Blu-Ray Replication or DVD Replication?

DVD Replication has become the fastest growing media replication requirement in history and the growth of the standard DVD is still growing strong. However with expectations of consumers forever becoming more demanding the storage capacity for discs needed to increase in order to allow space for high definition video quality.

For a while there were two formats available - HD-DVD (from Toshiba) or Blu-Ray (from Sony).  With each format requiring its own playback system and for replication facilities and authoring houses needing different software and mastering suites it was not practicle to invest in both formats and therefore the growth of HD video on disc was hindered. With film studios gradually showing more support for Blu-Ray, Toshiba dropped out of the format war and therefore the doors are open for Blu-Ray to shine as the new era of High Definition can be made available to all.

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What is Blu-Ray Replication?

Blu-Ray replication in principal is exactly the same as CD replication or DVD replication. A glass master is created from which a stamper is grown in order to replicate the discs. This method results in all discs being identical and will therefore provide 100%* compatibilty. Blu-Ray duplication, just as DVD duplication or CD duplication can result with compatibilty issues as every copy will be different as it is burnt (the data will be the same however the discs themselves will have different errors etc)

Can Blu-Ray be copy protected?

Blu-Ray replication allows disc copy protection however Blu-Ray duplication cannot. The professional protection is ‘flagged’ at the authoring stage and applied when mastering. For Blu-Ray the industry standard protection developed by a consortium of companies including Microsoft, Sony, Intel, Disney (to name a few) is known as “Advanced Access Content System” (AACS).  It is far more advanced than Content Scrambling System (CSS) which is the original copy protection used for DVD. Blu-Ray replication and DVD replication services provided by Digital Disc Duplication can include copy protection provided masters are provided as required. License and royalty fees are applicable for AACS and at present this is a requirement in order to produce Blu-Ray discs. Call for any advice or send us a quote request and we will be happy to help.

Packaging options

As with CD replication or standard DVD replication there are many packaging options available and of course Digital Disc Duplication can offer help with your selection. History repeats however and in the same way the CD and the DVD were introduced already in what seemed to be the standard packaging - jewel case for CD and DVD case (commonly known as the Amaray Case although Amaray is simply a product range) for DVD -  the Blu-Ray introduction has been no different and the standard packaging is the blue Blu-Ray case similar to the DVD case although slightly smaller and different color. No doubt there will be many variations created by packaging companies over the months and years to come however you can probably safely bet that the majority of Blu-Ray discs produced will be packaged in the blue case!

Blu-ray is still in its very early development stages and there are many issues still to be concluded with regard to regions and copy protection to name but a few. *As with early standard DVD development there are also many compatibility issues as authoring software and techniques advance and leave behind the capabilities of older Blu-Ray players. As this matures and standards are set it opens up many exciting interactive options for the developers and users of the end product and Digital Disc Duplication will continue to provide the leading service and quality products for Blu-Ray replication just as we continue to do for CD replication and DVD replication.

Contact us for further information or request a quote and see how your product can benefit in true High Definition.

• E-mail: info@digitaldiscduplication.com
• CALL: (+1) 863 353 6815
• Digital Disc Duplication USA, Inc., P O Box 7826,                    Wesley Chapel, FL. 33545