After switching to Primera, we've been very happy with the support, and the software interface is a lot better.

Another option-- order forms on site. Have them fill out an order form, tear off half for a receipt, and they pay you then. Mail them within a few days.

If you have the means, see if you can get an "ad" in the game program. Parents will see the ad and know where to find you for ordering copies, or the ad can direct them to a site to print an order form.

[Lee Hopper]

I am the king of onsite delivery of dvd's, email me at gvprod@earthlink.net
send me your number, I will get you up and rolling, fast and cheap
Lee

[Dub2Dat]

In addition to the other posts you may also consider taking orders on site and delivering the dvd later. I do this on an annual dance recital gig. It a two performance gig on a Saturday and a Sunday. We take orders on both days. We tell them the dvds will be delivered within three weeks but we always get them out within two weeks, sometimes sooner.

This way you don't need as much gear on site and you get time to make tweeks to the final product as necessary. But its a trade off. The customer satisfaction is delayed. You have to add a little extra to cover your shipping costs and all those orders have to have envelopes addressed and mailed.

You have to decide which way works best for your customers and you. It all depends on the gig. I have done it both ways...on site order fulfillment and taking orders and delivering later.