DVD Duplication Is It For You?

Just what the heck is DVD duplication? Is it different from DVD replication? Is it the same as burning copies of DVD?s? Should you care? Does any of this apply to you?

I?m going to apologize to you in advance - this article, by necessity, is a little more ?geek oriented? than most of the articles on our website - but I need to go into geek mode in order to explain the differences between duplication, replication and ripping or burning DVD?s. And there are differences.

First off, you need to know that DVD duplication is not the same as ripping or burning a DVD for your personal use in your own home theatre - neither is DVD replication. You can reproduce your favorite DVD?s at home using a stand-alone DVD recorder or any of the other options currently on the market today. The technology that allows you to rip or burn DVD?s at home is generally designed for very small - like one or two copies - quantities at a time.

DVD duplication - or replication - on the other hand, is designed to produce large quantities of DVD?s - such as when you?re producing or distributing your own movie, or instructional courses, or other media and information where you need hundreds or even thousands of copies. Most often those people who require large quantities of DVD?s will turn to a commercial company that offers this service - although there are stand-alone DVD duplicators you can purchase for your own use - I?ll discuss those in a moment.

Here?s where I?m going to go into ?geek mode? on you - as I explain the difference between DVD duplication and DVD replication - and there is a difference, despite the two words sounding similar in function. DVD duplication is just that - taking your data (such as an original movie or other informational source, usually on a DVD-R) and transferring it digitally to a blank disc. Once the copies or duplicates are completed, the media can then be distributed to your customers. This type of duplication is usually intended for customers who require perhaps a couple of hundred (or less) copies of their media.

DVD replication, on the other hand, is the process used to make massive quantities of DVD?s - thousands or even tens of thousands - such as a movie production house making replicas of the latest release for distribution. In this process, a ?glass master? is made of your media, which in turn is injection molded onto foil. Layers of polycarbonate plastic are then applied, protecting the mastered information. It?s then coated with lacquer, screened and packaged. Until recently, most DVD replication companies would only take orders for extremely large quantities of DVD?s - but that stipulation is slowly changing, and they?ll now run orders for lesser amounts in a production run.

Should you purchase a stand-alone DVD duplicator for your home use? Well, perhaps, depending on your needs. For example, if you?re running an internet business that involves selling mass-produced DVD?s - such as informational data or similar items - you may find that a DVD duplicator tower is your best solution. They?re relatively low cost - ranging anywhere from about $250 all the way up to about $5,000, but they?re also very simple to use. They don?t require a PC to operate, and the output (per hour) might be enough to cover your needs. You should take a look at a 7-Drive DVD duplicator tower - it may be the most cost effective way for you to add this technology to your home theatre system.

Robert Barnard is the Co-Founder & CTO of MX123.com. He?s been involved with computers since the early 80?s. He holds / has held many international industry certifications in the computer industry from CompTIA A+ to Microsoft Certified Professional & Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer.

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