Why are some DVDs still being released on a single layer? (1 Viewer)

[Mitch Stevens]

I've been renting tons of movies from netflix lately, especially very recent movies that have just been released, and I find that some of them are still being released on single-layer DVD. Why is that? You would think that by now, studio would want to release their DVDs with both layers to maximize bitrate. It makes no sense, to me anyway.

The biggest amount of single-layer DVDs I found was from Columbia, and in their case, I'm sure that they're only doing it, to release a superbit later, but what about other studios?

In my opinion every single DVD being released today, should in fact be 2 layers with the maximum bitrate regardless of the title. Especially, when the DVDs in question have no other special features, the least they can do, is release them with good audio/video quality!

 

[Dan Rudolph]

Single layer dvds are still cheaper to manufacter and when the total running time of all material on the disc is under 100 minutes or so, there's pretty much no reason to use a second layer.

 

[Bjorn Olav Nyberg]

I don't know how they make DVD's, but I guess part of the reason is also that DVD-9 and DVD-5 are produced separately, and if resources for DVD-9 production are exhausted, DVD-5 offers an alternative to produce even more titles. This is just speculation of course.

 

[Jon Robertson]

Once it creeps over 100 minutes or so, it's probably best to spread it to two layers, but I've no qualms with middling bit-rates, as long as the compression is done competently.

 

[Michael Reuben]

I've been renting tons of movies from netflix lately, especially very recent movies that have just been released, and I find that some of them are still being released on single-layer DVD.

What titles? And how do you know they're single-layer?

M.

 

[DaViD Boulet]

It costs less to do single layer. If a title program is short or if it compresses easily, why would the studio add the cost of a dual-layer disc? Dual-layer also increases disc mastering costs from what I understand (has to do with layer-change issues).

One more thought...the "rot" that some have reported with DVDs is a dual-layer DVD issues where the bonding agent fo the layers apparently interacts with the reflective coating. Single-layer disc have to such issues. All things being equal, it might better in the long-run to have single-layer disc on the shelf!

-dave

 

[Mitch Stevens]

What titles? And how do you know they're single-layer?

I don't remember which titles specifically, because they were terrible movies. The one title that jumps to mind is "Swimfan" which Fox released. It's only 85 minutes, but I'm sure that if they had maxed out the bitrate and used CBR instead of VBR, it could have easily filled two whole layers, and the movie would have looked a million times better than it did.

The way that I know which DVDs are single layered, is by going to the menu on my Sony DVD player (a feature that all Sony DVD players have) and it tells you, which layer it is currently playing, and if/when the layer changes to the next one. Duel-layered DVDs start with layer 0, and end up on layer 1, and single layered DVDs have no numbers....they just never switch layers, because there isn't a second one to switch too.

If I remember correctly "Glitter" is also a single-layered DVD (from Columbia) but I really have no idea when it was released. What I do know, is that most of the newer titles (released less than 6 months ago) that I rent, have all been single-layered; especially Artisan DVDs!

 

[Ken_McAlinden]

Most of the recent Universal Western releases have been single layer and the ones I have seen do not seem to suffer from compression issues. Bend of the River has a misprint on the back of the packaging saying it is dual layer, but it is not. The film and included trailer total less than 95 minutes, IIRC, so this is no big deal.

Regards,

 

[Patrick McCart]

Some films need muliple layers. Some don't.

 

[Terry St]

Single layer dvds are still cheaper to manufacter and when the total running time of all material on the disc is under 100 minutes or so, there's pretty much no reason to use a second layer.

Cost and existing production facilities are probably the big reason why studio's are under lot of pressure to continue releasing new titles on DVD-5's. However, I have yet to be convinced that reducing the compression required will yield absolutely no benefits. The law of diminishing returns certainly applies, but the benefits are there. Criterion's recently released disc of "Pepe le Moko" is a 94 minute B&W mono film, with relatively few special features, yet it is a DVD-9. The film isn't in pristine condition, but it looks like *film*, not a DVD. Of course, with such a release a raw PCM track might have been a good use of space too...

 

[Michael Reuben]

There are two easy ways to tell a DVD-5 from a DVD-9.

Thanks, but I know how to tell the difference. The question was for the original poster.

M.

 

[GarySchrock]

Well, I for one wasn't sure how to tell, so the info was usefull to me. I'd always kinda wondered, but was too lazy to really investigate.

 

[Ken_McAlinden]

Criterion has turned itself around and almost all of their new releases are DVD-9's, but most of their older releases are DVD-5's.

It depends on how you characterize "older", but of their first ten releases, I believe half were DVD-9s (Seven Samurai, Amarcord, Night to Remember, Hard Boiled, The Seventh Seal) and one was a 2-sided single layer disc with the supplements on the flip side (Spinal Tap). They pretty much only did DVD-5s when the video content was less than two hours (Lady Vanishes, 400 Blows, Beauty and the Beast, The Killer, etc.).

Of their recent releases, I'm not positive, but I don't think George Washington, Loves of a Blonde, Les Dames du Bois de Boulogne, and The Importance of Being Earnest were dual layer. There is a higher chance of their more recent stuff being DVD-9, but they are releasing fewer films without substantial video supplements as well.

Regards,

 

[GlennH]

DVD Empire lists the sides/layers on their DVD information page. I'm not sure that it's always accurate though.

 

[Lew Crippen]

You are correct Ken, in that George Washington, Loves of a Blonde, Les Dames du Bois de Boulonge and The Importance of Being Earnest are all single layer disks.

Further some of their future releases such as Night and Fog[/I, ]I Fidanzati, and Coup de Grâce as well as the recently released Love on the Run, Bed and Board and Stolen Kisses are all (or will be) single layer.