BD-Live Gaining Momentum
Is this Tangible Media’s Answer to Digital Downloads?

With the swarm of Blu-ray titles touting BD-Live capability, many consumers want to know what BD-Live has to offer. BD-Live is the ability to use a Blu-ray Disc, a Blu-ray Player, and an internet connection to access additional features and interactivity not included on the disc. Some of the features make more sense than others. Below are some that may be of value:
-Make movie clips with user faces superimposed on characters in the movie and send them
over the BD Live network as viral marketing campaigns. See Sleeping Beauty.
-Edit movies for viewing with sensitive viewers and store the custom edits on remote
servers.
-Send digital copies direct from the disc menu to your portable device. See iPhone/iPod
Touch Application.
-Allow storefront merchandising from the disc menu.
-Update audio on older blu-ray discs for new audio codecs optimized for your home theater.
To get our opinion on how we actually see some of these features being useful for corporate communications see our blog.

Trends in Media: USB Flash Drives for Marketing and Promotion

It has become increasingly enticing to look into USB Sticks or “Thumb Drives” as a promotional tool or a way to distribute information. They can serve as an eye-catching handout at a tradeshow or a mail out premium with preloaded promotional information.

However, the volatility in price and availability is often hampered by the demand for flash memory generally by other consumer product applications (i.e. cameras, cell phones, etc.) CD and DVD is still the most cost effective way to deliver rich media content for read-only presentations.

GLMT is looking forward to future investments in this product, but we need your help! Let us know how you plan to use USB Flash Drives in the future by shooting us a quick email. Or hit the comment section on the blog to leave your thoughts for all!

Marketing Downloadable Content as “HD”


A Suspicious Value Statement














It is logical to assume that in the future we have a “mystical box” that pipes in high definition movies and games to any television/monitor in the house. This HD content will be relayed wirelessly to our cell phones, maybe even our virtual reality visors. We will command it by voice, it may even have a name, and it will know us, and download movies it knows we’ll like without command. This “magic box” will sense our every entertainment want and need and predict, download, and present it in glorious high definition on any type of screen we want. The cost of this box? Nothing. The cost to download a movie? Zilch. Writers will never strike and meaningful HD content will be bountiful.

As we step back to planet earth we see industry giants capitalizing on this ideal of entertainment utopia. At CES 2008, Apple announced its “HD” version of Apple TV. You can download “HD” programs to your XBOX 360. Some of the major networks are even letting you download “HD” video versions of their sitcoms. The problem is that none of these downloads are truly HD and marketing them as such is potentially fraudulent.

George Ou, a technical Zdnet.com columnist, confirmed the industry-wide misrepresentation in “Don’t Believe the Low Bit-Rate Lie.” The article draws a clear distinction between resolution and bit rate, which few understand. As a review, resolution is simply the physical number of columns and rows of pixels creating the display. Bit rate refers to the actual amount of video data being transferred per second to the display. The true measure of whether something is HD should be measured first by bit rate then by resolution. This confusion has led to many media conglomerates taking advantage of the bewildered consumer.

When the consumer goes shopping for an HD display, they are pursuaded to choose between resolutions as a measurement of quality. There is a price disparities between resolutions. For example, a 1080p display will command a premium over a 720p display. However, the amount of video data being transferred to that display is more important.

What is more interesting is the fact that a standard definition (480i) DVD played on a 720p display with a bit rate of 8 mbps will look better than the “HD Movie” downloaded on your computer, XBOX Live, or your Apple TV with bit rates less than 5 mbps. DVDs are not marketed as “HD” despite the fact that they can be scaled to display on any TV resolution. The fact that some digital downloads advertise themselves as “HD” when really it is worse than DVD quality is puzzling.

The HD bit rate has been set by the next generation formats as being a minimum of 36 mbps. This is why when you view video presented in HD-DVD or Blu-Ray it is spectacular in comparison with all other forms of HD.

It is suspicious that Dish Network and Cable frequently wage war against each other on the amount of HD it offers. What is lacking in the battle is a discussion on quality of HD. However, when a digital downloading service is advertised as offering “HD”, and the quality is less than the standard definition DVD quality, it should remove the “HD” label altogether. Offering something that transfers 9 times less video data at a resolution often used by HD video should not be labeled HD as consumers associate “HD” with high quality.

A Look at the Consumer, HD-DVD, and Blu-Ray

The fact that most consumers do not have an HD-DVD or Blu-Ray player is not surprising. The optical disc industry has done little to invite a consumer to experience high definition entertainment by presenting two competing next generation formats- HD-DVD v. Blu-Ray. At GLMT we are indifferent to which format prevails in the marketplace, but we do believe that a clear format needs to be decided soon for the health of the industry.

Initially, we thought the development of multi-format players or Super Multi Blu players would make the format war moot by allowing consumers to buy either HD-DVD or Blu-Ray titles without regard to compatibility. We envisioned that consumers would be more concerned with buying an entertainment title in High Definition, rather than a specific format because it would not make much difference.


The development and promotion of Super Multi Blu players has been extremely slow to react to a consumer looking to adopt a format. The price remains high for Super Multi Blu ($900) and neither camp seems to be willing to endorse such a concept. Also, the promotions linked with buying a Blu-Ray or an HD-DVD player (i.e. up to 10 free movies) were not extended to the multi-format players during the pre-holiday retail blitz. Due to the lack of promotion behind the Super Multi Blu players the tension increased between the formats and has lead to a slow consumer adoption. A winner-take-all proposition to a consumer looking to make a $400 investment in technology is a risk consumers are smart not to take.

Last Friday, January 4, Warner Bros. dealt a blow to the HD-DVD camp announcing exclusivity to Blu-Ray for their titles in 2008. This caused HD-DVD to cancel their news conference at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. This cancellation reaction to the Warner Bros. exclusive announcement was surprisingly public, and some believe this to be the tipping point.

It is unfortunate that this confusing message has been presented to the marketplace. What is clear, is that the only way to effectively watch a spectacular, recently released movie in high definition is to utilize a next generation optical disc format. We believe there will be widespread adoption to a format once it is clear that there is a standard and the players are priced under $200 including an HDMI cable. Given the recent exclusive Blu-Ray news, this may be happening soon.

GLMT sent representatives to the CES conference to get a pulse on the future of optical disc. We are excited to hear their thoughts upon return.

