Encoding Freeware?

[Filmmaker]

Is there any freeware out there that will allow me to encrypt video files (.mov) after I make them into an iDVD project? I just don't want people to make their own copies of something I sell. Thanks.

[Filmmaker]

Anyone here?

[deadrats]

Is there any freeware out there that will allow me to encrypt video files (.mov) after I make them into an iDVD project? I just don't want people to make their own copies of something I sell. Thanks.

what exactly do you mean "encrypt"? there are ways to add DRM protections to a video file, but only certain formats/codecs support such features, if i remember correctly, only divx, real media and wmv support said features and mpeg-2 can be encoded so that a licensed decoder must be used.

but only wmv, divx and rm are capable of tying a file to a particular machine (i'm not 100 percent sure about rm) and then there's this reality:

any file you create, so long as it can be viewed, can be copied. HD-DVD and Blu-ray movies have already been cracked and nobody is going to want to purchase anything that they can't copy (i wouldn't spend a dime on any video file that can't be copied as many times as i want).

lastly, i need to point out the irony in your request; you want to be able to create a video file that can't be copied but are unwilling to pay for the software to do it.

i should point out that if you really wish to play the role of a successful "Filmmaker" you should really adopt a different attitude towards your potential customers. going foward with the view that "I just don't want people to make their own copies of something I sell" is a sure recipe for failure. i can assure you that i won't be purchasing any of your products so long as you maintain such a marketting stance.

good luck to you, i doubt you'll be in business for long.

[Filmmaker]

well is there a way to say, password protect a DVD when it is in a computer? It's not my films I am worried about but something we use at our family business.

[videopoo]

You can add a passcode feature onto a DVD as menu but this takes a more robust authoring system than iDVD and a decent knowledge of the DVD spec.

So really your answer is no you can't

Bottom line - if anything is that important to you, DVD is NOT the format to distribute on. Copy protection is easily defeated and those with the right tools an know how can easily find any passcode you program as described above.

Good Luck

[deadrats]

well is there a way to say, password protect a DVD when it is in a computer? It's not my films I am worried about but something we use at our family business.

alright, for the moment i'm going to ignore the fact that i dislike what you are trying to do and i am going to give you the most honest answer i can:

if you're authoring a DVD, then by definition you must use a mpeg-2 video stream muxed with ac3, lcpm or mp2 audio stream(s) in a video object (VOB) container. it also needs 2 folders, an AUDIO_TS and a VIDEO_TS and in the VIDEO_TS folder you also need ifo and bup files.

now, in order for a you to call what you produce a DVD, it must follow the DVD spec and thus must be playable on all stand alone DVD players. if you could password protect the dvd (it is possible in a couple of different ways which i will get to in a minute), then it wouldn't be playable on a stand alone DVD.

now there are a number of ways to password protect the contents of a DVD, you could use something like winrar and compress the contents in a password protected archive, you could use dvd-r media and format them with HFS+ or UFS (in other words mount the dvd as a logical drive and then assign permissions) but in the end you have this reality: you will have to give the password that unlocks the DVD to someone (the person that paid for a copy) so that he can view it. and if he feels like making a copy of the dvd to give his friends, what's to stop him from sharing the password as well.

in a nutshell you are going about things the wrong way, instead of trying to copy protect the DVD you should just charge enough so that any unauthorized copying won't really matter to you.

[videopoo]

I'm confused....Why do you dislike what he's trying to do?

[AntnyMD]

What is so compelling that it needs to be copy protected? And what is the "family business"? haha

[terryj]

What is so compelling that it needs to be copy protected? And what is the "family business"? haha

indeed.

The best you can hope for in our digital age is to
either (a) have such a novelty film, tv show, etc,
that people are willing to pay for it, and (b) charge enough
to cover the cost of three actual discs to be manufactured.

They used to say the average person would make three copies
of a cassette when audio cassettes were readily avaialble:
one for his buddy, one for a relative ( mother/sister/brother)
and one in case the tape player ate it up/it got ran over, etc.

In the case of Digital Media, you can count on definitely one, possibly two
copies. IF the average cost to produce your DVD is around $3 to $5 dollars
per oh let's say 2000 manufactured, then a 300% markup
($5 x 3=$15) will cover you per sale of one DVD.
if you have something you feel others might bootleg and turn around and re-sell it
at conventions, flea markets etc, then a 400% or even 500% markup
will help to offset (possible) lost revenue due to piracy.
But if you go as high as 500% markup, be prepared to offer at least a 30 to 40
percent "wholesale" discount to entice large quanity buying from
stores, as with a higher MSRP, many stores without knowing you have
a wholesaler's discount, will be turned off and not buy your product
at the outset, instead waiting to see how it does on other vendors first,
before buying and stocking your title.

(yeesh, one day I'm gonna find a job to pay me for HALF of what I know,
and then we'll all be in trouble!)

[deadrats]

I'm confused....Why do you dislike what he's trying to do?

it's this line and the meaning behind it:

quote: "I just don't want people to make their own copies of something I sell."

i have a problem with being paid to produce a DVD and then wishing to prevent them from making a copy of it. once you're paid for the project, you're paid. i don't think it's cool to expect to get paid again and again just because the person that hired him wants an additional copy.

perhaps i'm not understanding what he's saying, but from what i gather he's paid a fee to produce the DVD and he wants to prevent that person from making a copy of the finished product.

to me, that's just not cool.

[videopoo]

In see...


I think he was talking about pirating...if so, I have to say I agree with him.