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Archive for November, 2010
Monday, November 29th, 2010
We all know how awesome DVDs are for video. But have you ever heard of something called DVD-Audio?
If you haven’t, it’s not surprising. DVD-Audio is not exactly a household name.
 The story of DVD-Audio actually starts with a different format: Super Audio CD. Following the success of the DVD format in the late 1990s, electronics giants Sony and Philips partnered to create an “improved” version of the well-loved CD. They called it “Super Audio CD,” or SACD for short. The theory was that the large capacity of a DVD disc–which can hold the data of approximately 6 CDs–could hold very high-quality audio. (Essentially, this is the same comparison as DVDs and Blu-Ray, the latter of which has a much higher data capacity than CD, thus making HD video possible.)
Not to be outdone, Toshiba developed its own high-quality audio disc, and called it “DVD-Audio.” And a (very) small format war ensued.
The problem was, both formats required new players–or at least, compatible DVD players, which in the late 1990s were much more expensive than they are today. While SACD discs could be played in regular CD players (due to two separate data layers), DVD-Audio discs were limited to DVD players. Dedicated SACD players, by contrast, ran a few thousand dollars! To make matters worse, the manufacturers rushed their products to stores, resulting in digital compression issues and other tech problems. But most importantly, consumers, who had spent a decade acquiring libraries of CD players, stereos, and Discmans, didn’t see a strong reason to switch to a format that “felt” the same as CD.
In this format war, neither format won. Ultimately, the rise of MP3s and the iPod made physical audio delivery largely moot. So despite their compatibility and technical glitches, it’s arguable that both formats would have failed anyway, just due to bad timing.
However, you can still see the remnants of DVD-Audio. Ever notice that “Audio_TS” folder that’s in the file structure of a DVD disc? That folder is there to hold DVD-Audio. Although DVD-Audio is technically irrelevant and useless, most DVD players still require that folder to be present so they can read a DVD correctly. It’s basically the tailbone of a DVD disc!
Saturday, November 27th, 2010
Earlier this month, Blu-Con was held in Beverly Hills (yes, there is a conference for everything!), and Andy Parsons, the chair of the Blu-Ray Disc Association’s U.S. Promotions Committee, updated the crowd on some statistics. In short:
– By the end of this year, 25 million U.S. households should have at least one Blu-Ray player connected to a TV. This number equals about one-fourth to one-fifth of the 115 million households in the United States. It also nearly matches DVD’s market penetration after its first five years (DVD was in 30 million homes at the end of 2002).
– Over the next five years, Blu-Ray is predicted to be in nearly half of U.S. households, and about a quarter of those players should be 3D-capable.
– Speaking of 3D, there are currently 19 Blu-Ray player models that possess 3D technology. By the end of 2011, most Blu-Ray players should be 3D-capable.
– There are about 3,000 programs currently available on Blu-Ray in the U.S. Sales numbers for Blu-Ray titles double every year. The sales of one recently-released title, Avatar, broke down as 80% DVD and 20% Blu-Ray (which is consistent with the household numbers mentioned above).
– Blu-Ray is also popular abroad. Europe has an estimated 10.9 million players, and is expected to have 30.7 million players by 2014. And the technology is huge in Japan, where 65% of all “video discs” are Blu-Rays (as opposed to only 35% regular DVDs).
What does this all mean? Well, first, that Blu-Ray is definitely here to stay for awhile. It’s doing well compared to standard DVD, and especially well considering the current economic climate. It certainly seems to be avoiding the fate of laserdisc.
What is more questionable? The 3D aspect. At the same convention, James Cameron discussed “autostereoscopic” 3D displays–largely considered the Holy Grail for 3D, because they would not require glasses. But at the same time, he cautioned that consumer deployment of the technology was probably a decade away, mainly because TVs would need to be double their current resolutions to handle the imagery. So while all these Blu-Ray players are 3D, that feature is going to have a much harder time catching on than regular HD.
Tuesday, November 23rd, 2010
First: Happy Thanksgiving! All of us here at Timeless DVD wish all our customers and blog readers a happy and safe holiday weekend.
Now, what follows Thanksgiving? The best day of the year: Black Friday! If this year is typical, you’ll probably see lots of ads and sales for camcorders in the Black Friday flyers. Lots of consumers purchase video cameras as holiday gifts this weekend because of the perception of “great deals.”
 However, the truth is that these “great deals” can usually be found year-round online…and sometimes the prices are even better (and less of a hassle) than Black Friday sales. Yes, you might have to pay shipping costs and wait a few days. But you can usually save a lot of money–and sleep–by spending some time shopping on the web. And honestly–wouldn’t you rather just avoid the scene on the right?