Blu-Ray or HD-DVD vs. Digital Downloading? Discs are Here to Stay!

EngadgetHD, a leading blogger on high definition, posted 10 reason discs will remain as a viable medium! I thought they were very insightful.

1. They offer the best picture and sound quality.
2. You own the disc, no one can expire it or take it away.
3. Discs still cost less per GB than a Hard Disc.
4. Discs don't 'just' go bad and cause you to lose your movies.
5. Discs are portable and can be shared with friends.
6. Eventually HDM players will cost less than upconverting DVD players.
7. Xbox Live Marketplace HD expires and is locked to the device.
8. HD VOD is limited in selection and availability.
9. Even when VUDU gets HD, it costs too much, and the content is locked on the box.
10. HD Movie channels crop, compress, and offer worse audio than DVD.


Source- EngadgetHD

GLMT StoriesAnnual Holiday Disc Unveiled!

GLMT and SoundByteStudios Team up for this year's 2007 Holiday Greetings Disc.

Every year we have the pleasure of sharing our passion for the season by teaming up with one of our customers to create a special offering to all of our valued partners.
This year we teamed up with SoundByte Studios, a Chicagoland choral recording specialist, to bring you a very special recording of the Lake Forest High School Choir under the direction of Timothy Haskett.

As we approach this special time of year, we would like to send you our 2007 Holiday Greetings CD for FREE!! Please click here and include your name, address, and way we can serve you better in 2008 to receive your 2007 Holiday Greetings CD in time for the holidays!

Packaged Media v. Digital Downloading


Great Lakes Media Technology recently attended the Home Media Expo in Las Vegas. The purpose was to examine the future of the entertainment and communications industry. Many in the packaged media industry feel threatened by digital downloading. We are not threatened as we see ourselves as a communications enabler and will invest accordingly as long as we are serving our valuable customers. As we look to invest in the future, we wanted to know where the consumer was headed. We obtained valuable information from not only research experts but also panels of regular entertainment consumers. When asked about the impact of digital downloading, Tom Adams of Adams Media Research said,"Never has a product with so little market share received so much press." His models showed in the video entertainment market, digital downloading represented 8% of the total market. By 2012 both Nielsen and Adams expect digital downloading to capture a max of 12% of the total market. An executive from MovieLink, a leading entertainment download site, discussed many of the quality, security, download time, and marketing pitfalls that they encounter with the service.We came away with the conclusion that the best experience for consumers of media will continue to be delivered on disc for the best experience, and digital downloading is best used as a supplement to the rich disc experience. If you wish to discuss, click discuss!

Increase Your Definition

We recently attended the HD Expo in Chicago and learned a lot about High Definition Video's emergence into a variety of presentations: DVD and streaming video. Regardless of the ongoing format war between HDDVD and Blu-Ray, High Definition footage can totally impact your standard DVD or online video. Are you capturing your footage in HD? The time has come to look into it. If you don't shoot your own footage, chances are your production company is. The difference is really profound, and everyone is upgrading to accommodate - not because of trend, but because of the superb quality it offers.

If your program contains HD footage, contact us to discuss presentation formats - both DVD and streaming. We'll help get your quality footage seen - and we guarantee people will be impressed.

The Selling of Media

Since I was a kid, media formats have changed, and now yet another has come into the fold: digital. Consumers by the boatload are sold on this format’s convenience. They know the quality of the audio is less, they know they won’t get much in the way of artwork, but they also know that they can take their music with them pretty much anywhere. Convenience is a value driver not used since the days of the original “boom box,” and later the walkman, in music and related advertising. Mostly, quality has always been the focus. But, times have changed.

Record labels and musicians all over the world are interested in getting their music in people’s ears, and if customers are buying into a new format, you can be sure that record labels and musicians are going to try to accommodate. It’s the basics of business. But let’s look a little deeper into the business of it, and see what’s really happening.

A record label initially determines the margins on CD sales. There are a variety of ways to approach this – packaging, limited editions, bonus material, etc. In essence, there’s room to control the perceived value in the product. Then, whether the product is sold to a distributor, retail, or directly to consumers, pricing can be based on those value points, and with smart planning, can better ensure that costs are covered, and profits are made.

With selling digital, there is not this freedom. Sale prices are determined by the digital stores (iTunes, eMusic, etc.), and royalties are paid after their expenses, sometimes leaving as little as .20 per track to go to the record label or artist. At .20 per track, selling 10 songs will get you 2 bucks. Not a lot.

Now, you might be thinking, “yeah, but I won’t have all the production costs associated with making discs.” True, but you’re not without costs. You likely paid something to record the music, you likely have produced some other marketing material to drive sales of said music, and, perhaps most importantly, there is a value to the material that you have created, a value that should be compensated for. Are you going to be able to recoup your costs on .20 per track? Good luck.

Think creatively. I’m not saying that digital is bad or useless to record labels and musicians. It’s very important to provide products and services to your customers in a way that appeals to them. But, you have to do it smart. Taking a black and white stance will only exclude you from the benefits of the other.

Now, send me an email and let’s talk about how to make your next disc drive more money your way.

Digital vs. Physical

Late last year, I got an mp3/video device. Without naming names (the brand isn't the focus of this post), it's one of the best available now - huge capacity, video capability, etc. Theoretically, it's the poster child for not using physical media (CD/DVD). I’ve been interested in this product for quite awhile now – no more road trips with piles of CD cases bouncing around the car, no more trying to decide in the morning what I wanted to listen to on the long commute to work. Now, I could have thousands of discs at my fingertips, no matter where I was going, and I could listen to whatever fit my mood. Great!

As I’ve spent about 4 months with the device, through daily commutes and two trips both national and international, I’ve certainly experienced the positive aspects listed above. But I’ve also realized some other things: batteries need to be recharged, I don’t like watching video on a 2” screen, I don’t like the effects of compression, I’m annoyed by the lack of information that accompanies purchased downloads, and ironically, I’ve started to bring CDs in the car because it’s quicker to simply put the disc in the player, than to plug in and scroll through 3,000 albums to get to the one I want to hear. That’s way too many choices before I’ve had my morning coffee!

