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The ABCs of DVD
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when you thought selecting a wedding video couldn’t get any more
complicated, it has. DVD, with its incredible features, can be the
greatest thing to happen to your wedding video, if done right. It
can also be one of the most complicated to understand. Read on and
learn what you need to look for when shopping for a wedding video
with DVD.
More Isn’t Always Better
Most, if not all, videographers will provide a demo tape. This,
after all, is one of the best ways for you to view a prospective
studio’s work. But be sure to view a full-length DVD . This is
important when shopping around for a DVD wedding video because
unlike a simple VHS tape a DVD has no set time limit. A DVD’s
length is determined by how much the images are compressed during
production. Depending on the quality of the production equipment
and how much the video is compressed, the visual quality of the
end product can be affected. Therefore, that 20-minute demo might
look great, but will your full-length version look as good? Do
yourself the favor and ask to view a full-length DVD. After all,
you wouldn’t buy a car you saw in a commercial before seeing the
real thing, would you?
If you want your DVD to be longer yet have excellent quality, be
sure to ask your potential studio ahead of time if they use what
is called “Dolby AC-3 Audio.” If the studio doesn’t know what this
means, find another studio. Simply put, this audio format takes up
about 1/8th the space of another format that is typically used,
called PCM Audio. While using AC-3 Audio costs more, it will
enable the video to not only be longer, but have better picture
quality as well. However, if you’re interested in a video that is
shorter than one hour, this won’t be as important.
In-house Versus Out-house
It is more desirable to have the DVD completely done in-house by
the actual wedding studio as opposed to an outside agency. This
allows for better control of quality. When I create a DVD I use
different compression levels for different parts of the video to
optimize the visual quality. For instance, I compress the ceremony
smaller than the reception. Why? The ceremony is comprised
primarily of people standing or sitting, therefore it can be
compressed more without any noticeable loss of picture quality. On
the other hand, the reception contains video of an action-filled
room full of people dancing and lights flashing. If I compressed
the reception at the same level as the ceremony, the ceremony
would look fine, but the image quality of the reception would
deteriorate. An outside company would be more inclined to have the
entire video compressed at the same level.
Technology Speaking
Mass duplicated DVDs, such as those you buy at Blockbuster, are
created with a different process then the one your wedding video
will be done in and may not be compatible with some DVD players
that are more than two years old. Fortunately, DVD players today
cost little more than a good VCR. Also remember that the quality
of your wedding DVD will only be as good as the equipment used to
tape it. There is no magical cure for poor camera quality.
Know What You Want
One of the benefits of a DVD video over a typical VHS is that you
can have chapter points that allow the viewer to instantly go to
various points of the video, similar to changing tracks on a music
CD. You can go from your vows to the first dance in just seconds.
This will eliminate the need to pay extra for a shortened “coffee
table” version of your video. It’s also another reason why you
should view a full-length DVD rather than a 20-minute demo. This
feature will allow you to get a good idea of the length and
quality without having to sit through an entire two-hour
production. Since these chapter points must be programmed into the
DVD during production, don’t assume that your wedding DVD will
have them. Be sure to ask about this ahead of time if you want
this feature.
While the technicalities of what goes into a DVD may make any
soon-to-be bride or groom’s head spin, the quality and length of
your video depends largely on everything mentioned above. By doing
simple things like viewing a full-length wedding DVD and asking a
few questions before you sign into a contract, you can be sure
that you won’t be welcomed by any unpleasant surprises.
By Justin Parker
Verbatim Video Productions
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$17.95/Pack of 24
