DVD

DVD stands for Digital Versatile/Video Disc, DVD-R is DVD Recordable and DVD-RW is DVD ReWriteable. DVD disks look similar to standard music CDs but can hold about 4.4 GB of video, music, or data while ordinary CDs generally hold no more than 700 MB. A recordable DVD (DVD-R) holds about 2 hours of high-quality video (MPEG-2) and will play in most standalone DVD players and most computer DVD-ROMs. You can fit more video onto a DVD by lowering the bit rate and resolution to that of a quality more like VHS or SVHS videotape.

There are several DVD recording standards; however, it seems that the DVD-R standard is becoming slightly more popular than the DVD+R standard. You can find more information on these standards here. Please keep in mind that DVD-RW discs are rewritable and generally used for storing large quantities of data. Although they can be used for video they are compatible with a lower percentage of home DVD players. IRM records events using the DVD-R standard.

VCD & SVCD

VCD stands for Video Compact Disc and is essentially the same type of media used for recording music and saving data. You can buy regular CD-R disks and use them to create a VCD or SVCD. These disks are either 650MB or 700MB and store up to 74 or 80 minutes of music or full motion video (and stereo audio) depending on the file quality/size. VCDs or SVCDs will play on most home DVD players and on all computer CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drives provided the appropriate software and decoder is installed on the computer (e.g., Windows Media Player™, Real Player™ ).

VCD video is compressed in the MPEG-1 standard at a resolution of 352x240 pixels NTSC (half screen size) at a bit rate of 1150kbps. You should keep in mind when playing a VCD on a computer you can maximize the player to "full screen" size, however, the video will show some tiling, or pixelating. A recordable CD will accommodate about 74 minutes of VCD video.

SVCD video is compressed in the MPEG-2 standard at a resolution of 480x480 pixels NTSC (Slightly smaller than full-screen) at a bit rate as high as 2500kbps. This is as close to high quality video as you can get on a recordable CD. A CD_R will accommodate about 35 minutes of SVCD video.

IRM currently burns courses to VCD for distribution to media centers and students in the FEEDS Program (Florida Engineering Education Delivery System). IRM can also record live events to VCD for a fee unless the event is related to direct academic instruction.

Mini-DV

DV stands for digital video. Mini-DV  refers to the tape size, or tape format, which the video is recorded on. DV is considered broadcast-quality video and refers to a variety of tape formats including DV, Mini-DV, DVCam, Mini-DVCam, DVCPro. The DV format has two cassette sizes: Standard/ Full Size (125mm by 78mm by 14.6mm) and Mini DV (66mm by 48mm by 12.2mm). Most of the newer consumer-grade digital video cameras utilize the Mini-DV format (1/4" thick tape). The DV standard allows for editing of footage to be performed with little or no loss in a non-linear editing suite. Non-linear editing systems vary in the standard they use to "digitize' footage but those that capture video in native DV produce "lossless" video once completed. Other non-linear systems may use motion-JPEG, AVI, MPEG-1, MPEG-2, or other formats to capture video from the Mini-DV tape. These tapes can hold 60 minutes of video in standard play mode and about 90 minutes in LP mode. Mini-DV tapes have dropped in price dramatically but can only be played back on Mini-DV camcorders or Mini-DV tape decks. The Digital Video Format can produce up to 500 lines of horizontal resolution for a sharper picture and up to three times the color information of traditional VHS or S-VHS tape for brighter, truer, colors.

To schedule service on any of these formats, please complete the online form. If you have any questions regarding availability of these services you may contact our Production Manager, Len Jasco at 7-3604. We are available for consulting related to educational and university supported events.