Ironically, downloading music is designed to get music that people might not have heard before to the public in a quicker and more accessible way. However, once you have it, you might not know any more about it. I recently purchased a download and have been listening to the record repeatedly for a few weeks, amazed by the drumming it featured. “Who is this guy?” I thought. I scanned through the pages of my player, only to see a small jpg of the cover, which I couldn’t even really tell what was on it. This single jpg, and the band name and title were all it posted; essential yes, but who was the drummer? It was this moment where I longed for the gatefold LP jacket – featuring giant pictures, liner notes, creative design, imagery to match the music, creating a memorable experience – not just ‘a song.’ Oh, yes, and the name of the drummer could easily be found on most packaging.

Convenience is a fine thing, and music and video on the go is certainly useful, but physical material serves a larger purpose – it acts as a reference guide, it supports the design and concept of the content, and its serves as a physical reminder of something we cherish – much more effective than an ambiguous sea of 1s and 0s.

Sharing Business Ideas Through Digital Media

Featuring presentations from renowned authors and business experts, the LeaveSmarter series, hosted by 800ceoread, offers Milwaukee area business people a forum for new business ideas. Each event will be captured on video, compiled with other exclusive footage and author related documents, and presented on CD media which will then be distributed by 800ceoread within a limited number of author-signed books. To accomplish this, 800-CEO-READ has partnered with us. This partnership creates a platform where multiple publishing formats and live experiences create interaction between attendees, authors, and the business community at large.

GLMT Receives Government Contract
The U.S. General Services Administration offers government agencies a resource of vendors for a variety of services. GLMT is now a certified vendor within this resource. If you work within a government agency or know someone who does, contact us through the GSA vendor network at www.gsa.gov.

Versatile Media
Looking for a convenient media format that can be carried in your pocket, has unlimited file-transfer capabilities, works with any USB drive, and has your logo printed on it? GLMT now offers in-house duplication of USB drives. Available in a variety of capacity sizes (256MB - 1GB+), our duplication process also includes verification of content to ensure that the duplicated files are exact matches of the input files. After duplication, we can print your logo on the shell, and package the drive in a variety of methods for your distribution; lanyards, gift boxes, and other options are available. Contact us to find out more about how to utilize this unique portable media format.

The Added Quality of Premastering

For many of you, getting discs made simply involves mailing off your master, and then getting a shipment of replicated discs at your door days later. Of course, a lot happens during that time that you might not be aware of. For instance, each master we receive for replication goes through a pre-mastering process, where playability and authoring (if applicable) are analyzed. Even if an audio CD or DVD master plays fine on your player, the data itself could still contain errors; errors which could cause compatibility issues on certain players. Using our Eclipse system, structural elements of the discs are examined, including sectors and VOBU length, coding, IFO and BUP files. As complicated as this might sound, pre-mastering essentially lets our customers know that their replicated discs will be as accurate as possible. By testing each master before we replicate, and notifying you of any potential concerns, we ensure a higher quality replicated disc. It's just another way we strive to get you the best quality product possible.

Double Duplication Capacity

Speaking of recordable media, we've doubled our capacity for CD-R and DVD-R duplication. Adding multiple new towers to our system, with the ability to print and record a larger variety of media types (like the high resolution disc mentioned above), we are your essential source for any kind of media duplication imaginable. Literally, whatever you need, whenever you need it, we can do it.

Short Run, High Resolution

There are times when you only need a few discs, but you want them to look like you pressed a million. There are times when you also need them extremely quick. No problem! We now offer a quick turn CD-R/DVD-R that features high resolution, high gloss, smudge-proof, waterproof inkjet printing. Similar looking to offset printed discs, these discs are perfect for quick-turn, short-run projects that include photographic elements within their design. Ask us about adding high resolution printing on your next CD-R or DVD-R project.

Ready, Set, Retail!

A growing number of our customers are looking to sell their digital media projects in a retail environment. But most large retailers do not accept products without a barcode. Fear not, GLMT can print and apply barcode labels for a variety of CD and DVD packages. People working in entertainment sectors, film, software, and publishing need to follow standards for retail tracking and processing in order to have their products placed. Now we will be able to help those people get their products to market.

The process is simple. Customers can either provide existing barcodes or purchase them through Great Lakes Media Technology. The labels are then printed with the corresponding product information and applied to the spine of the packaging. Once these products arrive at retail locations, the barcode labels are scanned upon purchase for the retailer's inventory. Let us know if you need spine barcode labels on your next project.

Video Master Formats

Interested in transfering video footage to a different format? Or, just interested in making some more copies? Here's a handy list of our format capabilities for whatever your needs might be. Bring in your master on any of these formats and we'll help you out.

Betacam SP
Digital Betacam
Betacam SX
MPEG IMX (Betacam)
Beta
VHS
S-VHS
D-2
3/4"
1"
Mini-DV
DV-CAM
DVC PRO
HI-8
Digital 8
DVD-R/RW
D9 HD

Also, if you're bringing in your master for a project and you're concerned that the shell or tape might be damaged, it may be possible to repair. Let us know your concerns and we'll do our best to fix it before proceeding with the job.

Anti-Piracy

GLMT has added HexaLock CD Copy Protection Technology to our CD services. Now, virtually any content type distributed on CD-R or CD-ROM can be protected from illegal copying and use. Be sure to ask us about copy protecting individual files, or the entire program, on your next project.

Choosing the Right DVD Authoring Software

There are a variety of DVD authoring software options available today, and there will likely be even more of them in the future. While some might be low-cost, "easy-to-use," or bundled with another program you've purchased, there are definite differences in the capabilities of each program, which can seriously affect the functionality of the disc if you choose to have it replicated. For professional quality authoring, we recommend using the following software products to ensure your program is created "replication ready":

Apple:
DVD Studio Pro 3 and higher
Compressor 2 or higher

Adobe:
Encore 2 or higher

Sonic:
DVD Producer 5 or higher
Scenarist (any version)
DVDit

Ulead:
DVD Workshop 2

Sony:
DVD Architect

When a DVD master fails in the pre-mastering testing process, it usually can be traced to the version or format of software used to author the content. If you are authoring a program yourself, we recommend using one of the products mentioned above. Of course, having your content encoded and authored by Great Lakes Media Technology will ensure that there are no issues with your master when it goes into production. Call us with any questions on how we can help you with your authoring project.

