The 6 Best DVD Duplicators

With the growing popularity of file streaming, one might believe that physical disc media is going the way of the dinosaur as an archaic means of data storage. After all, a person no longer has to go to a video store to rent or buy a movie. They can simply stream high-definition content using digital video recording services to capture the content they wish to watch. That said, there is still a place for physical media (e.g. a CD or DVD movie). In fact, some professionals still depend on this technology to share data. For example, if you are a video producer sharing your content with multiple networks or fellow professionals and you don't want to risk losing your files in cyberspace, then a DVD duplicator can be a wise investment.

So what exactly is a DVD duplicator, anyway? Let's break it down to something simple. If your computer or laptop is equipped with an optical disc writer, then you already have the ability to duplicate video in some form. However, chances are your optical drive has the capacity to hold only a single disc at a time. When we discuss the DVD duplicator, we are referring to a dedicated duplication tower that integrates several stacked DVD optical drives into its design, meaning that it can produce many copies of a single DVD more quickly than an ordinary optical drive inside a laptop. The device comes in one of two major categories: standalone and computer-based. A standalone duplicator's ability to function independently without requiring additional software to operate sets it apart from a computer equipped with a single DVD writer.

The standalone duplicator tower features a built-in controller responsible for sending commands to each of its individual burners. While its available memory and internal operating system determine the quality of the discs it copies, the standalone duplicator is usually equipped with several operating keys and buttons that allow it to perform a variety of tasks. The first task is pre-scanning, during which a master disc (typically placed in the tower's topmost optical drive) is checked for dirt, scratches, copy protection, and disc format. This source disc is then used to copy data to all of the other target discs in the tower. The second task includes simulated copy tests to ensure error-free duplication. Thirdly is the device's ability to skip read errors it encounters during the actual copying process in case the pre-scanning step missed something. The fourth task includes a digital counter on the tower's display, letting you know how many discs have been duplicated as well as how many are remaining to be copied. The fifth and final task is a comparison to ensure that all target discs are identical to the source media.

Some standalone duplicators have their own hard disk drives that allow you to copy the source material more quickly from that location rather than from a source disc. This will provide additional space to make use of more of the burner drives. If you've tried to make a custom DVD in the past, you may recall having to purchase and install some type of DVD burning software that could communicate with your computer's operating system and accept commands. The standalone duplicator essentially removes your computer from the equation with a primary focus on copying source disc media using its own embedded software.

Computer-based DVD duplicators will author a disc image directly from a laptop or desktop computer, eliminating the need to transfer the source media to the duplicator tower. Computer-based duplicators often include feature-rich software that allows you to set up multiple jobs for burning, which means you can drop in a stack of discs and earmark certain portions of the spindle for different duplication projects.

In order to fully understand duplication, we must also briefly touch on the concept of DVD replication because there is a difference between the two processes. As we've already learned that duplication involves extracting data from an existing source disc for burning to several blank target discs, DVD replication occurs during the actual manufacturing process. This replication process is also referred to as molding or pressing, as a glass master is used to develop a stamper. The stamper is then loaded into an injection molding machine that creates the DVD replicas. Unlike duplication, there is no pre-existing source media involved before the replication process begins. Replicated DVDs are similar to those you might find or buy in a video store or online.