One disc or two at DVinfo.net

Peter Rush · November 13th, 2015, 04:39 AM

Last season I had a good number of wedding edits that amounted to near 2 and a half hours which meant juggling quality vs file size for DVD delivery which is a faff and a compromise. One option I'm looking at is delivering on 2 discs with the wedding film on one disc (normally about 30 minutes) and the ceremony/speeches/first dance on the other.

Downside of this is 2 discs to author, although I suppose the disc with the wedding film can simply play without a menu?

Thoughts?

Chris Harding · November 13th, 2015, 08:07 AM

Hi Pete

Apart from the slight hassle of dual authoring, the cost of a 2nd blank is minimal but the perceived value by the bride is way higher than a single disc! Offering a dual DVD set means she is getting much more product for her outlay and really only a tiny extra amount of effort from you.

I supply all brides a dual DVD set ..regardless of their wedding size. Normally disk 1 has the prep, ceremony and photoshoot on it and disk 2 is the reception. The only time I give a single disk is when I do the odd ceremony only shoot so 90% of my deliveries are always dual DVD's ... I use the same menu temple for both and just change the menu wording

Roger Gunkel · November 13th, 2015, 09:38 AM

I've filmed a few weddings this year that needed to go on two discs, usually when the ceremony is very long.

I edit as one complete length on the time line, then when editing is finished, just split at an appropriate point and save as two files. I use the same menu style for both with part one or two on the main menu page. Rendering two shorter files to disc is only a bit longer than one longer file and I use a double case, so only the one sleeve artwork and the same disc artwork, just add part one or two. Splitting in two gives less compression and a better overall quality than one longer file.

Roger

Anthony McErlean · November 13th, 2015, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peter Rush

..near 2 and a half hours
Thoughts?

Peter, my wedding DVDs run 2hrs + my last wedding ran 2.25mins and I only used the one DVD.
The picture quality looked really good to my eyes.
I use Edius 8.1

Steve Burkett · November 13th, 2015, 12:30 PM

2 disks, with full length on 1 and bonus videos on the 2nd. Occasionally I'm doing a 3rd with Guestcam and video booth uncut included.

Jeff Harper · November 13th, 2015, 12:37 PM

2.5 hours fits fine at full quality on a dual layer disc. If we cannot afford dual layer discs then we need to raise our prices.

Most sophisitcated brides here see multiple discs as a hassle, as I do, but in other parts it might be seen differently. My one friend who provides multiple discs is on the way out, he is a dinosaur who cannot change his ways of doing buisness, he stil shoots in SD and does not offer BR. I've been doing bluray for years, it's expected in these parts. All the younger, newer operators here offer BR and digital copies, some won't evenn provide DVDs anymore.

I think it all depends on where you are.

Chris Harding · November 13th, 2015, 06:05 PM

Hi Jeff

We are obliged to supply DVD's simply cos the brides ask for them. I don't like the idea of laying down rules to clients as to what they can have and can't have. If my brides want DVD's they get DVD's... not many here have a BD player so we normally supply 3 x DVD sets, then a USB drive for the HD video and finally our 7" video eBook with the high light video on it.

That way we cover all requirements. You have to realise that the grandparents might still have a CRT TV and a 20 year old DVD player so a BluRay is useless to them and just shows you up in a bad light and the poor old dears probably have never seen a USB flash drive either.

Michael Silverman · November 13th, 2015, 07:32 PM

One of the best business decisions I've ever made was to include a custom engraved USB drive instead of DVDs with each wedding. I was really concerned that brides would complain that they weren't getting a DVD but over the past year none of them have even asked about it. I've also gotten compliments on the USB drive which is wooden and has their wedding date engraved on it.

Instead of having to author a DVD, design the cover, and get it printed, now I just copy the MP4 files on the USB and ship it to the bride. It's saved a ton of time and also the bride can watch their final videos in HD rather than SD. I still offer DVDs but they are a paid option which some brides have purchased.

I was pretty shocked that not a single bride has flinched at the idea of getting a USB instead of a DVD but I've been really glad that I made the switch because I really dislike authoring DVDs.

Julius Smith · November 15th, 2015, 05:25 PM

HI Michael

I'm thinking of going this route too..can I ask where you get these custom made usb keys?

Thanks

Michael Silverman · November 15th, 2015, 06:32 PM

I use USB Memory Direct and here's a link to the drives I've been using:

https://www.usbmemorydirect.com/products/wdr7.htm

The person I spoke with recommended the "pine" drives because pine is apparently a more solid wood than some of the others so it can handle the stress of being engraved without cracking.

I've also heard that Flashbay is a good company but I haven't worked with them myself.

Julius Smith · November 16th, 2015, 09:36 AM

HI Michael,

I contacted them and although they will put my logo on the usb key they won't personalize each usb key (with the couples names or date).