Jewel Case Alternative: The Hardbox

Tired of cracked cases? Like the hefty outer graphic real estate of DVD cases? Then your solution is here. The Hardbox combines the best of both worlds: A DVD styled case with a jewel case size. Because it's a clear case surrounded by a wrap sleeve, the outer wrap can be printed in color on both sides to provide a continuous image on both the outside and inside of the case - something that's more challenging to produce on the multiple printed pieces within a jewel case. Also, it's one solid piece - disc tray and case, which brings the material cost per unit below that of a jewel case. The Hardbox is a fine alternative to a long-time standard. Call us for more info.

Scratch and Theft Proof

Have you ever purchased a disc only to open it and find that the hub that held the disc had broken, leaving the disc to shake freely within the case, scratching the bottom to the point of playback issues? Have you ever produced a retail disc where thieves slipped the case open to take the disc, bypassing the security tag? Both of these scenarios can be avoided with the GLMT Security Case. The Security Case is identical in size to a standard DVD case, but includes two movable braces that securely hold the disc within its tray against hub breakage or attempted theft. A simple but ingenious new way to add extra protection for your discs.

GLMT Adds Another Piece to the Da Vinci Code

On the heels of this popular novel and film comes the nationally distributed board game, available through Barnes and Noble, Borders, Target, and other retailers. The Da Vinci Code game includes a variety of components for playing the game with, and also an instructional DVD, manufactured and printed by Great Lakes Media Technology. It's no mystery that we were delighted to take part in such a high profile project, and it's another great example of using digital media capabilities to enhance print formats and products. More info on the game can be found here.

LP or CD?

It certainly looks like a vinyl record, but it's actually a CD. Canadian Brass recently approached us with a project idea for their next disc. In order to tie the theme of the music (Dixieland Jazz) to the release, they wanted a look that would bring past and present together. So, they had us design the face of the CD to look like an older media format - the vinyl LP. The group thought it was a perfect combination. Here's what founding member Chuck Daellenbach had to say:

"Luther Henderson has placed the Canadian Brass in direct touch with the music of the America jazz era-the first half of the twentieth century. We tried to create the mood of that era in several ways, and then we hit upon one of the most obvious links to the past . . . the grooved disc. As soon as one sees the old-disc look, the association is undeniable. We thought that this visually prepares listeners for the classic jazz music they are about to experience."

To experience this package and music yourself, pick up a copy by going here. If you're thinking about creating a similar look for your next project, or something entirely unique, let us know. We'll make it happen, and possibly feature your project in an upcoming newsletter.

A New Level In Print Advertising: e:Patch

A lot of people get information from magazines. While many publications have switched to web, many are still printed due to consumer demands. At some point, magazine readers have likely turned the page to find a CD-ROM attached to an advertisement. This is known as an e:Patch, and can be applied in large quantities to any magazine or catalog publication in order to supply a disc in conjunction with the ad. As competitive and challenging as it is to get your ad noticed, it would be pretty hard to miss a disc attached to the page. If your company does higher volume advertising in magazines, or produces a catalog that you wish had a stronger direct link to online ordering, call us today to find out how the e:Patch can work for you.

As we approach our tenth year in business, it's amazing to realize all of the stories we've helped people tell over the years. From individuals to Fortune 500 companies, everyone has a story, and we're proud to have been able to help so many people through digital communication. This very email is an example of how we've helped people stay in touch with each other. Plus, corporate training videos, product catalogs, audio CDs, independent films; the stories that have been told are nearly endless, and we look forward to hearing and seeing many more. Here are some words from our partners that reflect these sentiments:

"Thank you for your efforts with my price book project. I am very pleased with how everything turned out." - S. Bemowski

"I can't tell you how beautiful they (DVDs) look--so professional. I sold quite a few at the event this past weekend so I thank you for all your help!!" - A. Nemanic

What's your story? How are you telling it? Give us a call and we'll help you tell your story.

Revolutionary Visual Media Packaging: Steelbook

An amazing development in packaging, the SteelBook consists of a metal exterior and an inner core of plastic (similar to a standard DVD case), with outer dimensions exactly the same as a standard DVD case.

Creative use of packaging can ensure that your product or promotional media attracts attention, and Steelbook is one of the most impressive examples of this we've seen in a long time. The product offers a full range of design possibilities and is suitable for printing and embossing. Print on metal is approaching photographic quality, and as a medium, metal can create unique aesthetic qualities able to capture both a modern and contemporary feel. Also, decorated tins have often become collectors' items and valued gifts in themselves. From a promotional, marketing and selling standpoint, Steelbook is a total packaging solution. Call us to discuss how this packaging can work for your project.

Rockstar '06

GLMT returns as co-sponsor of this yearly competition. The Rockstar Project was created to discover new vocalists and to provide these vocalists with publicity, performance opportunities and the start of a great career. The Rockstar Project's auditions, contestants, producers and entire competition is profiled extensively by 94.5 WKTI and Time Warner Cable's "Wisconsin on Demand" Digital Channel 1111. GLMT took part by manufacturing and printing the CD release for this year's winning contestent, Terry Dewit. Congratulations, Terry! And thanks to The Rockstar Project for another outstanding event. Visit The Rockstar Project.

DVD Demystified III

The third edition of the most well-known DVD facts resource is now available, reflecting the current state of technology and capabilities of this format. Written by Jim Taylor and published by McGraw Hill, this edition features expanded content on blue-laser physical formats, HD content and advanced interactivity. Check out reviews and more info on the book at Amazon.

Burst Records Launch

After years of crafting music for companies such as BMW and Gatorade, shows like American Idol and West Wing, Burst Records has begun releasing music to the public. Having worked with Burst on the disc manufacturing and packaging side of their business for a number of years, we knew what they'd be looking for when it came to launching their new Burst Records web site. We built the site using HTML, Flash, CSS, Javascript, PHP, and XML to present the artist/release info, sound samples, and purchase options with easy-to-use navigation, while maintaining the company's overall branding. Take a look at the work here and learn more about Burst Records too!

GLMT at ACCM Chicago

Next month we'll be exhibiting at the ACCM Show, a conference to help businesses exceed their customers' multichannel expectations and increase their profits. We'll be showcasing some specific products that will help drive response rates, usability, and buyer interest for catalog and direct mail producers. The show runs from May 8 - 10 at the McCormick Place in Chicago. Contact us to receive a brochure (while they last) or visit the conference web site here for more information. Hope to see you there!

