DVD disclaimer

[Jim Prisby]

This NIST site has all of that kind of info and more. There is quite a descrepency on the longivity of DVD’s identified here…100-200 years, 30 years, Some reports elsewhere claim they start to degrade after 3-5 years. There doesn’t seem to be a definite answer you can give to a client. But, the care and handling guide listed on their site seems reasonable.

https://www.itl.nist.gov/div895/carefordisc/index.html

[Edward Troxel]

Here’s a good one by Marshall M on another forum:

DVD “Playability”

A primer on recordable DVD’s

Recordable DVD media is a relatively new invention; newer than Hollywood studio movies appearing on DVD. Major movie studios have large enough budgets to have a glass “master” disc made (a very costly process) and the DVD discs which are distributed to the public are actually pressed from this glass master.

The DVD discs used to create your Wedding Video are quite different than those used for feature movies. Recordable DVD’s come in 5 (that’s right!) different formats that may be incompatible with each other, as well as with your DVD player. The incompatibilities on home DVD players mostly arise from the formats not having been standardized by the industry at the time of manufacture of the DVD player in question. This issue is beginning to disappear as more home DVD players are sold that incorporate “playability” of the different formats.

There are certain things you can do to insure that your Wedding Video DVD will play on your player:

1. Avoid flexing or bending the disc. To remove the disc from the case, press the center hub of the case until the disc “pops” free of the hub. To replace the disc in the case, press down on the clear plastic surrounding the center hole until it locks in place.

2. ALWAYS handle the disc by the edge. NEVER hold the disc so that your fingers are touching either the recorded surface – the underside with a purple hue – or the printed top surface. Avoid doing anything that may scratch or mark up either surface.

4. Should fingerprints get on the recorded surface, it is O.K. to clean the disc with an approved cleaning system and in the proper manner, which is to wipe the surface radially, in a straight line from the center out to the edge of the disc. DO NOT WIPE THE DISC AROUND THE CIRCLE OF THE DISC. This will damage the data recorded on the disc. Also avoid getting the printed top surface wet.

3. Avoid extreme heat. Here in the desert, avoid leaving your Wedding DVD in your car during the summer.

Should you experience any problems in playing your Wedding DVD, please call me at the first opportunity. I will be happy to work with you to find a solution. I can be reached during evening hours at 555-5555, or by e-mail at ….

Edward Troxel

[Doug Graham]

In addition to the disclaimer, a lot of videographers provide an extra copy of the DVD. It’s a nice touch if you can shrink-wrap the extra copy and label it as an “archive” copy, to be used to make a replacement “for-use” disc in the event that the original “for-use” copy becomes damaged.

Regards,
Doug Graham

[Stephen Mann]

Nice story, Ed, but way too techie….

I include a nice glossy business card with every DVD that I deliver that reads:

“DVD Compatibility:

If your DVD player is more than two years old, it may not recognize this DVD. In general, the newer your DVD player, the more likely that it will play recordable DVD discs.

If you encounter difficulty playing any DVD disc that MannMade Digital Video made for you, please send an e-mail to: steve@mmdv.com and we will make a new DVD or provide the program on VHS tape.”

Stephen Mann,
MannMade Digital Video,
San Jose, CA

[Edward Troxel]

[Steve Mann] “but way too techie….”

But it DOES give the information! 🙂

I didn’t write it as mentioned in my post. I think it could be used as a reasonable starting point with the final result probably somewhere between it and yours. BTW, I’ve heard of some newer high-dollar DVD players that had problems with burned DVDs while the $50 ones seem to have no problems at all.

Edward Troxel