Frequently Asked Questions

Recordable DVD-R is a great format for recording and sharing information of many types. The truth, however, is that not all DVD players are capable of playing all types of DVD discs. The reasons are many and quite technical in nature, the short answer is that currently, DVD-R and DVD+R formats are rated to be compatible with all computer DVD drives and most consumer type DVD players. Some DVD players will play one brand of disc but not another, others are sensitive to the speed that the disc was recorded at or the method used in the recording. So how does AMRS handle this problem? We use only top rated Verbatim and Taiyo Uden brand DVD-R discs, not because we endorse them, but because thorough testing has shown that these DVD masters, when created properly, are simply the most reliable. In the increasingly rare circumstance where a finished DVD will not play, AMRS will replace that disc with a DVD+R disc recorded at a lower speed. About 95% of the time, this will correct the situation. However, it must be noted that there are simply some DVD players that are not at all compatible with recordable DVD discs and in that situation, we simply recommend that the DVD player be replaced with a new model. See question #10 for more information.

For 16mm movie film, a single telecine film transfer is used for professional quality transfers. For 8mm and Super 8mm films, AMRS uses a proprietary method developed on-site that effectively eliminates any problems associated with film transfers such as "flicker" contrast ratio and color correction. Since a picture is worth a thousand words, we recommend that you contact us for a free demo DVD of our film transfer process in order to see for yourself how your home movies can be beautifully transferred to DVD at an affordable cost.

We will videotape a variety of events ranging from school athletic events to dance recitals and insurance videos. We do not videotape weddings (see question #1 above). Please call us when planning your event to discuss the many options available.

Yes. Please contact us directly for more information.

Dual Format DVD is a term used at AMRS to describe a Photo DVD disc that will allow you to view your pictures on a standard television set in high quality, using a DVD player in the same manner as a slide projector. However, it is also a DVD-ROM disc that, when inserted into a computer DVD-ROM drive, will give you full access to all of the picture files for use with any other program. Dual Format DVD is a great way to archive and view family histories or any other type of presentation.

Highlight Reels are a very effective way for an athlete or performer to showcase their skills and college athletic departments need them in order to evaluate potential applicants. Our philosophy is that the Highlight Reel should look professional but not be over-produced. In other words, it should not be an elaborate, expensive production looking like a music video. A simple and direct video containing 5-10 minutes of highlights and a good photo of the student athlete, combined with any statistics and pertinent contact information is much like a resume in that the objective is to grab attention and get an interview scheduled. AMRS has produced many Highlight Reels for local athletes and performers and we would be happy to show them on request. Note that some sports may also require the inclusion of complete game tapes, for instance, basketball and hockey. Coaches in this area will need to evaluate the athlete on complete game performance, however, a good Highlight DVD is still the recommended starting point. Highlight Reel videos can also contain helpful tools such as freeze frames with arrows and masks, to accent players in a formation for easier identification.

Authoring is an industry term relating to the elements that go into the creation of a DVD-Video disc such as file encoding, customized menus and placement of chapter points. An authored DVD disc can be as simple as one video linked to a PLAY button on a blank page to complicated menus containing multiple pages, graphics and interactivity. AMRS can assist you in the production of your final DVD under either circumstance.

Briefly, because this could be an entire publication in itself, Mastering is the process of assembling the final tracks for an audio CD. It can be as simple as placing the finished tracks in the correct order with track markers, to complicated evaluation and equalization, tone matching, compression and other techniques required to make the finished CD correct as a completed set of recordings. Typically, the Mastering Engineer is employed as a Quality Assurance Agent as well, offering a fresh set of ears to the final recording process. The role of the Mastering Engineer has evolved quite a bit from the days of record pressing and vinyl.

Replication is the process of mass producing CD and DVD products by physically stamping the discs out of plastic, after a glass master is made. Duplication refers to the process of creating the discs on a CD or DVD recorder, or "burning" the discs. Replication is recommended for high volume orders, usually over 1000 pieces, where as duplication is usually preferred for small runs and fast turn-around. It should be noted here that duplicated DVD Video discs are currently compatible with most but not all consumer style DVD players.

Just measure the reels. The most common sizes are 3" (50 ft.) 5" (200 ft.) 6" (300 ft.) and 7" (400 ft.).