Interactive Communication

The recent issue of Communication Arts announced that they are accepting submissions for their 12th annual Interactive Design Competition. Participants may enter work done for CD-ROM, Web, kiosk, or handheld devices. In previous competitions, winners have included such giants as Harley Davidson, Nike, Windows, Virgin, and Borders. It's great to keep an eye on these competitions and see what some big-time advertisers are doing to differentiate themselves. We all use this technology to communicate our ideas, so it's smart to question how we're doing it, and how we can do it better. Can you think of a recent CD-ROM that really struck you? A Web site that you like to check on daily? Think about the reasons behind those feelings, and use those to inspire how you develop your own interactive communications. Check out our recent list of pride and joy here, and let us know how we can work together to make your communications stronger.

Holographic Media

While many people are focusing on the debate between HD and Blu-Ray as the next entertainment media format, Holographic Media is also making plans to emerge on the market this year. The initial marketing efforts for the 300GB disc seem to be focusing on its strengths as an ideal archiving media. Maxell Europe has announced its release of the media for September 2006, stating it will have the ability to store millions of pages, and hours and hours of High-Definition video footage. In essence, this development shows us that digital media continues to grow based on technological advancements, and we'll be sure to keep you posted on where it goes next.

GLMT at NAMM

We just returned from the NAMM Show in Anaheim, CA where we witnessed some of our DVD work being utilized by Fender Guitars. This international conference lasted 4 days and was packed to the hilt with manufacturers presenting their new products. Many utilized DVD as their method of advertising. With so many companies at the show, these video screens were hard to miss, and really kept your attention. It's great to see this type of effort and know that you helped make it happen. The best part is that more and more people can utilize this technology at trade shows as the cost for broadcasting your DVD is becoming more affordable. Interested in setting something like this up for your next show? Let us know. We'll give you all the info you'll need to make it happen for your company.

Full Service Duplication

Due to recent demand in local duplication services, GLMT is stepping up with increased capacity for any duplication work. VHS, CD-R, DVD-R; we are a full-service provider of duplication services. While many companies run a "9 to 5" shift, our duplication department runs all shifts, ensuring that you'll get your project done right and before your deadline. Whether you need 1 copy or 1 million, our duplication department delivers.

Using the best equipment available, we also cut and shell our own VHS tape, which means you don't pay for extra stock footage on each tape you have duplicated. This reduces your shipping costs as well. If you need CD-R or DVD-R, we have a wide range of media options available, including silver or white top, both of which we can print your info on. We also offer a full range of stock and custom VHS, CD-R, and DVD-R packaging options to house your finished product.

GLMT WAVES and New Web Site

We look forward to continuing to bring you the latest news from GLMT and the digital media industry with our new monthly announcement, called GLMT Waves. Sign up to receive this monthly newsletter at our site: www.glmt.com.

Speaking of, we've redesigned and restructured www.glmt.com. Take some time to explore, and discover many more features since our previous site, including online quote submission, an expanded portfolio section, more info about the benefits of our products and services, and expanded technical information on how we do what we do.

Canadian Brass Teams With GLMT for Holiday CD

We've recently completed our yearly tradition of producing a holiday CD, which is then distributed freely to our customers. For this year's music, world-renowned brass quintet, Canadian Brass, has provided a selection of popular holiday recordings.

Canadian Brass, now in its 35th season, has performed with symphonies throughout the U.S., Canada, Europe, and Japan. The quintet consists of new members Justin Emerich, trumpet, and Bernhard Scully, horn, alongside original members Stuart Laughton, trumpet, Gene Watts, trombone, and Chuck Daellenbach on tuba. The group is well known for recording classical repertoire; having a special affinity for Baroque music, which requires the brilliance and musical structure that has become the Canadian Brass' trademark. More information on the quintet can be found at their Web site: www.canbrass.com

Developed as a CD-ROM, the disc not only contains a selection of holiday themed recordings, but also a holiday screensaver, and a link to receive a special offer from Great Lakes Media Technology, which can be viewed by playing the disc in any computer.

The CD is sent out to each of our customers as a gift of thanks for doing business with us throughout the year. Limited copies are also available by requesting one through our Web site at www.glmt.com

What Are Your DVD Cases Made Of?

As prices for plastic cases are increasing due to the rise in oil costs, some replicators are looking for alternate packaging vendors. What they're finding is that many cases manufactured offshore are being offered at extremely low prices. Is it a good solution? Research shows that the material that's being found in some of the plastic is certainly not worth the cost savings.

Recently, concerns are rising and much testing is being done on offshore manufactured DVD cases. The results are surprising. Tests reveal impurities in reground plastic used to make DVD cases, resulting in the cases sometimes giving off an unpleasant odor (from recycled food containers and discarded batteries), to further potential toxic risks; impurities that certainly should not be included in DVD cases. While awareness efforts are spreading, it is the responsibility of the supplier to be aware of such issues, and purchase only from reliable, tested sources. Since our company began, Great Lakes Media Technology has purchased only 'Grade A' manufactured packaging, and uses only virgin, non-recycled polycarbonate for our media manufacturing. While we continue to focus on offering our customers a competitive price, our focus is to also ensure that we provide the highest quality material. Don't be misled by ultra low-cost, potentially dangerous, packaging. Contact us to learn more about the quality packaging options we offer.

Piracy Concerns Covered

On October 6 2005, three California men were indicted in the largest piracy bust in the history of disc media. In their possession, law enforcement officials found over 2,000 stampers (the molds used to replicate discs) of CDs and DVDs. The Recording Industry Association of America says these devices are worth as much as $25,000 each. Often, criminals in these scenarios are associated with unlicensed replicators who use stampers of software it knows can be profitable. Such criminals then produce and distribute the media in large quantities throughout the world for profit. This is yet another risk of working with an unlicensed replicator. Could this happen to your master?

Without any guidelines or policies, anything could happen with the master you provide an unlicensed manufacturer. As a Philips and DVD 6C licensed, and ISO9000 compliant replicator, GLMT follows guidelines to ensure that all masters we receive are kept confidential. Our secure vault system and master release form policy ensures that any master entrusted to us will be handled appropriately during the time it is in our possession. Contact us for more information on the steps we take to keep piracy obsolete at GLMT.

DBS: The Non-Plastic Package Alternative

An environmentally friendly, 100% recyclable, totally biodegradable package that offers superior protection for your discs is now available.

