Videographer and Video Editor in New York City

Videographer and Video Editor in New York City

Videographer and Video Editor
in New York City
Videographer and Video Editor
in New York City
Videographer and
Video Editor
in New York City
Newsletter - September 2012
In this Issue:
  • 7 Reasons Why You Should Film Your Live Concert
  • Blu-ray: The New Standard in Home Entertainment
  • 6 Key Differences Between DVD, Blu-ray Disc and 4K Ultra HD Blu‑ray
    (Article Updated December 7, 2017 to Reflect New 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Format)
7 Reasons Why You Should Film Your Live Concert
Step 1: Selecting a Place to Record

In my June newsletter, I discussed reasons for artists to film their recording session. I was pleased to learn that during the summer, several of my customers filmed their recording sessions and they are working now on releasing their DVD and Blu-ray Disc titles.

However, now that the 2012-13 season has started, many of you will perform live concerts at the major concert halls throughout New York. I would like to share with you 7 reasons why you should film your live concert.

A live recording captures the unique energy, excitement and musical magic of a performance. Many performers will tell you that playing for a receptive audience brings out the best in you.


Brentano String Quartet Performs
Live in Concert at Richardson Auditorium,
Princenton University, New Jersey

Videography: Asaf Blasberg
Audio Production: Princeton University
Mastered by: Asaf Blasberg
Here Are 7 Reasons Why You Should Film Your Live Concert:

  • Performing in a beautiful and famous concert hall adds credibility to the artist's performance and adds artistic beauty to the final DVD/Blu-ray Disc title.
  • Knowing that the filming was made during a live performance adds credibility to the artist because the potential buyer of the DVD/Blu-ray Disc knows that this is exactly how the artist performed and not an edited version that was recorded in a studio.
  • Cameras can be positioned at strategic locations, and one camera can be placed in front of the audience to capture their applause and response.
  • Performers can ask the videographer to film them greeting the audience after the concert, shaking hands, and interacting with fans and other concert-related activities that artists can ask for. This can add some creativity to the final product.
  • If permitted by the concert hall's management, the videographer and audio engineer can stay for an hour after the performance and fix mistakes that occurred during the concert. This can then be edited into the final Blu-ray or DVD master.
  • Recording a live performance is more cost-effective compared to filming your performance in a studio because it is only a one-time event (generally two hours) as opposed to multiple sessions in a recording studio. Furthermore, because the cost of the concert hall is already included, artists need only pay for production and post-production.
  • In case of ensembles or other multi-artist performances, costs can be shared by all the performers, thus substantially reducing the production and post-production fees for each individual performer.
Blu-ray: The New Standard in Home Entertainment

According to the Digital Entertainment Group (DEG), sales of Blu-ray Discs in the US have grown steadily by 13.3% in the first half of 2012 compared to the same period last year.

The number of homes with Blu-ray players continued to rise, with 1.4 million Blu-ray Disc players (inclusive of BD set-tops, PS3s and HTiBs,) sold in the second quarter, bringing the total household penetration of all Blu-ray compatible devices to more than 42.1 million U.S. homes.

Furthermore, more than 4.6 million HDTVs were sold to U.S. consumers in the second quarter of 2012; HDTV penetration to date is nearly 80 million U.S. households. 

Blu-ray is now the new standard in home entertainment, depriving the DVD format of its previous spot. Blu-ray's dominance also contributes to the rising number of homes equipped with Blu-ray compatible electronic devices.

Six Key Differences Between DVD, Blu-ray Disc and 4K Ultra HD Blu‑ray

Blu-ray Disc is the successor to the DVD format. 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray is the successor to the Blu-ray Disc format. Blu-ray Disc offers 5 times the resolution of DVD, while 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray offers 4 times the resolution of Blu-ray Disc. Both formats allow recording, rewriting and playback of High-Definition content (Blu-ray Disc) and 4K Ultra High-Definition content (4K Ultra HD Blu-ray), storing large amounts of data. Both Blu-ray formats are currently supported by the world's leading consumer electronics, personal computer, recording media, video game, and music companies. All three formats are supported by all Hollywood studios and countless smaller studios.

