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A DVD duplicator controller card is actually a single-card duplicator solution, containing all of the necessary RAM, hard-coded software and device controllers needed to copy the contents of a single, unprotected DVD to a number of DVD writers at once. Because it’s a single-card solution, installation is simple, requiring little more than the placement of the card within a PC case drive bay and its connection to the DVD writer drives.
A DVD burner allows a person to make a replica of an existing DVD. Most DVD burners come installed in a computer. However, it is also possible to build a standalone DVD burner. It is a relatively easy process and can be done in a number of steps.
The advent of DVDs and at-home DVD burners has made sharing information and large files much easier. Photos, movies and music can be burned onto the discs and sold, given away or stored as backups. DVD duplicators are available as stand-alone units that are self-contained and don't require a computer.
While 8mm film may be very outdated, many people still have a number of memories and home movies stored in this type of format. So, in order to preserve these types of films and prevent deterioration over time, duplicating the video onto a DVD becomes necessary. Luckily, with the right type of equipment, this is a very simple process and it achieves great results without breaking the bank.
While rare, there are times when you need to update your CD or DVD duplicator's BIOS (Basic Input Output System). The BIOS is more commonly referred to as the "firmware" on devices that don't include an operating system, such as Windows 7 or Mac OS X. Logical failures can damage your duplicator's firmware and render the unit inoperable. While you should only update your duplicator's firmware in extreme cases (an update can create problems of its own), the process of updating is fairly straightforward.
When considering replication or duplication of a DVD, carefully avoid the notion that they are one in the same. While the end result looks and performs almost identically, the means taken to reach that point vary greatly.
DVD duplicators contain one or more disc burners for making multiple copies of a DVD. Some duplicators contain a built-in DVD drive for playback of the source disc for recording. Less expensive duplicators must be connected to a DVD player or PC equipped with a DVD drive, using composite audio/video cables or a USB cable for a computer hookup. The composite cables are color-coded for simplified connections that take only a few minutes.
For the consumer with home audio/video equipment, the fastest, most efficient way to duplicate a DVD is to rip the source DVD to your computer's hard drive, then burn the contents to a blank, recordable DVD using the computer's DVD burner. DVD recorder components for home theater perform the same function, but there are two types: a recorder with a built-in hard drive for storing the program before you burn it to disc, and the less expensive DVD recorders that must be connected to a separate DVD player that holds the source DVD you wish to record. This guide explains…