The Disc Box Slider, or DBS, is a lightweight, compact package that holds the disc within a unique sliding paperboard drawer surrounded by an outer paperboard case. The DBS can hold up to two discs and a booklet, and offers enhanced protection due to the elimination of any plastic components, which can crack or break. It also offers 50% more printable space than jewel case packaging, allowing more opportunity for design concepts to bring attention to your disc. Having won the World Star Award for Best Package Design, the DBS is already hugely popular in Europe, and is making strides in the U.S. market today. Contact us to learn more about how this package can work for your next project.

MetalFX¨: A New Era In Package Printing

Many eyes have been captured by the metallic printing process. While stunning in appearance, the process was often cost prohibitive on many packaging projects.

Giving your packaging new life without an outrageous additional expense is no longer a concern.

Great Lakes Media Technology now offers MetalFX¨ Technology in their package printing. MetalFX¨ Technology is a Universal Process and Spot Metallic Color System that allows millions of metallic colors to be printed, all by adding only the one MetalFX¨ base silver ink to the usual CMYK mix. Previously, if a client required more than one metallic color in their print job, the corresponding amount of spot color inks would have to take up an extra color pass each (one for gold, one for silver, one for metallic blue and so on). Due to the added expense, printers would often have to compromise or disappoint clients that wanted to use multiple metallic colors.

MetalFX¨, however, enables an unlimited amount of metallic colors to be printed all at once and at no extra cost compared to multiple metallic ink printing.

If you would like to make your media packaging stand out from the rest, speak to an Account Manager at Great Lakes Media Technology about incorporating this process into your project.

How Does Digital Media Address Your Business Objectives?

"Your team has developed an outstanding method of packaging and presenting sales and marketing information."

That is what one of our clients (a major national manufacturing company) emailed us after receiving the final product on a project we worked closely with them to develop, program, manufacture, and deliver.

The benefit really lies in the combination of physical and virtual elements that come into play. For their particular project, a very large 3-ring binder full of products, descriptions, and technical info, needed to be converted to DVD so that their national sales force had all the info they needed, yet could navigate more efficiently to precisely the content they needed to present. Their corporate site, already a behemoth, wouldn't need to carry the burden of this additional content through the use of DVD. Also, in some circumstances, an Internet connection would not be available in the field, so a Web based application alone could hinder the sales presentation.

Once all the files that were used in the print catalog were transferred to a digital layout, a system of organization needed to be implemented. It took many hours and trials to develop a solution for thousands of files that would be used by hundreds of people that would be easy-to-use, customizable, and most importantly, impact their sales effort. The effort was well worth it, as the solution increased their sales, streamlined the sales process, and saved the company a substantial amount of money over printing the original 3-ring binder.

This is one example of digital media being put to its full potential for a company. How is digital media addressing your objectives? Call us today to discuss how we can help make it even more effective for you.

GLMT and Film WI

As Film WI continues to develop after the demise of the state funded Wisconsin Film Office, Great Lakes Media Technology continues to be involved in helping re-establish a vital visual media resource in Wisconsin. How vital? Simply put:

Film Wisconsin will represent the interests of the visual media industry in Wisconsin through one, unified voice. Our members include video artists and filmmakers, governmental, educational, professional organizations; talent and craft unions; equipment, facility, service providers, production and post-production companies that use emerging technologies. Our primary goal is to identify, sustain, leverage, create and increase the production of visual media products in Wisconsin. - From the Film WI Mission Statement.

As a sponsor and task force member, we will be involved in various stages of the organization's planning and marketing efforts, and hope we can help identify Wisconsin on a national level as a valid and strong resource for film and video location and production.

GLMT at EMX

GLMT attended the annual Entertainment Media Expo in Hollywood, CA. This high profile 2-day event featured lectures and workshops lead by some of the top media experts in the industry from Sony, Apple, Universal, Warner, New Line, and many others. This conference provided GLMT with a wealth of information regarding next generation discs, new packaging developments, and much more. Visit the EMX site at: www.entertainmentmediaexpo.com for more info on the conference. We look forward to using this learned information as an additional resource for our clients.

Maximize Your Message

Have you spent a lot of time and energy putting together material for your CD or DVD project? Quality content is essential, but no matter how interesting the content on your media is, no one will see it if the packaging doesn't grab your audiences' attention. With a nearly endless variety of packaging options available, how do you decide which one will truly make people excited about your media?

How can your message and identity be applied to meet your marketing objectives? Great Lakes Media Technology can handle all components of graphic design, DVD/CD authoring, and Web development/eCommerce services to give your identity and message high impact and a lasting impression. Our goal with New Media is to save you expenses while helping strengthen your company image to its maximum potential.

Graphic Design

Great Lakes Media Technology's New Media department will work closely with you to develop design and layout of your material. We'll help you communicate clearly in any media format and give you a look that continually impresses and engages your audience. In essence, we'll help provide your company identity with a lasting potency.

Authoring

Authoring is the process of assembling the encoded video, along with other non-video files (PDF, Word, etc.) into an interface that allows the end-user to easily access the information. As the material becomes organized, custom interactive menus that link to different sections, sub-sections, chapters, etc. are created to support the layout. Existing logos, fonts, etc., are integrated during this stage to uphold corporate or project specific branding, and provide the overall aesthetic theme that will continue throughout the published work.

Web development

Remain flexible and outstanding by integrating your ideas into a Web based application. Instantly promote your product or idea around the globe, and continually update and enhance your online image. Even if you have an existing site, Great Lakes Media Technology will develop the most comprehensive solution to maximize your online and eCommerce objectives with our Web development solutions.

DVD-R Compatibility

When CD-R media was first released to consumers, there were many compatibility issues with the playback hardware that was on the market. Over time, the hardware manufacturers worked to overcome these issues and create a broader scope of compatibility for all the various brands of media available. Today, we're seeing a similar process with DVD-R media.

For one, none of the writable formats of this media are totally compatible with each other or existing hardware. On the upside, a playback device with 'DVD Multi' is guaranteed to read DVD-R, DVD-RW, and DVD-RAM discs. Other new drives can support both plus and minus formats, and a few are capable of recording and reading all five disc types (DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD+R, DVD+RW, and DVD-RAM).

As with early CD-R media, hardware manufacturers are working to create equipment that has a broader range of compatibility. In essence, buying only top grade brand name recordable media will provide better chances that the media will be compatible with a broader range of players. Low-grade generic media might have more issues since hardware manufactures focus on the more prevalent brands in the market.

