|
| |
|
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What Is The Quality Of The DVDs?
2. Do The DVDs Have A Menu?
3. Do The DVDs Have Chapters?
4. How Are The DVDs Packaged?
5. How Soon Can I Expect To Receive My MST3K DVD(s)?
6. How Many Episodes Are On Each DVD?
7. Are There Any Regional Codes, Country Codes, Or Zone Locks On The DVDs?
8. Will The DVDs Play On My System?
9. It Doesn't Play On My DVD Player...What Now?
10. What Episodes Do You Have Available On DVD?
11. What Is The Quality Of The Custom Made MST3K DVD Covers/Slicks?
1. What Is The Quality Of The DVDs?
Digital Transferred Episodes: All of the digital episodes have been captured with a real-time hardware encoder in MPEG-2 format (720x480) from a digital source
and with the original stereo broadcast audio. The DVD standard for resolution is (720x480). In short, the image and audio quality on the DVDs is excellent. Each
episode is also complete - from the opening theme song to the stinger at the end. All digital episodes rate an A grade for excellent quality.
VHS Transferred Episodes: All of the VHS episodes have been captured with a real-time hardware encoder in MPEG-2 format (720x480) as well, but from an analog
source (VCR) and with the same audio that VHS provides. Again, each episode is also complete - from the opening theme song to the stinger at the end. In an effort
to be as honest as possible about the limitations of the VHS transferred episodes, it is important to understand that the VHS transferred episodes sometimes exhibit
occasional artifacts of the VHS source, such as but not limited to, sub-standard video and audio quality as compared to DVD. Please see the below grade scale for a
quality assessment of the VHS transferred episodes. Note: The highest grade assigned to any VHS episode is B+.
Episode Grade Scale: A = Excellent, B = Good, C = Fair, D = Poor.
2. Do The DVDs Have A Menu?
Yes. There is a main menu and sub-menu with scene access \ chapter selection points. The scene selection menu is respective to the host of each episode (Mike or
Joel) and also features "motion menu" chapter markers wherein each chapter image (box) displays 30 seconds of the respective chapter beginning. The below
images have been reduced for file size purposes.
3. Do The DVDs Have Chapters?
There are 10 chapters per DVD. Chapters are determined by the original commercial breaks. When viewing the movie, the commercial breaks are signaled by the spinning
MST3K ball that preceded each commercial break. I suppose I could have edited this out as Rhino Home Video has done with their MST3K releases, but I have chosen to
preserve MST3K in its entirety much like many of the television series that are now available on DVD that also display a small fade to black to preserve to viewers
where the commercial interruption once was.
4. How Are The DVDs Packaged?
The DVDs will be packaged in a DVD "keep" case. A keep case is the standard DVD case that 99% of DVD's come in; black with plastic view sleeve. Also
included is a High Quality Custom DVD Slick that mimics / compliments the MST3K Rhino titles. The DVD itself does not have a label covering it, but does have a
solid white inkjet printable surface.
5. How Soon Can I Expect To Receive My MST3K DVD(s)?
I ship out very quickly -- usually within 3 - 5 business days (Monday - Friday). An
automated e-mail is sent out with tracking information when the DVDs ship out. If for some reason there
is to be a delay on the above stated delivery time, I will notify you immediately.
6. How Many Episodes Are On Each DVD?
There is one episode per DVD. I considered authoring two episodes to each DVD, but this can only be accomplished at the cost of picture quality. Since preservation
in the best picture quality was and is the objective of most MST3K fans, I have chosen to author only one episode per DVD.
7. Are There Any Regional Codes, Country Codes, Or Zone Locks On The DVDs?
No. There are no codes or zone locks on my DVDs. The DVDs are playable worldwide on any DVD player capable of playback of DVD-R.
Codes / Zone Locks:
Motion picture studios have developed "codes" and "locks" to control the home release of movies in different countries
because theater releases aren't simultaneous (a movie may come out on video in the U.S. when it's just hitting screens in Europe). Also, studios sell distribution
rights to different foreign distributors and would like to guarantee an exclusive market. Therefore they required that the DVD standard include codes that can be
used to prevent playback of certain discs in certain geographical regions. Each player is given a code for the region in which it's sold. The player will refuse to
play discs that are not coded for its region. This means that discs bought in one country may not play on players bought in another country.
8. Will The DVDs Play On My System?
Your DVD player must support DVD-R. If you don't know or are unsure, I can offer this reassuring note: Most DVD Players bought in the last few years do. Also, the
brilliance of DVD-R is that it is designed to be indistinguishable from a regular DVD to your DVD player, so the odds are definitely in your favor. But even so, it
doesn't guarantee your player will work with my DVDs. I highly recommend that you consult your manual to find out if your player is compatible with the DVD-R format.
For the above reasons, I ask that for your first trade / request, that you limit it to a single episode unless you are absolutely confident
in the compatibility of your respective DVD player. I cannot accept responsibility for the compatibility of your player. I also cannot return any compensation given
for the DVD you requested. There is high probability that they will play on your system if it was produced in the last 2 years or so. Again, please side with
caution and begin with a single episode so that if by some chance it doesn't work, your trade investment will be minimal.
Note: Game Console compatibility is as follows:
Microsoft XBOX & XBOX 360 - Tested on XBOX versions (1.0, v1.1, v1.2, v1.3, v1.4, v1.5, v1.6 and v1.6b) and
XBOX 360 and all have worked flawlessly. These DVD-Rs are recommended for playback on the XBOX and XBOX 360.
Sony PS2 - Unfortunately, the list of supported recordable DVD media for the PS2 has been very inconsistent. (Ex. "Brand X" media supported on version 1,
but then not supported on version 2, and then again, supported on version 3) For this reason, it is widely held that very few brands of DVD-Rs work consistently
with the Sony PS2. Due to this inconsistency, these DVD-Rs can NOT be recommended for playback on the PS2 system with any degree of confidence.
9. It Doesn't Play On My DVD Player...What Now?
I suggest taking the DVD to several other places (friends / neighbors) to try it out on various machines. This will give you a better idea if the problem is related
to your particular DVD player.
10. What Episodes Do You Have Available On DVD?
Simply click on the "season #" menu button on the navigation menu to see which episodes have been transferred to DVD. Episodes that are listed as
"Not Done" have not yet been transferred to DVD and therefore are not currently available.
11. What Is The Quality Of The Custom Made MST3K DVD Covers/Slicks?
The custom DVD Covers/Slicks are printed in high quality 4800 x 2400 dpi resolution and on ultra smooth bright white heavyweight matte paper with a non-glare
finish. The custom DVD Covers/Slicks are designed to mimic / compliment the MST3K Rhino titles DVD Covers. Unlike the MST3K Rhino title DVD Covers, these custom
DVD Covers/Slicks also include a more lengthy synopsis and also include the convenience of the episode # on the DVD spine for easy sorting and selecting on a
shelf.
|
|
|
|
