The ABC's of DVD

Just 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