GLMT provides a variety of top grade, name brand recordable media. Call us and speak to an Account Manager to find the best type of recordable media for your project.

Package Makes Perfect

Have you spent a lot of time and energy putting together material for your CD or DVD project? Quality content is essential, but no matter how interesting the content on your media is, no one will see it if the packaging doesn't grab your audiences' attention. With a nearly endless variety of packaging options available, how do you decide which one will truly make people excited about your media?

Even though there are many choices, there are some logical guidelines to follow when selecting your package option. The first question to ask is, how is your media being used or distributed? This answer will reveal what initial direction your package design should follow. From there, a more focused and critical analysis of effective options should happen. Great Lakes Media Technology are experts in this field. We have staff who have combined experiences of over 20 years in packaging digital and analog media, and are knowledgeable on what 'works' and what doesn't. Don't let this part of your project suffer from attention. If you're organizing a project now, contact an Account Manager at GLMT to set up an appointment to discuss this important topic. In this meeting, you will see both simple and elaborate examples of packaging that we've produced for clients that helped make their media successful.

GLMT DigiStyle Case

Looking for a professional but hip package for your next project? Try the GLMT DigiStyle case. This popular disc case style features 12pt, C1S stock, and printed 4/c process with aqueous coating. A clear disc tray is securely glued onto the inside back panel, allowing you the familiar access of a jewel case, while maintaining the cardstock appearance of custom packaging on the outside. GLMT DigiStyle packaging is available with 4 or 6 panels, and both options feature a literature/insert pocket on the inside panel opposite the tray.

Template proofs, quick turnaround, and affordable prices make this package style a great alternative to the usual case. Call us for samples, prices, and more information on how this packaging can work for your next project.

Captioning and Subtitling

What if we told you that your video programs are missing more than 10% of the audience you thought you were capturing, and that for only a tiny fraction of your production, distribution, and broadcast costs, you could finally gain that missing market share? And what if you learned that you could do it quickly, easily, and as a streamlined part of your normal production work flow when you work with Great Lakes Media Technology? For a minimal investment, your programming, whether intended for broadcast, Webcast, DVD for foreign or domestic markets, VHS, PAL, commercial spots, or B2B materials, will reach your entire audience, not neglecting that significant and necessary 10%.

As the 2006 F.C.C. captioning deadline approaches, all media producers need to be prepared. Great Lakes Media Technology will help ensure that you have a smooth transition as you begin captioning and subtitling your programs. Finally, what is a greater than 10% market share worth to your organization? We want to help you get your message out to the greatest audience possible, and we believe captioning and subtitling enables us to do just that. As an integrated part of our media fulfillment services, captioning allows you to break through to a greater audience, simply, easily, and without hassle.

On your end, it's very simple. You just provide Great Lakes Media Technology with your video, in whatever format is best for you. We then will provide you with a closed-captioning or subtitling script, or if you desire, an approval video. We will make any changes you request to our captioning files. We are committed to excellence, and we guarantee 100% satisfaction with our captioning services. Call us to learn more about this important service.

Free Consulting For Authoring Projects

Maybe you're considering making a promo disc for your company, or converting your catalog to disc, or creating a sales presentation on disc. You know these things will help your business, yet the task of putting the material together can be stressful. After all, you don't want to invest the time and money it takes to complete this work and not have the final product be as effective as possible.

Ask yourself these simple questions:

- Will your user know where to go to find specific information easily on your disc?

- How will someone react to receiving the disc?

- What will they get out of viewing it?

These are important questions, and should be considered when arranging the material that you will publish on disc. Having worked on thousands of disc projects, in both creation and manufacturing, we are experts in the entire realm of optical disc media, and can help you organize and assemble your material in the most effective method. Many companies will charge "consulting" time for this, where we feel that it's more important for our customer's projects to succeed for them. If you are putting a project together , call us for assistance. We're here to help your project succeed.

Digital Media Cards

Great Lakes Media Technology offers duplication of Digital Memory Cards. These matchbox-sized cards hold between 32 mb and 1 gb of video, images, and other content. Playable in PDAs as well as computers, this form of media will bring commercials to a daily planner, music to mp3 players, picture libraries to a camera, and huge amounts of content to a laptop.

Features:

- High transfer rate for fast copy/download
- High storage capacity
- Non-volatile solid-state; no moving parts maximizes battery power
- Data is not lost when power is turned off
- Unaffected by extreme temperatures
- Compatible with all digital cameras, handheld PCs, digital audio players, and other devices that feature a CompactFlash slot
- Rewritable or Read-Only

Looking for an alternative way to publish and distribute your content? Call us to learn more about how Digital Memory Cards can work for you.

GLMT Saves You Time And Money On Video Conversions

So, you have video footage, and you know what the final project needs to be, but how do you get it there? Great Lakes Media Technology can convert your footage from any format, to any format. Plus, we provide 24-hour-turn services for your video conversion needs:

- Quick DVD
- Beta dubs
- PAL to NTSC conversion
- Spot dubs
- Short run DVD/CD duplication/replication
- Fulfillment/drop shipment

Call us today and get your material in the format you need - fast!

Short Run DVD Replication

We now offer short run DVD replication (manufactured discs - NOT DVD-Rs!) for clients who need total media compatibility and quality.

Starting at quantities as low as 100 units, our replicated discs are manufactured and screen printed just like all professional quality discs. Replicated discs can be purchased in bulk or packaged at special prices.

Call us to find out more about our package rates, and the differences between a manufactured disc and a duplicated disc, to find the best option to fits your needs. Whatever your needs are, Great Lakes Media Technology is equipped to handle them, in the time and budget to meet your satisfaction.

Kiosk Development

Kiosks are computerized stations that are placed in public environments that allow users to learn about your products and services, and even purchase them, through a touch screen system. Kiosks engage your audience by giving them control over the information you provide. This improved customer experience remains with the user, and so does your brand. Great Lakes Media Technology's New Media department can design and program an effective kiosk solution to give your company impact in public spaces, such as shopping malls, airports, festival grounds, trade shows, and other high-traffic public environments. The result is advertising and branding taken to a whole new level.

GLMT at IDS Publishing Conference

As previously reported, Great Lakes Media Technology has taken part in this year's IDS conference. The conference focuses on various uses of digital media within the publishing industry. Currently, the conference is featuring a variety of white papers available for download from industry experts.