Who shouldn’t shop online? Anyone who is worried about returns. Returning items is easier if you buy your camcorder locally–nothing to pack up and ship, no RMA numbers to obtain. But just in terms of time, how long does it take to drop a box off at a shipping store and send it in for a return? Probably about the same amount of time it takes to bring it into the store–maybe even less if the customer service department has a line. (And most stores charge restocking fees these days, whether they are brick-and-mortar or web-based.)
So if you’ve done your research and know which camcorder you want, save yourself some money and check out the prices online. You might be able to get a great deal, and not even have to wake up early.
Here are some great sites to check, all of which usually offer the best prices on electronics:
www.bhphotovideo.com
www.jr.com
www.amazon.com
Saturday, November 20th, 2010
The World Wide Web and DVD might seem to have nothing to do with each other…except when you consider the fact that both technologies became very popular around the same time: the late 1990s. And in fact, the Internet had a lot to do with why the DVD format became the fastest-adopted technology ever.
Before the Internet, it was hard to get your opinion out there, unless you printed your own ‘zine or newsletter. But by the late 1990s–right around the time DVDs were first released–it was becoming easier and easier to start your own website. (This webmaster used Adobe PageMill to create her first website in 1998!) And several early adopters of DVD did just that, starting such sites as the DVD Resource Page, the Digital Bits, the DVD Journal, and DVDFile.
These websites offered far more than just movie reviews. They reviewed DVD releases in depth, offering information about picture quality, special features, and overall value, thus providing a valuable resource that kept customers informed and the studios honest. These websites were updated multiple times each day, so the information never got stale.
Thanks to these sites, studios were forced to re-release DVDs that were criticized for noisy conversions or lackluster extras. For better or for worse, the high standards set by these websites contributed to some movies not being released for many years (including such titles as King Kong and The African Queen). They also managed to take down stupid consumer-unfriendly technologies such as Circuit City’s DIVX.
As a result, the format was strengthened and became consumer-proof. After a year or two, the general public understood that DVDs were, frankly, awesome. There was no argument not to switch from VHS, no well-known drawbacks that people kept hearing about. DVDs offered pristine video quality, widescreen viewing (often for the first time for many movies), a user-friendly menu structure, and a virtually indestructible CD-like disc with no moving parts to break. It was a logical purchase for just about everyone–especially as DVD and player prices dropped further and further down.
So did the web affect DVD? You bet, and we have these vanguard websites to thank for its success. Some of the aforementioned websites are still in operation today, and we encourage you to visit them for DVD and Blu-Ray news.
http://www.thedigitalbits.com/
http://www.dvdfile.com/
http://www.dvdtalk.com/
Wednesday, November 17th, 2010
We have so many reasons to transfer video tapes to DVDs or files, we have to make another blog post! Here are reasons 6–10 (no more, we promise!):
6. Entertainment
Watching old video can just be plain old fun! It’s fun to re-visit vacations from years ago, or to remember what you got for Christmas in 1995. Go ahead and make fun of Aunt Janice’s horrible ’80s perm that she’d rather everyone forgot. Need more proof? A customer of ours recently e-mailed: “So glad to get the DVDs. We’ll finally have something good to watch on TV!”
 7. Space-Saving and Portable
Media is getting smaller and smaller all the time. A few DVDs take up much less space than a bunch of heavy VHS tapes–especially if those tapes aren’t completely full with video. And computer files take up virtually no physical space at all (not counting your hard drive!). When your videotapes are digitized, you can easily take the video everywhere via DVD or the Internet. Why not save all that space as soon as you can?
8. Great for Parties and Events
Having home videos on DVD provides great party entertainment for family get-togethers–especially if many of the people in the video will be there. Everyone likes to see their mug onscreen–plus, it makes your guests feel involved in the event. However, as usual, DVD is the best solution, especially if you’re having your party at a banquet facility. They usually have DVD players for guest use…but rarely VCRs!
9. Editing
It’s simple to edit your own home movies these days. The advances in computer capabilities, as well as the development of idiot-proof video editing software, has made it possible for everyone to custom-edit their home videos. But nevertheless: your videos have to be in a digital format first! When your videotapes are in a digital file format–such as AVI or MOV–it’s easy to edit your videos whenever you have the time or inclination to do so.
10. It’s Easy to Do
Right now, it’s easier to convert your tapes to DVD or files than it’s ever been. You can do it yourself. Or you can use a drugstore service. Or you can use a service like Timeless DVD, which uses the best equipment and devotes individual attention to each tape. But the bottom line is: now is the best time, when your tapes are likely still in decent shape and technology has reached its apex. Don’t wait another five or ten years!
