DVD Duplication: A Starter Kit

By Kerry Nicholson

Experience with a tape ministry might provide a head start when setting up CD and DVD multimedia ministries, but understanding a few technical basics will help you use this technology to put the Word into your congregation’s hands.

Let’s start with the system. Optimal CD or DVD recording functions require a high range of available memory and processor speed. Choosing this might sound daunting, but with today’s computing power, a high-end multimedia system will work nicely and is readily available.

Want to connect sound, picture and computer? The simplicity of this task very likely depends on expertise embedded within your particular church. Many churches have a strong comfort level with today’s technology — praise bands use soundboards and are comfortable with digital audio, and video or PowerPoint presentations are becoming the standard at even the smallest services. Given the correct software, this kind of output easily translates to CD or DVD input, and it’s up to your in-house technical staff to determine location and specific connection of the system. If you’re limited in staff, or just uncomfortable with this foundational aspect of a multimedia ministry, hire a professional or seek counsel at a good computer store with a consultative sales approach. They’ll consider the size and scope of your facility, the kind of material you plan to develop, your timeline, and of course, your budget.

To create CD or DVD masters, original-source audio and/or video information must be recorded into your “mastering computer,” which must offer at least minimal editing capabilities and the ability to output, or “burn,” master discs. Technical specifics aside, a host of companies sell workable, intuitive software and are standing by to provide technical expertise in installing and running these applications.

Hands-on training from a software reseller, or step-by-step tutorials, can get you up to speed on multimedia mastering software. And professional training can provide basic software navigation skills, but nothing replaces the process of working with it yourself until you’re comfortable. Practice on sample audio or video files and nothing of importance will be jeopardized.

Staffing requirements vary depending on the size of your ministry and the volume of multimedia material required to support it. For the vast majority of churches, a single person can handle the technical aspects of recording, editing and burning masters. A large church might have a dedicated technical staff member whereas someone at a smaller church will become an expert via “trial by fire.” Not to worry — multimedia duplication systems are incredibly easy to use and typically quite self-contained.

Beyond the recording system itself, additional equipment addresses two primary functions: duplicating and printing. Based on equipment available today, you’ll either combine duplication and printing capabilities or address them separately. Each method has advantages and drawbacks and should be considered from staffing, budgeting and performance perspectives.

Combination units handle both duplication and printing operations. Blank media is stacked, picked up by a robotic arm and dropped into the duplicator, which basically is a series of disc drives that each record a copy of your master. Once recording is complete, the same arm feeds the duplicated discs into the printer, stacking them in an outfeed tray when finished. Such hands-off operation allows the technician to start the process and walk away until all discs are done. The primary drawback is very slow production, as the machine won’t begin duplicating more discs until each one is completely printed.

Duplicating and printing separately requires “tower” duplicators and a dedicated printer. Tower duplicators have a master drive or “position,” plus one to seven duplication positions for blank discs. When a batch is complete, just reload blank discs and duplication can continue while printing begins as a separate process.

Printing options seem basic but ultimately are dictated by the finished look of the material. For example, does your particular ministry require black print on a white or silver background, or a sophisticated color image or graphic? Consider your overall design before choosing a paper label or printing directly on the disc itself.

Printing and affixing paper labels requires simple-to-use label software, blank label stock and a high-quality ink-jet or laser printer. This process is handled much like printing any other label; however, applying labels is not easy and can ruin disks in the process. Most multimedia label software companies also sell label applicators. Simple machines such as “CD Stomper” are a nice improvement over fixing labels by hand.

On-disc printing options include ink-jet or thermal transfer. Each method uses a modified printer that prints on discs instead of paper, paired with software that manages the creation of images and the printing itself. Either method takes between 15 and 40 seconds per disc, depending on the machine, the image complexity, and how much disc surface is being covered with ink. Thermal transfer is less expensive but applies only a single ink color (black, blue or red) to the disc face. Inkjet printers, on the other hand, apply anything from a single color to a full-color image. Both processes require blank discs specifically designed for those applications.

In determining your best option, consider budget, timeline and the overall look you’re after. For example, paper labels are painfully slow to print, require costly stock and use a lot of ink. They do, however, result in excellent-quality images, especially when paired with glossy label stock. Thermal and ink-jet options also should be weighed against ink costs, printing speed and types of label design. For example, if discs printed with full-color images or photographs are not a hallmark of your multimedia ministry, then ink-jet printers or paper labels aren’t the best use of your budget.

Looks count. So, what happens after you’ve turned spoken word or video into masters, made multiple high-quality copies and decorated the discs with titling information? You have a serious outreach tool ready to be packaged for the masses. Is this a series of discs that requires sets of four, five or larger? Or is this a single disc for which packaging choices range from standard jewel cases to CD clamshells to paper sleeves? Your duplication supplies vendor can provide blank media and packaging materials and should be a resource for you throughout the mastering and duplication process.

Ask questions, and work with vendors that provide many pieces of the puzzle. You’ll find your CD or DVD ministry a profoundly rewarding venture — one well worth the challenge of learning new processes and technology as a valuable opportunity to extend your ministry and community outreach.

FEEL THE NEED FOR SPEED?

EZ-DUPE was established to bring CD excellence to church recordings. Working with world leaders in the CD duplication industry, EZ-DUPE has employed the latest technology to develop a low-cost, rugged and easy-to-use CD duplicator.

According to the experts at EZ-Dupe, their Puma 52X 1X3 and Panther 52X 1x7 are the fastest CD duplicators available, not to mention a very affordable option. Starting at less than $1,000, your church can have a full CD duplicating system, including CD recorder, duplicator, printer and CD-Rs.

877.245.7957
www.ez-dupe.com

FROM STAPLES TO STEEPLES

The professionals at National Church Purchasing Group, a leader in cassette duplication for many years, Telex systems has recently expanded its duplication products to include a full line of SpinWise CD and DVD copiers. To help bridge the gap between cassette and CD, digital conversion products are now available, including EDAT and ZING, N2TAPE and N2DAISY, and Low- Complexity Mastering (LCM) software, which allows an easy transition from analog to digital recording.

800.795.6274
www.ncpg.net