“Authoring and Encoding: The New Tools For Digital Media Publishing,” a paper provided by Great Lakes Media Technology, focuses on the impact that proper layout and organization in authoring and encoding can have for DVD or CD-ROM media. This paper can be accessed by registering free through the IDS Publishing Web site: http://www.ids-publishing.com/

VCD and SVCD

Video Compact Disc (VCD) and Super Video Compact Disc (SVCD) are two new formats of CD authoring that allow CDs to play video via DVD players. VCD offers video that is slightly above VHS quality, and is compatible with 95%+ home DVD decks. SVCD offers close to DVD quality video with 80% compatibility with home DVD decks.

While neither have the capacity or high quality that DVD offers, both are suitable for lower capacity slideshows, home video footage, or personalized projects, at a lower cost alternative to DVD media.

As technology grows and changes at a rapid pace, Great Lakes Media Technology is here to answer your questions, and provide a solution that best fits your needs, at a cost within your budget. Call us to find out more about how VCD or SVCD might work for your project.

DVD Master Preparation

As DVD becomes a more commonly used media outside of the entertainment industry, there are some critical points to cover in preparing the content for your master disc. For starters, the media itself: Always use high-quality recordable DVD+R or DVD-R non-rewritable media or DLT tapes for DVD-ROM masters. DVD rewritable (DVD-RW) discs may not be used for DVD-ROM masters due to low reflectivity levels and drive compatibility issues.

DVD+R or DVD-R are acceptable for masters of DVD-5 and DVD-10 for replication. DVD-9 requires two masters (layer 1 and layer 0), DVD+R, DVD-R, or DLT tape may be used for masters. Any project requiring CSS or Macrovision copy protection must be authored as such and must be submitted on DLT tape. All DLT tape masters must include the DDP files.

Regarding preparation of your master, Great Lakes Media Technology uses and recommends a bit rate of 5 or 6 Mbps. Higher bit rates can cause compatibility issues in different players. If there is any confusion about this, having Great Lakes Media Technology handle the encoding and authoring of your project will guarantee that your master will be created properly to avoid any compatibility issues post replication.

Great Lakes Media Technology Becomes NAMM Member

(Mequon, WI) To further strengthen it's involvement with music education, Great Lakes Media Technology was recently accepted as a member of NAMM. NAMM, the International Music Products Association, is a century old organization based in Carlsbad, CA which was founded to strengthen and support the music products industry and increase education in music making. Since 1996, Great Lakes Media Technology has handled a variety of CD-ROM, DVD, and VHS projects for the music education industry, which have proven to be a key asset in music education, from publisher to songwriter. Being accepted as a member of NAMM will help create an even stronger connection between production and manufacturing for the industry.

"Over the past century, NAMM has proudly represented the industry that brings the gift of music into people’s lives. What started in May of 1901 as a small, grassroots organization of 52 founding Members has since blossomed into an international association representing more than 7,700 retailers and manufacturers of musical instruments and products from 85 countries worldwide. Everything NAMM does is intended to serve its Members and realize its mission of unifying, leading and strengthening the global music products industry and increasing active participation in music making." - from www.namm.com.

Since 1996, Great Lakes Media Technology has provided CD-Rom, DVD, and VHS manufacturing, replication, and duplication services to small businesses, Fortune 500 companies, production facilities, and advertising agencies throughout the U.S. Their 30,000 square foot facility in Mequon, WI houses the most state-of-the-art technology in media manufacturing, replication, and digital services.

IRMA to Marketers: Discs Draw Better Response, Cost Less

(Dec. 17, 2003) Aiming to prove to marketers that optical discs are a more effective medium than other media, the International Recording Media Association (IRMA) in December released new research that proves that using CDs or DVDs in direct marketing can result in three to six times greater response rates than typical print brochures or advertisements.

The research, conducted by Cambridge Associates, also documents that production and distribution costs for CDs and DVDs in such applications as marketing, instruction, and premiums, is 10 to 40 percent less than catalogs, booklets, and other printed materials. The project's aim is to drum up new business for disc replicators from "non-traditional" (N/T) sources, beyond CD and DVD use for music, movies and games.

The research, available on CD-ROM and also in print form, is initially being distributed free of charge to more than 15,000 members of the Direct Marketing Association to enlighten marketers on the benefits and value of using CDs and DVDs in their marketing plans, as well as to every IRMA member company. Non-members of DMA and IRMA may purchase the report for $995.

Last year, less than only 0.2 percent of the more than $200 billion spent on direct marketing went to the use of optical media, according to the report. IRMA views the growth potential for replicators as tremendous.

The report was first unveiled at IRMA's management conference Dec. 4 in New York. Cambridge principal Dick Kelly noted that until this report marketers didn't have the empirical data to make the case for optical discs as a more effective marketing tool.

The CD-ROM includes video interviews with various marketers that have had success using optical discs as a marketing vehicle.

According to the survey, the range of response rates for CDs and DVDs used for direct marketing was 4 percent to 18 percent. The use of discs in direct marketing applications (as reported by the people interviewed) generated response rates (recipients actually ordering a product or service) of an average of 7 percent. This compares to average direct mail response rates of printed materials of less than 2 percent.

The research also includes charts that hypothetically compare cost breakdowns for a CD/DVD compared to a printed brochure or catalog based on certain assumptions about circulation.

The report expounds optical media's superiority in such areas as:

Enhanced level of communication and providing information due to its ability to include video, audio and interactive features. Higher retention level and recall of the product and its message. More effective response tracking and data collection.

Benefits of Internet links to websites for immediate ordering and/or obtaining the most current or additional information.

Ability to stand out over flat mail--thus breaking through the mailbox clutter of traditional direct mail. Not surprisingly, Internet Service Providers (ISPs) such as America Online and Earthlink dominated the N/T market with 47 percent of total discs distributed in 2002 or 200 million units.

"On Pack"/"In Pack" and "Drink-Lid" marketers that attach discs to the outside or inside of boxes or affix discs to the plastic lids of drinks accounted for 30 percent or 128 million discs off the N/T discs distributed in 2002. Business Card size discs accounted for less than 5 million units in 2002.

Major users of discs for the non-traditional applications in 2002 were: cereal manufacturers; automobile manufacturers; health/fitness promoters; publishers; organizations/associations; colleges/universities; retailers; travel/destination agencies; music/movie/theater promoters; game publishers and household products suppliers.