Sunday, November 14th, 2010
There are many good reasons to transfer your video tapes to DVD or digital files. And now…five of the best ones:
1. Preservation
This is the number one reason to transfer all types of media, from videos to photos and slides, to a digital format. Fortunately, it is now very simple to digitize analog and print media formats and preserve them. DVDs are estimated to last 25–50 years with proper care, and since the information on them is digital, the video can be easily converted to other formats with no quality loss. And AVI or MOV files can last indefinitely, as long as the hard drive that contains them is functional. So digitization offers the assurance that your video will be accessible forever.
2. Deterioration of the Source Media
This reason goes along with #1 above. Tapes were never intended to last forever. In general, VHS tapes start to degrade within 10-25 years. Lifespan varies from format to format; some tapes will wear out sooner, while others can last longer. Tape longevity is largely based on factors such as wear, temperature, and storage conditions. But because tapes are made of materials that deteriorate, this will happen eventually.
3. VCRs are Available Now
Video is becoming more and more digitally-based. Even now, it’s tough to buy a new VCR or tape-based camcorder. And likewise, as the years pass, it will become more and more difficult to find equipment that will play old tapes. Like many video transfer companies, Timeless DVD only handles tape formats from 1980 and on (VHS, Betamax, and their descendants). There are tape formats that are older than this, but it is difficult to impossible to find the machines and maintain them properly. Eventually, this will be true of our current tape formats as well; it’s already hard to keep Betamaxes going! So it’s best to digitize your tapes now–while working machines are still available and there are enough technicians who know how to fix them. In ten or twenty years, this may not be the case.
 4. Video is Great for Family Time
Do you spend time together as family? Wouldn’t it be great to add a new activity? Once your tapes are digitized, it’s easy to view them together. Pop a DVD in your player…or take it over to Grandma’s and enjoy it with her! People love to watch their family and friends on screen, and it’s a great source of shared laughter and tears. Or, convert your tapes to digital files and edit them in iMovie as a family. Select the transitions, titles, and background music together. This is a great family activity for parents and kids!
5. Reconnecting with Friends
Did you shoot video when you went on vacation with friends–either in high school, college, or afterwards? As time passes and our families grow, it’s easy to lose touch with the friends with whom you once shared amazing experiences. But if you pull out that tape and digitize it, you can watch your forgotten adventures…and even share the video with these friends via DVD copies or YouTube. Sometimes all you need is a little video reminder to break the ice!
Actually, there are about five more reasons we can think of to transfer video as well…so check back in a few days!
Thursday, November 11th, 2010
Ever hear the one about the exploding whale?
Nope, this isn’t a joke. But without the presence of one video camera, it might be urban legend. As it stands now, it’s an actual–albeit odd–news story.
 On November 12, 1970, a 45-foot dead whale washed up on a beach in Florence, Oregon. To put it mildly: it stank. Plus, it was huge–8 tons of blubber. So the Oregon Department of Transportation decided the best method of disposal was to blow it up, using a half-ton of dynamite.
Unfortunately, they hadn’t planned ahead too well. After the dynamite detonated, stinky chunks of whale exploded all over the immediate area. One of the larger pieces of blubber even crushed a car that was parked a good distance away. But luckily, no one was injured.
This story might have passed in the realm of urban legend if not for the fact that one man filmed it with a video camera. (And this was 1970–long before VHS camcorders or even Betamovies!) See it here:
http://theexplodingwhale.com/evidence/the-video/?
Although this footage was filmed by a professional video crew, that’s not necessary now. Chances are, you have easy access to a video camera, whether it’s a standalone or on your phone. How many stories does the public miss when someone doesn’t take advantage of the easy opportunity he or she has to record? So pull out your cam and start shooting when you see something interesting! You never know what kind of footage will make headlines…even thirty years later.
Monday, November 8th, 2010
In the third and final part of our mini-series on the basics of audio history, things change dramatically. Prior to the 1980s, all audio was analog–either comprised of electrical or magnetic recording. But when the CD was introduced, that all changed. We are still in the midst of the digital revolution that started back then.
 Philips–the company that originally released the familiar 1/8″ audiotape format–and Sony introduced “compact disc digital audio” in 1982. The format was colloquially called the CD. The first album released on CD was Billy Joel’s 52nd Street (pictured at right).
