[Oscarin]

If you want your DVD replica to be CSS encrypted, then you do need to send a DLT tape flagged for encryption. If you dont want encryption on your DVD replica, just send a DVD-R (no DVD+R). What ever DVD-R video you put on a DVD player, that same DVD-R can be used for replication.

In a Mastering facility, the DLT or DVD-R you send is put on a Encoder which is interfaced to a LBR (Laser Beam Recorder). The encoder will read your media, analyze, convert it to DDP format (Disk Description Protocol, and dump it into a HDD. The encoder will then send an EFM signal to the LBR, and make a glass master.

Encoders:
https://www.eclipsedata.com/products/ie.htm
https://www.dcainc.com/products/mis/MIS_V8/index.html

LBR:
https://www.optical-disc.com/prod_odc_laserwaveII.htm
https://www.optical-disc.com/prod_nimbus_masteringsystems.htm

If you need to know more about CD replication
https://www.breckrowell.com/cd101/

[Oscarin]

I like Plextor drives, that is what I use at work and home. Most of the optical industry uses Plextor drives on their LBR mastering machines.

Oscar R.

[Oscarin]

Curious…why do these companies only support drives that are obsolete?
http://www.dcainc.com and http://www.eclipsedata.com have build their encoders around these drives. These encoders do a god job on analyzing your DLT media. If you started to send other DLT tapes that were recorded using newer DLT drives, your replicator would find multiple errors on your DLT tape.

Let me give you an example, you bought a DVD burner 5 years ago and never upgraded to a newer version of firmware. If you send your DVD-R to your replicator they might find warnings (fixable by your replicator) and errors. Not because your DVD-R/+R is playable on your computer, doesn’t mean is fully in-spec.

I’ve been making DVD-R’s recorded at 1X speed using Verbatim discs and have not had one disc come back unplayable…but why do it the right way if possible
Unless you have an older reliable DVD burner that its firmware code can write DVD’s at 1X, thats great. If you bought a newer DVD drive your slowest burning speed is 2X. I use Verbatim DVD+R DL myself to burn with encore DVD1.5, PX-716UF firmware Ver. 1.08, and my DL play on my Philips DVD player that I bought back in early 2001.

Oscar

[Oscarin]

You can use a DLT drive to back up your files (expensive):
Drives
https://www.quantum.com/Products/TapeDrives/DLT/Index.aspx
Tapes
https://www.cdw.com/shop/search/results.aspx?key=dlt&platform=all

Oscar

[Oscarin]

I can tell you its not easy to make CD and DVD glass masters, It’s one tough job. Cinram Olyphant made the calibration discs that the optical replication industry uses to calibrate their replica analyzers. If you have a large order for example, for an etra fee you can get some samples for your approval. Here is the encoder Cinram uses for their LBR:
https://www.dcainc.com/products/mis/index.html
You will find only DLT 4000,7000,8000 here in this list. They might only use these drives, as these are fully supported by their Mastering Interface System encoder.
https://www.dcainc.com/products/mis/tech_info/index.html

Oscar

[Oscarin]

That list means the DLT VS160 is supported by ImageCopy, ImageEncoder, ect. Your only concern now is VS160 being fully compatible and functional with Encore DVD 1.5 or 2.0. ImageCopy program will analyze and transfer the contents onto their SCSI Hard drive. This program analyzes the structure of the DLT image extensivelly. Any errors reported by ImageCopy, the replicator will reject your DLT. Note, do not add Copyright music to your video without approval from the content owners, the replicator will check for this.
You can contact Cinram Mfg. in Olyphant, PA http://www.cinram.com
These guys are one of the best, and they know their stuff. I believe you can even load your images onto an external HDD, and send them as your video for DVD.
You can even ask them if they accept electronic transfers (FTP). Here are some link where you can find specs. for tape media requirements.
https://www.cinram.com/dvd/us/usdvdsource.pdf
https://www.cinram.com/dvd/us/dvd_oly_sourceform.pdf
These guys have in-house Authoring/Compression, you could try getting an e-mail from them and ask them for any addition info.

Oscar

[Oscarin]

Maybe theirs a conflict between 2 or more files with 2 or more programs that you have installed. What I would do in your situation, I would backup all your jobs onto an external HDD. I would reinstall Windows XP, and install just the Adobe programs. See if Encore DVD sees your DLT drive.

Good Luck,
Oscar Ramirez

[Oscarin]

I have used Verbatim DVD+DL discs with an external Plextor PX-716UF. Try not to max. 9Mbits/sec on your transcode. As this will create freezes when playing your DVD’s on top-sets DVD players. And burn your DL at 4X. This plextor drives comes with PlexTools Professional software, with this program you can check for physical errors as PI (<=100) and PO fails (=0). Verbatim DL disc will not play on all players, as any other disc you insert to an old DVD player. I bought my Philips DVD player back in 2001, and it plays my Verbatim DL discs. If you go to low on your transcodes, you will lose quality. I heard its very noticable on big screen TV's. If you have that long of video, then put them on 2 DVD-5's. https://www.plextor.com/english/products/716uf.htm

Oscar Ramirez

[Oscarin]

If you want to send a DLT with macrovision, then you would have to pay royalties for each replicated disc. You’re better off with CSS encryption. Theres an option in Encore DVD 1.5 and 2.0 where you can flag encryption. It creates each sector at 2054 bytes in the control data (control.dat). As oppose to 2048 bytes in non-encryption.

What you will do is tell Encore DVD 1.5 or 2.0 to flag for encryption. Then, when you send you DLT tape to your replicator. You will have to let them know that the DLT tape needs encryption. They will add the keys during pre-mastering phase to the DDP (Disc Description Protocal) image. Their encoder will add the encryption to the DVD Glass master. Then you will get your replicated disc encrypted. The down side to CSS encryption or any other type of encryption, any person with a know-how of computers can easly decrypt the DVD and make their own DVD-R’s.

Oscar Ramirez

[Oscarin]

You would be better off finding a DLT4000 or DLT8000 from ebay. As these have been tested by adobe for Encore DVD 1.5. https://www.adobe.com/products/encore/pdfs/encore_dvd_burners.pdf
These have been used by major DVD replicator. If you’re looking for encryption (CSS 1, CSS 3), these drives will write each sector at 2054 bytes, or no encryption is at 2048 bytes. As for tapes, replicator prefer DLT I, II, III, maybe IV. Plus, data has to be written uncompressed. If you want a DVD-9 replica, you need to send 2 DLT tapes (1 for each layer). If you need a DVD-5, then I would just send a DVD-R. I have a DLT4000 at work, which is connected to a Eclipse imageencoder. This eclipse sends an EFM (Eight to Fourteen Modulation) signal to the LBR (Laser Beam Recorder), which the LBR uses to turn on and off the Laser to expose the Laser to the Photoresist and create pits.

Here you will find drives that most replicator use and are supported by Eclipse:
https://www.eclipsedata.com/products/peripherals/matrix.htm

LBR info: (if you have $2 million to spare)
https://www.optical-disc.com/prod_nimbus_masteringsystems.htm
https://www.optical-disc.com/prod_odc_laserwaveII.htm

Oscar Ramirez