Thanks

Michael Silverman · November 16th, 2015, 11:18 AM

Julius, I forgot that I had another company do the actual engravings. I used a local company that's right down the street from me:

Hightech Signs: Charlottesville VA Signs, Banners, Trophies, Engraving, Scoreboards and Electrical Service

There are dozens of companies around here that do engravings so I imagine you can find one around your area pretty easily.

Dan Tolbertson · November 18th, 2015, 01:38 PM

my last few Wedding I have only provided a BR disc and no DVD's. No complaints from anyone and it didn't really leave it as an option. just stated in my contract and to them that their wedding would be delivered on Blu-Ray and in HD. it is no so much a 1 vs 2 disc thing but more in delivering a product that was in SD. Who even has an SD TV anymore? anyways so far so good.

Alex Harper · November 18th, 2015, 02:44 PM

Personally I never went over 2 hours per DVD but this week I crammed 3H20M on a DVD at 2MB bitrate! I was pushed for time and to my surprise it didn't look as bad as I thought it would! A lot has to do with the encode process the same way a downloaded movie at 6GB looks almost identical to the retail Blu-ray of 50Gb. If you encode correctly you can push the limits. That said I am strict when it comes to quality the only reason I went as low as 2MB is because I give Blu-rays & USB's with the FullHD content. DVDs are crappy plain and simple so if you use one disc or two discs it doesn't matter it's still not HD. Save yourself the time burn it all to one disc.

Pete Cofrancesco · November 18th, 2015, 03:40 PM

Who wants to watch more than 2 hrs? I'd do dual layer but I've split reception and ceremony on separate discs. I've done theatrical performance and doing 2 discs might mean 100 instead of 50 dvds now that's a significant decision. Not wanting to burn an extra disc or use dual layer for client who paid you significant amount of money, to put as nicely as I can, ungenerous

November 13th, 2015, 04:39 AM	#1
Peter Rush Inner Circle Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: UK/Yorkshire Posts: 2,069	One disc or two Last season I had a good number of wedding edits that amounted to near 2 and a half hours which meant juggling quality vs file size for DVD delivery which is a faff and a compromise. One option I'm looking at is delivering on 2 discs with the wedding film on one disc (normally about 30 minutes) and the ceremony/speeches/first dance on the other. Downside of this is 2 discs to author, although I suppose the disc with the wedding film can simply play without a menu? Thoughts?

November 13th, 2015, 08:07 AM	#2
Chris Harding Inner Circle Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Perth, Western Australia Posts: 8,441	Re: One disc or two Hi Pete Apart from the slight hassle of dual authoring, the cost of a 2nd blank is minimal but the perceived value by the bride is way higher than a single disc! Offering a dual DVD set means she is getting much more product for her outlay and really only a tiny extra amount of effort from you. I supply all brides a dual DVD set ..regardless of their wedding size. Normally disk 1 has the prep, ceremony and photoshoot on it and disk 2 is the reception. The only time I give a single disk is when I do the odd ceremony only shoot so 90% of my deliveries are always dual DVD's ... I use the same menu temple for both and just change the menu wording

November 13th, 2015, 09:38 AM	#3
Roger Gunkel Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: LIncolnshire, UK Posts: 2,213	Re: One disc or two I've filmed a few weddings this year that needed to go on two discs, usually when the ceremony is very long. I edit as one complete length on the time line, then when editing is finished, just split at an appropriate point and save as two files. I use the same menu style for both with part one or two on the main menu page. Rendering two shorter files to disc is only a bit longer than one longer file and I use a double case, so only the one sleeve artwork and the same disc artwork, just add part one or two. Splitting in two gives less compression and a better overall quality than one longer file. Roger

November 13th, 2015, 12:30 PM	#5
Steve Burkett Trustee Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Romsey, UK Posts: 1,261	Re: One disc or two 2 disks, with full length on 1 and bonus videos on the 2nd. Occasionally I'm doing a 3rd with Guestcam and video booth uncut included.

November 13th, 2015, 12:37 PM	#6
Jeff Harper Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 8,425	Re: One disc or two 2.5 hours fits fine at full quality on a dual layer disc. If we cannot afford dual layer discs then we need to raise our prices. Most sophisitcated brides here see multiple discs as a hassle, as I do, but in other parts it might be seen differently. My one friend who provides multiple discs is on the way out, he is a dinosaur who cannot change his ways of doing buisness, he stil shoots in SD and does not offer BR. I've been doing bluray for years, it's expected in these parts. All the younger, newer operators here offer BR and digital copies, some won't evenn provide DVDs anymore. I think it all depends on where you are. __________________ "The horror of what I saw on the timeline cannot be described."

