DVD Production for Planetariums
An introduction by Jim Craig, Planetarium Department Head
James H. Lynn Planetarium, Gastonia, NC
In order to keep pace with changing technology, many planetariums are now turning to DVD video to replace our older VHS, Beta and Laserdisk technology. Some companies sell their video sequences on DVD but in some cases, the images don't show the information we're trying to convey.

The alternatives are to either have someone else produce these videos or to produce them ourselves. For some of us, the former solution is cost prohibitive.

Over the last year, I've been producing DVDs for my programs and have learned some things that might help others produce high quality DVD for their planetariums.

Equipment

Here is the equipment that I use for producing and presenting DVDs. There are likely other solutions and other equipment that might do the job more quickly but this is what works for me.

Computer

This is probably the minimum setup you'd want to use although you can probably get by with a slower processor speed. With RAM costs as low as they are, I should get more RAM.

Playback

  • Pioneer DV-7400 DVD Players
  • Spitz ATM-4 Automation System
There are other components to our video system but this is basically what we use.

I have created a web log (or blog) to go with this site at Blogger.com.

Continued
© 2002, JC Craig, All rights reserved