Blu-ray Duplication FAQ

01.   What is Blu-ray Disc?
02.   How does Blu-ray work?
03.   What devices can run Blu-ray discs?
04.   Are these devices compatible with CDs and DVDs?
05.   How much does a Blu-ray disc hold?
06.   What advantages does Blu-ray have over DVD?
07.   How fast are BD discs read/written?
08.   What types of BD discs are available?
09.   How are Blu-ray discs packaged?
10.   Are Blu-ray discs region coded?
11.   Does Disc Makers offer Blu-ray replication?
12.   What BD-R duplication services does Disc Makers offer?
13.   What BD duplication systems are available from Disc Makers?
14.   Where can I purchase blank BD-R media?
15.   How fast are Disc Makers' BD-R Duplicators?
16.   Can I copy store-bought movies on my Blu-ray duplicator?
17.   What is the acceptable master delivery for Blu-ray Replication/Duplication?

Q: What is Blu-ray Disc?
A: Blu-ray Disc (BD) is an optical storage media format with the high capacity and performance designed for high definition (HD) video and audio. It's the same physical size and shape as a standard CD or DVD, but holds a much higher amount of data and is capable of higher quality picture and sound than any other media format.
Back to top

Q: How does Blu-ray work?
A: Blu-ray discs have smaller pits to encode the data that are packed closer together than CDs or DVDs. The higher number of pits translates to a higher capacity for the disc. These smaller areas of data can then be read by a shorter wavelength blue laser, which is where the name "Blu-ray" comes from.

Back to top

Q: What devices can run Blu-ray discs?
A: Blu-ray will only play on Blu-ray specific drives and players. You cannot play a Blu-ray disc on a DVD or CD player. However, there are several brands of Blu-ray disc players and many new PC's are coming with Blu-ray drives installed. Sony Playstation 3 is also a Blu-ray enabled device.

There are Blu-ray enabled devices currently available from Sony, Sharp, Pioneer, Panasonic, Philips, Samsung, LG, Dell, HP, Toshiba, Primera, Disc Makers and several others.
Back to top

Q: Are these devices compatible with CDs and DVDs?
A: There are a large number of Blu-ray players on the market that will play CDs and DVDs without a problem. However, due to the different physical characteristics of a BD disc and laser, backwards compatibility with CD’s and DVD’s is not always guaranteed. Please check your Blu-ray player's specifications before trying to use a CD or a DVD.
Back to top

Q: How much does a Blu-ray disc hold?
A: A single-layer BD disc can hold up to 25 GB of data, over 5 times the capacity of a standard DVD. For video users, this translates to approximately 4 hours of HD video on a disc, or 11 hours of Standard-definition (SD) video. Dual-layer BD discs can hold up to 50 GB.
Back to top

Q: What advantages does Blu-ray have over DVD?
A: Blu-ray is a format created for high capacity data and high definition video. Here are features that Blu-ray discs are capable of that DVDs are not:
• Increased disc capacity allowing for HD video up to 1080p resolution.
• 7.1 channels of uncompressed audio.
• New menu integration with increased interactivity and menu navigation over top of playing video.
• Enhanced Network/internet connectivity
• Higher capacity for storing and transferring amounts of data larger than 5GB
• Picture-in-picture functionality
• Faster playback and burning speeds
• Improved disc coating with increased resistance to scratches and smudges.
Back to top

Q: How fast are BD discs read/written?
A: A standard or dual-layer BD is read at 4.29MB per second, which is roughly 3x the speed of a DVD and 29x the speed of a CD. BD discs also burn at the same speed.
Back to top

Q: What types of BD discs are available?
A: Blu-ray discs are available in standard, manufactured BD-ROM discs. These are pre-recorded discs that usually contain movies, music or games. There are also blank 1-time use BD-R discs and rewritable BD-RE discs available for personal recording and duplication.
Back to top

Q: How are Blu-ray discs packaged?
A: Most Blu-ray movies are packaged in an amaray cases, similar to a DVD case. However, these cases are smaller and thinner and are made of blue-colored, translucent (see-through) plastic. These cases are 5.25" x 6.75" x 0.5".
Back to top

Q: Are Blu-ray discs region coded?
A: Yes, BD discs are broken down into 3 regions:
Region A - Americas; East and Southeast Asia.
Region B - Africa, Europe, Oceania; Middle East; French territories; Greenland.
Region C - Central and South Asia; Mongolia, Russia, and People's Republic of China
Back to top

Q: Does Disc Makers offer Blu-ray replication?
A: Due to relatively low consumer demands and the high cost of manufacturing and licensing, Disc Makers does not offer Blu-ray replication at this time.
Back to top

Q: What BD-R duplication services does Disc Makers offer?
A: Disc Makers currently offers Blu-ray duplication through our Self Service website. For more information and to see the complete listing of BD-R duplication services, please visit our self service site.
Back to top

Q: What BD duplication systems are available from Disc Makers?
A: Disc Makers offers a wide variety of Blu-ray duplicators. On the side of manual duplicators, our entire Reflex line is available in Blu-ray for some of the most reliable and affordable BD-R duplicators on the market. Our Forte automated duplicator is also available in Blu-ray, making it the lowest priced automated CD, DVD and Blu-ray duplicator on the market. We also have our Medley and a number of Primera Bravo printer/duplicators available with Blu-ray for your all-in-one BD-R duplication solution.
Back to top

Q: Where can I purchase blank BD-R media?
A: Disc Makers offers a number of different blank BD-R's online and has some of the lowest prices, as low as $13.99 per disc. Also, most electronics retailers are beginning to sell blank Blu-ray media. Most Blu-ray media is branded and costs about $12-$19 per disc.
Back to top

Q: How fast are Disc Makers’ BD-R Duplicators?
A: Most Blu-ray burner drives can usually duplicate about 2 full Blu-ray discs per hour. The throughput varies depending on the unit you purchase and the amount of data you are burning to each disc. You can see a full listing of our Blu-ray duplicators here.
Back to top

Q: Can I copy store-bought movies on my Blu-ray duplicator?
A: No, copyrighted Blu-ray movies are copy protected and can not be copied using any duplicator purchased from Disc Makers.
Back to top

Blu-ray Resources:
Official Blu-ray Website:
http://www.Blu-raydisc.com/index.htm

Blu-ray Disc Association Home page:
http://www.Blu-raydisc.com/en.html

Blu-ray Info Page:
http://www.Blu-ray.com/

eMediaLive's Blu-ray FAQ:
http://www.emedialive.com/Articles/ReadArticle.aspx?ArticleID=11392

Q: What is the acceptable master delivery for Blu-ray Replication/Duplication?
A: Blu-ray Replication: Masters for Blu-ray replication must be submitted in Cutting Master Format (BDCMF or Sony CMF) on removable USB 2.0 hard drives formatted for Windows OR files should be submitted in Cutting Master Format (BDCMF or Sony CMF) image on BD-R: Playable BD-Rs are not acceptable for Blu-ray replication.

NOTE: AACS (Advanced Access Content System) copy protection is a mandatory requirement for Blu-ray replicated discs. Additional fees apply. Check with your Product Specialist for a schedule of fees.

Blu-ray Duplication: Blu-ray masters submitted for duplication must be submitted on BD-R (non CMF).
Back to top