Frequently Asked Questions & Answers

Q. What video format is used on a DVD?
Q. What are the special features of DVD?
Q. Why does a DVD replicator need to be licensed?
Q. What is the difference between DVD-Video and DVD-ROM?
Q. Will an audio CD work in my DVD player?
Q. Will a CD-ROM work in my DVD player?
Q. Can I use a DVD-Video disc in my computer?
Q. Can I use a DVD-ROM disc in my DVD-Video Player?
Q. What is the difference between DVD replication and DVD duplication?
Q. What is the difference between DVD-5 and DVD-9?
Q. When do I author or replicate DVD-5 vs. DVD-9?
Q. What is an authoring bit rate?
Q. What is constant bit rate vs. variable bit rate?
Q. How can I protect my discs from being ripped (pirated)?
Q. What about the new DVD high-definition formats?
!. One additional note on the new DVD high-definition formats!


Q. What video format is used on a DVD?
A. Movies on DVD are encoded with MPEG-2 video streams and Dolby Digital (formerly AC-3) or PCM audio streams. top ↑

Q. What are the special features of DVD?
A. There is usually 1 video track and up to 8 audio tracks. There is support for multiple camera angles, 16:9 aspect ratios and multiple languages and subtitles. DVD also supports branching of the video program based on viewer input. Some discs contain both video and data and can be used in a set-top player and a computer. top ↑

Q. Why does a DVD replicator need to be licensed?
A. In the replication of DVD's, there are many standards and industry guidelines that must be met to insure the highest quality product is manufactured. These standards are established worldwide by numerous licensing agencies to which licensing/royalty fees are paid, insuring the continued integrity of the manufactured product. If a replicator is not licensed by all three DVD consortiums, your company and your product is at risk of possible litigation. The three major recognized licensing agencies to which patent DVD patent royalties are paid are

DVD 3C Licensing Group
www.licensing.philips.com/licensees/database/ top ↑

DVD 6C Licensing Group
www.dvd6cla.com/licensee.html top ↑

MPEG-LA Licensing Group
www.mpegla.com/m2/ top ↑

Q. What is the difference between DVD-Video and DVD-ROM?
A. DVD-Video contains video programs and is used primarily in a set-top DVD-Video player connected to your TV or computer. DVD-ROM contains computer data and works much like a high-capacity CD-ROM. top ↑

Q. Will an audio CD work in my DVD player?
A. Most DVD-Video players will play audio CD discs. As with CD-ROM drives, computers with DVD drives can play audio CD discs. top ↑

Q. Will a CD-ROM work in my DVD player?
A. CD-ROMs will not work in a set-top DVD-Video player. A CD-ROM can only be used in a computer. A computer with a DVD drive will read CD-ROM discs. top ↑

Q. Can I use a DVD-Video disc in my computer?
A. Most likely. Most computers now have DVD drives and the necessary player software. top ↑

Q. Can I use a DVD-ROM disc in my DVD-Video Player?
A. No. A DVD-ROM disc is designed for use in a computer with a DVD drive only. top ↑

Q. What is the difference between DVD replication and DVD duplication?
A. DVD replication is a high speed process for larger DVD quantities. It involves the making of a glass master/stamper and the discs are produced from raw optical grade polycarbonate. DVD duplication is taking pre-manufactured blank media and burning the data onto the DVD disc. top
Q. What is the difference between DVD-5 and DVD-9?
A. While all replicated discs have two layers (layer 0 and layer 1), a DVD-5 has data only on layer 0 (up to 4.7 gigs), while the DVD-9 disc has data on both layers (up to 8.5 gigs) top ↑

Q. When do I author or replicate DVD-5 vs. DVD-9?
A. Usually the length of your program, number of languages and special features will determine if your project should be authored as a DVD-5 or DVD-9. As a rule of thumb, subject material running up to about 105 minutes with limited special features can be authored as a DVD-5. top ↑

Q. What is an authoring bit rate?
A. The bit rate is the rate of MPEG-2 video that is being encoded. The faster the bit rate, the better the picture
quality. top ↑

Q. What is constant bit rate vs. variable bit rate?
A. Constant bit rate is one set bit rate for encoding the entire project to DVD. Variable bit rate is used to optimize picture quality for a longer running title. Example: while talking heads need only a slow bit rate, action scenes and dark scenes require a faster bit rate. top ↑

Q. How can I protect my discs from being ripped (pirated)?
A. There are numerous DVD copy-protection schemes on the market. Below is an overview of the four most popular encryption schemes. top ↑

Content Scramble System (CSS) is a Digital Rights Management (DRM) scheme used on almost all commercially produced DVD-Video discs. It utilizes a weak, proprietary 40-bit stream cipher algorithm. It initially prevented digital to digital copying before DVD disc drives were readily available in computers. The system was introduced around 1996 and has subsequently been compromised. top ↑

Macrovision ACP encrypted DVD discs will prevent digital to analog copying and will cause a VCR set to record to fail. This is usually visible as a scrambled picture as if the tracking was incorrect, or the picture will fade between overly light and dark. Macrovision ACP can only be applied by a licensed authoring facility or replicator and pricing for application of Macrovision ACP is fee based per disc. top ↑

Macrovision RipGuard: In February 2005, Macrovision introduced their new DVD RipGuard technology. This is designed to prevent (or reduce) digital DVD copying by altering the format of the DVD content in such a way as to disrupt the ripping software. Macrovision claims that 97% of all current DVD rippers will not be able to copy a DVD protected by RipGuard technology. As of May 2007, RipGuard version 2.4 has been released which has plugged many of the exploits that the ripper programs used to circumvent the protection. RipGuard also renders the formatted section of DVDs unwatchable on some players. The audio is intact, but the image appears scrambled. Macrovision RipGuard can only be applied by a licensed authoring facility or replicator and pricing for application of Macrovision RipGuard is fee based per disc. top ↑

Macrovision RipGuard MoD (Media on Demand): Macrovision's newest tool similar to RipGuard finally provides the ability to copy protect smaller quantity recordable DVDs, including DVD-R's and dual layer DVD-R's. RipGuard MoD can only be applied by a licensed authoring facility or duplicator and pricing for application of Macrovision RipGuard MoD is fee based per disc. top ↑

Q. What about the new DVD high-definition formats?
A. There is a great deal of talk about the new Blu-Ray vs. HD-DVD formats. These are two competing formats for delivering high-definition programs on optical discs. These discs would be identical to current DVDs in appearance and size only. Initially there was hope of finding a way to merge the two formats and avoid having two competing formats in the marketplace. Unfortunately, it does not look like that is going to happen. Until consumers decide which one they prefer, the industry is going to be forced to support both formats. top ↑

One additional note on the new DVD high-definition formats:
DVD initially delivered so much more than VHS that the consumer acceptance of the format was revolutionary. With more and more viewers buying high-definition television sets (wide screen format 16X9) , with cable companies delivering more and more high definition programming, and with standard DVD's of feature films being made in the wide screen format (16X9), the difference in picture quality of a standard DVD vs. Blu-Ray DVD vs. HD-DVD is more evolutionary than revolutionary. The jury is still out on which high-definition format will emerge as the winner and how quickly the consumer will embrace the new format. top ↑