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DiscMakers Medley a so-so DVD Replicator / printer

For those of you who followed my blog about the issues with the Primera Bravo II DVD Replicator printer, you know that I purchased a DiscMakers Medley unit to replace it.

http://blogs.creativecow.net/node/330

Well, while DiscMakers claimed the print quality of this unit would be equal to the Bravo II, in reality it isn't. This is disappointing because they both feature the same printing unit from Lexmark. The difference appears to be in the Bravo II drivers as there are many more options available to the user to achieve incredibly sharp text and good solid colors. What was printed as a solid color on the Bravo II is a mottled mess on the Medley as it is just not capable of printing a very tight dot pattern, even at the 4800dpi print setting. And this is using the exact same 300dpi TIF image and exact same DVD stock that was originally printed on the Bravo II so we're comparing apples to apples here.

On the upside, the Medley does reproduce the correct colors on the disc from the original file with minimal tweaking. That was a major issue with the Bravo II as we would have to throw the colors and shading out of whack in order to get acceptable color results on the Bravo II.

As a straight replicator, the Medley performs as expected, absolutely no issues there. But if you are looking for a very high print quality, this definitely would not be your unit. Print quality is decent, but not something you would want to present to demanding clients. 

http://www.discmakers.com/duplicators/automated/Medley.asp 


Posted by: walter biscardi on Jan 29, 2008 at 5:21:25 am Comments (2) editing, dvd, apple, technology, adobe, final cut pro, bluray, hd dvd

Comments:
Not impressed with anybody right now
by walter biscardi on Jan 29, 2008

Been trying to get discmakers to call back for a week now, notody has called.  Got an email they they "tried to call" but of course we have voicemail service and folks working the office.  No message. 

I guess we'll just move forward with another solution.  Primera was definitely not a solution for us that I really want to deal with again.  I'm really thinking now of just getting a replication tower and we'll keep printing on our Epson R200.  It still prints better than any other DVD printer we've had in the shop.

Really annoying that I spend over $2,000 on either solution and neither delivers what was promised.

Walter Biscardi, Jr. www.biscardicreative.com

Hmmm.....
by Wayne Carey on Jan 29, 2008

Well, sorry to hear that you are having so many issues with the duplicators.

We've been using the Primera duplicators for the past three years and have been thoroughly pleased with the results.  We started with the Bravo II until I finally used it up... We replaced it with the Bravo Pro which is a beefier printer but if we have to replace this one in the future, I am looking towards the next level, Bravo Pro XR, the professional version.  The only issue I have had with these units are the software that comes with them.  The Surething Label software has a lot to be desired.  Its too simple.

But all in all... The Primera duplicators are the best bang for the buck on the market. 

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walter biscardi

walter biscardi


Professional Video Editor, Producer, Director since 1990.

Credits include multiple Emmys, Tellys, Aurora and CableAce Awards.

Owner / Operator of Biscardi Creative Media, a full service video and film production company with about 65% of our work in HDTV. The show you know us best for is "Good Eats" on the Food Network. I developed the HD Post workflow and we also create all the animations for the series.

Favorite pastime is cooking with pizza on the grill one of my specialties. Each Christmas Eve we serve the Feast of the Seven Fishes, a traditional Italian seafood meal with approx. 30 items on the menu.

If I wasn't in video production I would either own a restaurant or a movie theater.

 


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