November 13th, 2015, 06:05 PM	#7
Chris Harding Inner Circle Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Perth, Western Australia Posts: 8,441	Re: One disc or two Hi Jeff We are obliged to supply DVD's simply cos the brides ask for them. I don't like the idea of laying down rules to clients as to what they can have and can't have. If my brides want DVD's they get DVD's... not many here have a BD player so we normally supply 3 x DVD sets, then a USB drive for the HD video and finally our 7" video eBook with the high light video on it. That way we cover all requirements. You have to realise that the grandparents might still have a CRT TV and a 20 year old DVD player so a BluRay is useless to them and just shows you up in a bad light and the poor old dears probably have never seen a USB flash drive either.

November 13th, 2015, 07:32 PM	#8
Michael Silverman Major Player Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Charlottesville Posts: 255	Re: One disc or two One of the best business decisions I've ever made was to include a custom engraved USB drive instead of DVDs with each wedding. I was really concerned that brides would complain that they weren't getting a DVD but over the past year none of them have even asked about it. I've also gotten compliments on the USB drive which is wooden and has their wedding date engraved on it. Instead of having to author a DVD, design the cover, and get it printed, now I just copy the MP4 files on the USB and ship it to the bride. It's saved a ton of time and also the bride can watch their final videos in HD rather than SD. I still offer DVDs but they are a paid option which some brides have purchased. I was pretty shocked that not a single bride has flinched at the idea of getting a USB instead of a DVD but I've been really glad that I made the switch because I really dislike authoring DVDs.

November 15th, 2015, 05:25 PM	#9
Julius Smith Regular Crew Join Date: May 2010 Location: Montreal Canada Posts: 61	Re: One disc or two HI Michael I'm thinking of going this route too..can I ask where you get these custom made usb keys? Thanks

November 15th, 2015, 06:32 PM	#10
Michael Silverman Major Player Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Charlottesville Posts: 255	Re: One disc or two I use USB Memory Direct and here's a link to the drives I've been using: https://www.usbmemorydirect.com/products/wdr7.htm The person I spoke with recommended the "pine" drives because pine is apparently a more solid wood than some of the others so it can handle the stress of being engraved without cracking. I've also heard that Flashbay is a good company but I haven't worked with them myself.

November 16th, 2015, 09:36 AM	#11
Julius Smith Regular Crew Join Date: May 2010 Location: Montreal Canada Posts: 61	Re: One disc or two HI Michael, I contacted them and although they will put my logo on the usb key they won't personalize each usb key (with the couples names or date). Thanks

November 16th, 2015, 11:18 AM	#12
Michael Silverman Major Player Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Charlottesville Posts: 255	Re: One disc or two Julius, I forgot that I had another company do the actual engravings. I used a local company that's right down the street from me: Hightech Signs: Charlottesville VA Signs, Banners, Trophies, Engraving, Scoreboards and Electrical Service There are dozens of companies around here that do engravings so I imagine you can find one around your area pretty easily.

November 18th, 2015, 01:38 PM	#13
Dan Tolbertson Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Menifee, CA Posts: 126	Re: One disc or two my last few Wedding I have only provided a BR disc and no DVD's. No complaints from anyone and it didn't really leave it as an option. just stated in my contract and to them that their wedding would be delivered on Blu-Ray and in HD. it is no so much a 1 vs 2 disc thing but more in delivering a product that was in SD. Who even has an SD TV anymore? anyways so far so good. __________________ Sony Fan Boy! Sony AX100, VG20, RX10, A6000, CX760 and a GoPro 4

November 18th, 2015, 02:44 PM	#14
Alex Harper Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Johannesburg Posts: 44	Re: One disc or two Personally I never went over 2 hours per DVD but this week I crammed 3H20M on a DVD at 2MB bitrate! I was pushed for time and to my surprise it didn't look as bad as I thought it would! A lot has to do with the encode process the same way a downloaded movie at 6GB looks almost identical to the retail Blu-ray of 50Gb. If you encode correctly you can push the limits. That said I am strict when it comes to quality the only reason I went as low as 2MB is because I give Blu-rays & USB's with the FullHD content. DVDs are crappy plain and simple so if you use one disc or two discs it doesn't matter it's still not HD. Save yourself the time burn it all to one disc.

November 18th, 2015, 03:40 PM	#15
Pete Cofrancesco Inner Circle Join Date: May 2004 Location: USA Posts: 3,005	Re: One disc or two Who wants to watch more than 2 hrs? I'd do dual layer but I've split reception and ceremony on separate discs. I've done theatrical performance and doing 2 discs might mean 100 instead of 50 dvds now that's a significant decision. Not wanting to burn an extra disc or use dual layer for client who paid you significant amount of money, to put as nicely as I can, ungenerous