Co-developed by Sony, Philips, and Pioneer, Blu-ray Disc takes its name from the blue laser pickup which reads the digital data stored on the disc. Because the blue laser has a shorter wavelength, data can be stored more densely on a Blu-ray Disc than on a DVD. Here are the 6 key differences between Blu-ray and DVD:

  1. Storage Capacity - The main benefit of Blu-ray Discs over DVDs is the increased storage capacity. The Blu-ray Disc format offers as much as 5 times the storage capacity of traditional DVDs. It can hold up to 25GB on a single-layer disc and 50GB on a dual-layer disc. This increased storage capacity translates to higher video resolution and audio quality on your TV. Because Blu-ray Discs can store 25GB of data, you can fit an entire HD movie on a single-layer disc.

    4K Ultra HD Blu-ray offers more storage than Blu-ray Disc. The 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray format offers as much as 2 times the storage capacity of Blu-ray Discs. It can hold up to 66GB on a dual-layer disc and 100GB on a triple-layer disc. You can fit an entire 4K Ultra HD movie on a dual or triple-layer disc.

    The added space that gives both Blu-ray formats better picture quality and audio quality than DVD also gives more room for lots of bonus features. More commentary tracks, deleted scenes, and behind-the-scenes footage are possible with the extra space. Unlike DVD players, Blu-ray players can be connected to the Internet, as well, allowing for Internet-enhanced content.

  2. Picture Quality - The DVD format is limited to a resolution of just 720x480 pixels, which is called SD (Standard Definition). This resolution looks fine on a standard old "tube" TV, utilizing all available pixels on the screen. However, if blown up to accommodate a widescreen HDTV, the picture needs to be up-converted and looks grainy.

    Blu-ray Disc resolution can be as high as 1920x1080 pixels, which is called Full HD (High Definition). This superior resolution is what really makes Blu-ray Disc stand out from DVD. A higher-resolution image means the viewers see sharper and clearer images on the screen.

    While Blu-ray Disc offers a huge increase in picture quality over DVD, 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray offers even better resolution than Blu-ray Disc. The format supports 4K Ultra HD resolution (3840x2160), which is four times the resolution of what Blu-ray Disc can offer. Furthermore, with the rising ownership of 4K Ultra HDTVs, the clarity and sharpness of the image far surpasses that of Blu-ray Disc. In addition, 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray supports High Dynamic Range and Wide Color Gamut. These technologies allow you to see a much higher range of whites, blacks and shades, with more accurate colors.

  3. Audio Quality - Both DVD, Blu-ray Disc, and 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray can store uncompressed audio. However, both Blu-ray formats' extensive storage capabilities allow it to store more channels of audio than DVD. To compensate for the lack of storage, most DVDs on the market today use compressed audio, which results in lower quality audio reproduction. This is critical especially for the music market, which strives to deliver the best audio quality.

  4. Cost - Blu-ray Disc players on the market today sell for as low as $60, costing just $30 more than DVD players. They are extremely affordable. 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Disc players are also coming down in price, costing around $150 as of December 2017.

  5. Menus - Both Blu-ray formats offers better interactivity than DVD – specifically, with menus that can run concurrently with the film. For example, while watching the film, the viewer can launch a pop-up menu on the screen and access any part of the content without having to stop playback. This pop-up menu feature is not available on DVD, which requires the viewer to stop playback and access the menu, interrupting the film.
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Copyright © 2024 by Asaf Blasberg

66 Overlook Terrace #3E, New York, NY 10040

Studio: (646) 505-0706  |  Mobile: (917) 715-8755  |  Email: asafblasberg@outlook.com  |   Top of Page↑

Copyright © 2024 by Asaf Blasberg

66 Overlook Terrace #3E

New York, NY 10040

Studio: (646) 505-0706

Mobile: (917) 715-8755

Email: asafblasberg@outlook.com

Top of Page↑
Copyright © 2024 by Asaf Blasberg
66 Overlook Terrace #3E
New York, NY 10040
Studio: (646) 505-0706
Mobile: (917) 715-8755
Email: asafblasberg@outlook.com

Top of Page↑