PUREBRED STUDIOS
DVDs or VHS Cassettes? |
| PRODUCT LONGEVITY Many of you have have asked us about how long our DVDs and VHS cassettes will last. The answer for VHS is quite simple... probably 20 to 25 years at the very best, depending on your viewing habits, storage conditions and handling. For DVDs, we really don't know how long they'll last because they haven't been around long enough! Here's what we know about DVDs: Hollywood-produced (mass produced) DVDs are replicated from a glass master, and they last longer than duplicated DVDs (burned DVDs) by a good margin. The guess now for all DVD lifetimes range from 20 to 100 years. Purebred Studios purchases Pioneer Class A lab certified blank DVDs which quote an archival life of 100 years. As mentioned, however, no one knows for sure. We do know that the quality of the dye on the burned DVDs does make a difference, so we specify only the best dye. We copyright our DVDs so they may not be resold to anyone... but you can easily make a backup DVD copy for your own protection. You can prolong the life of your DVDs by handling them on the edges and not exposing them to direct sunlight or heat. Always store them in the plastic case in which you received them. QUALITY DIFFERENCES BETWEEN DVDS & VHS CASSETTES DVD recording typically achieves resolutions of 500 Lines Per Inch (LPI) or more as recorded by digital camcorders. The digital files are then converted to MPEG-2 (Motion Picture Coding Experts Group) to record on the DVDs. The digital transfer recording rates are typically 5 - 7 Megabits per second (Mbps). VHS is old analog technology. VHS is recorded and duplicated at a maximum of 230 LPI. In short, VHS is only half as sharp as recorded DVD picture quality. Some folks can see the difference. The differences you can't see... With digital files and DVDs, you can extract the files and place them on your computer easily. You can manipulate the files. You can transfer the files. All of this is relatively easy to do with the right software. In short, if you want to create a DVD of just your dog or your kennel's entries, you can extract files from different DVDs to accomplish this. VHS is analog technology so you cannot manipulate files. You cannot transfer files to your computer. You would first need to convert the VHS analog signal to digital (with software and / or more hardware) to do this. You would need to create a digital video file from an analog VHS file. But remember, the analog file is only about half as sharp as an original digital file (230 LPI vs 500 LPI). FUTURE PROJECTIONS AND APPLICATIONS It is not hard to envision that in a few years time, smart breeders will be cataloging their National Specialty entries from our professional DVDs and compiling them on their own DVDs. These breeders will be constructing 3 generation (or more) digital video pedigrees on DVDs ... and they will be circulated to prospective puppy buyers, and for stud and brood bitch consideration. These DVDs will be a treasure for parent AKC Breed Clubs and serve as a great history file for each breeder's breeding program. These video files could also be made available on the internet. They could be loaded on the breeder's website, the Parent Club website, or a free video hosting service like youtube.com, glumbert.com, or others. Your video files could be broadcast on iPods, over cell phones, and other wireless equipment. This is the information age... and it will only continue to expand! In short, the use of your kennel's digital video files is limited only by one's imagination. The future is clearly digital. ...And we suggest that each and everyone collect and store digital file information of current sires, dams, and litters... for the sake of future generations. This may be hard to believe for some of you... As of February, 2007, there are approximately 100,000 VIDEO CLIPS UPLOADED EVERY SINGLE DAY on the internet! Those uploading aren't using VHS! We hope that you and dog fanciers everywhere enjoy our Purebred Studios DVDs... both now and 100 years from now! |
