Possible to author a DVD18?

[sdsumike619]

Is it possible to author and produce a master (for replication) for a DVD18 using a program like Adobe Encore or Sony DVD Architect? Or is the most that they can do DVD9? If so, is there any software available that would enable me to produce one?

[DB83]

Scenarist ?

But if you are serious about this it may be wise to ask the duplication plant of the form of master they accept since for DVD-18 it might simply be a case of two DVD-9 masters.

[lingyi]

EDIT: Double Post

[lingyi]

DVD-18 is Double-Sided Double Layer = 2x DVD-9 glued back to back, AKA "flipper disc or "flippies"

Edit: Since the user would have to physically flip the disc to play the second side anyway, it's more practical to create two separate DVD-9s.

There are a very small number commerical DVD-18s with the movie split between the two sides, notably Gone with the Wind and Dances with Wolves.

[poisondeathray]

Terminator2 was another notable one

Scenarist supports it; Encore and DVDA do not

[sdsumike619]

My concern was mainly cost, but it seems an 18 is more than two 9s! I'd go bluray but my demographic doesn't support it, at least I don't think it does...

[theewizard]

humm... i had never heard of dvd18, and was going to say go BD
its got to be one rare peace of tech,

[DB83]

I do not think a DVD-18 is more than two DVD-9s. Same that a DVD-10 is no more than two DVD-5s.

Both are, as has been stated, 'flippers'. You have to physically turn the disk over to play the other side.

'Flippers' were quite common in the early days of commercial dvd. And a right PITA too

[aedipuss]

probably cheaper to go blu-ray at this point.

[sdsumike619]

PITA to author/master you mean?

[smrpix]

PITA to author/master you mean?

...and use. The user had to figure out which side to start on and with all the flipping, easier to scratch.

[DB83]

PITA to author/master you mean?

...and use. The user had to figure out which side to start on and with all the flipping, easier to scratch.

Wot he said.

Was never straight-forward which side to insert for initial play-back and even then just at the critical time in the film you got the message "Turn The Disk Over"

A bit like the movie-theaters (or cinemas as we call 'em) and the management would bring up the lights and sell ice-cream just when you were getting in to the plot

[lingyi]

@sdsumike619

What exactly are you trying to accomplish?

It's been established that:

Adobe Encore and DVD Architect will not allow you to directly author a DVD-18.

DVD-18 is esentially DVD-9s sandwiched together.

DVD-18s were never a popular choice except for very early DVD releases (primarily to allow P&S and Letterboxed to exist on one physical disc) and have disappeared from the marketplace.

Are extemely non-user friendly, requiring physically removing and flipping the disc to play side two as well as prone scratches since there is no protective top layer.

As you've stated: "My concern was mainly cost, but it seems an 18 is more than two 9s".

If you're truly looking for something marketable to your "demographic", go with two DVD-9s as that's what the marketplace has dictated as the standard.

[lingyi]

On the bottom of this page, there's an illustration of a DVD-18

http://discbusters.co.nz/?page_id=159

From the site:

"Double Sided/Double Layered DVDs (DVD-18 – 17.1GB)
Double sided/double layered DVDs are simply two double layered discs bonded back to back."

[Cornucopia]

Yeah, maybe it wasn't explained clearly enough, but it boils down to:

1. You don't "author DVD-18s". You either author SL (DVD-5) or DL (DVD-9) titles. Those can either be used as separate/multiple discs or sandwiched back-to-back as single discs (which then become DVD-10, DVD-14 & DVD-18s).
2. DVD-18s are still viable as stamped/replicated discs, but it is really not economical nor good quality/compatibility-wise for burned/duplicated versions.
3. DVD-Architect & Encore both work perfectly well authoring DVD-5s & DVD-9s, so by virtue of sandwiching (as mentioned in Rule #1 above), they ALSO work perfectly well authoring DVD-10s, DVD-14s & DVD-18s, regardless of lingyi's comment.

Scott

[theewizard]

you don't author a dvd 18
if your movie is so big
you break in to (2) pieces and author two dvd 9s
you can then produce this, aka stamped as one fliper dvd 18 or as two dvd 9s

[sdsumike619]

Thank you for the feedback. I understand now that DVD18 is a no go. When I first had the thought, I thought it would be cheaper to produce because just one disc as opposed to two. But it's not cheaper, and seems like a much bigger hassle all around. Idea abandoned!