Why DLT ?

[e_z out]

I would be very grateful if someone could explain why DLT might be necessary to deal with replicators. A DLT tape for replication is supposed to contain the .IMG file, right ? This is just data. What is the difference between data on a DVD-R and the same data on a DLT ?

Are there issues about error rates ?

DLT drives are not cheap and neither are the tapes. And why use a 20G storage media for a 4G+ file ?

[auenf]

talk to the replicator you intend to deal with, and they may accept burnt discs, they might just have to create a DLT of it to put on their system, but for Dual layer, what else are you going to give them other than 1 (for some scen compatible replicators) or 2 or more DLT's??

Enf...

[mpucoder]

I think it has a lot to do with the history of DVD production. The ability to burn a DVD is relatively new, in the beginning the best choice was DLT.

[auenf]

and the more advanced features of DVD (ie copy protection) is not possible with DVD (cept DVD+R/DVD-R(A))

and price wise for media:

we pay au$125ea for DLTtape IV, ~au$40ea DVD-R(A)

DLT are write many, DVD-R write once, and DVD-R(A) can easily become unreadable with scratches, whereas the tape in the DLT is hidden from most accidents.

Enf...

[e_z out]

Thanks very much for your answers, guys, very helpful. Feel more confident to tackle the Replicators now !

[e_z out]

Found an outstanding document covering these issues courtesy of a Mr. Kevin Wiener :

h**p://www.dvdmadeeasy.com/subscriber/articles/02062001-2/page_1.html

[Deepa DvD]

And also they get errors from the dvd-r when making the glass master. Sometimes you have to give them several dvd-r's.So they'd recommend DLT because it will be error-free when making the glass master.
...this is what the replicator told me:D
deepa:)

[e_z out]

I heard this too but cannot understand why : I would trust optical media above magnetic tape for data integrity on general principles, I must be missing something here.

I also heard that DVD-R is faster to copy onto the HD than DLT which is obviously better for the replication fraternity.

[auenf]

DLT drives are actually quite fast, possibly faster than 1x DVD-R, but i would have to check that up

DVD-R is more fragile, yes, scratches mainly, DLT is in a fairly solid cover, but is still fragile, but its hard to easily damage the data surface (unlike the exposed surface that is DVD-R)

DVD-R (DVR-S201) takes a hell of a lot longer to 'verify' than DLT, trust me ive tried, and i gave up waiting for the DVD-R ;)

from the quantum site (for DLT4000 which is what is most commonly used for DVD mastering, it supports 20gb uncompressed on DLTtape IV media):

"* Native capacity of 20 GB at 1.5 MB/s"

so DLT is ever so slightly faster than 1x DVD-R, the lead-out and rewind times of the respective media are basically the same, i dont time them, i hit burn/write and walk away.

Enf...

[e_z out]

So if we are very very careful with our DVD-R disc images and do not drop them, they should have the same integrity as a DLT ?

I don't have a DLT drive and can't see the point of paying $ 325 to have a tape made from my DVD-R image.

I have to send a master to Paris and I hate the thought of magnetic tape going through the mails, more vulnerability there for a DLT than for non-magnetic media for sure...

Thanks for the comments so far