Quick tech speak: digital audio recording, which is how a CD functions, is based on the concept of sampling. Sampling is the process of converting electrical signal levels that are measured over 44,000 times per second into discrete numbers represented by binary digits of zero and one, which are then stored as pulses. (Whew!) This is also called “pulse code modulation” technology, or PCM, and it was originally invented in 1937. PCM is still used by most digital audio, including CD, DAT, laserdisc, and DVD (which uses AC-3, or Dolby Digital audio, as well).
The advantages of digital sound are myriad, and hold true for both the CD as well as the DVD. Digital sound on CD and DVD offers:
– A wide range of frequencies (covering the range of human hearing from 20 to 20,000 Hz)
– A wide dynamic range (very soft to very loud sounds can be played with little noise)
– No quality loss when dubbing
– Longer playing time than tapes or LPs
– Smaller, thinner media size than tapes or LPs
– Instantaneous access to a given song or track
– No wear from playback or access
– More resistant to dust, scratches, and other damage, particular when compared to records
In 1988, CD sales passed LP sales, for many of the above reasons.
Of course, CDs and DVD share the same problem: lack of easy recording. Both discs can be written to (in the CD-R, DVD-R, and related formats) but the process is definitely not as easy as audiotape or videotape recording. Other recordable audio formats, such as DAT or MiniDisc, have died due to high cost, consumer disinterest, and Hollywood’s resistance to digital copying.
Today, audio is still digital, although it is purchased more in MP3 format than as CDs. Is this the way video consumption will go as well? Stay tuned!
Saturday, November 6th, 2010
In the second part of our series examining the history of audio, we’re going to look at the development of magnetic recording technology and audiotapes. This technology was an essential immediate forebear to the introduction of video tape.
Magnetic recording was actually invented in the 1890s, but was not introduced officially until the 1940s. In magnetic recording, polyester tape holds a thin coating of magnetic particles, which are converted to sound when the tape passes over playback heads. Magnetic recording is an improvement over electrical recording, since it makes the recording process much simpler (the same head can be used for both recording and playback).
Around the same time, stereo sound was introduced as well. Prior to the mid-1950s, all sound recording was in mono (originating from a single-point source). Stereo systems incorporated a second channel of sound, which gave the recording greater realism. Stereo tape systems were developed in 1956, with stereo record players following in 1958.
 The first 1/8″ audio cassettes were introduced in 1963 by Philips. (See image at right; the tape was even “made in Austria”!) The format was originally intended to be used for business dictation, but it soon became popular for music as well.
Pre-recorded audio tapes were released in 1966, and slowly but surely began to compete with traditional LPs. The 8-track tape also enjoyed a measure of success, particularly in cars. But the 1/8″ format grew more and more in popularity, and became solidified in consumer culture when Sony released its Walkman personal audio player in 1979.
An important development alongside magnetic audio tape was the development of Dolby noise reduction. The technique appeared in 1969, and its ability to reduce tape hiss was strongly responsible for the success of audiotapes. Today, the same theories form the basis of the Dolby Digital surround-sound tool used in DVDs.
In 1982, audio tape sales passed record sales for the first time. But a new format was on the horizon…one that would lead directly to the development of the DVD. Check back soon for a recap of the CD!
Wednesday, November 3rd, 2010
From time to time, we’re going to take a look at the history of video on this blog–always in as easy and brief a fashion as possible! Video has passed through many permutations over the years, and it’s instructive (and interesting) to look at the development of the field.
However, while the moving image and film are important to the development of video, its roots lie with the history of audio technology in many ways. Today, we’re going to briefly run through the first important milestones in audio development.
 The year 1877 marks the birth of audio. That was when Thomas Edison recorded and played “Mary had a little lamb” on a strip of tinfoil. Ten years later, 12″ 78-rpm gramophone disks, each containing 4 1/2 minutes of music, were all the rage–only to be replaced by the Victrola in 1901. At this time, the method of recording was acoustical, meaning that sound vibrations were converted to grooves on a wax disc.
Radio finally came along after World War I, with the first commercial broadcast in 1920. At the same time, acoustical recording was replaced by electrical recording. This meant that sound vibrations were converted to electrical impulses, which then drove an electromechanical cutting head that cut the grooves on a record.
The LP (long-play) record was introduced in 1948 by Columbia Records. A 12″ LP could hold up to a half-hour of music at 33 1/3 rpm–much more than just a few minutes–due to the new microgroove technology. Less than a year later, RCA released a 7″ record that turned at 45 rpm and played about 8 minutes of music. Both formats quickly replaced the old 78s, and despite the growth of tapes and CDs, 33s and 45s remain popular with audio fans even today.
In our next post, magnetic recordings and audiotapes come along…so check back in a few days!
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