"Official" AMV Creators CD Distro?

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"Official" AMV Creators CD Distro?

Postby AbsoluteDestiny » Sat Oct 05, 2002 9:14 am

Hi All,

I, like many of you, came back from Anime Weekend Atlanta with a large quantity of cds of creators work. Looking at this pile of cds I thought... wouldn't it be great if these cds could be part of a large amv distro, much like fansub distros collect masters from fansubbers.

So, the idea was set in motion. I asked a few people about it and I search for willing participants. Things seem to be moving along nicely.

So, what is the purpose of this post? Well, essentially I now need 'approval' from a-m-v.org members. Phade is happy with the idea [hence the 'official'ness :P], and so are some creators that I've spoken to and now you can have your say. First of all, a little more detail.

The distro would probably be set up as follows:

- Creators make a CD or CDs of their videos for use as a master image for duplication. (Creators with only a few videos can make a combined compilation of their works)
- All cds are catalogued on the site, detailing the creator(s), the amvs contained therein, the required system specifications etc. (plus links to the appropriate info on the org)

The distro would probably operate as follows:

- fans would order cds from the site by choosing from the database.
- CDs would be distributed on an SASE basis (the person sends blanks and postage)
- The distro would be non-profit. If somewhere down the line money was required due to wear and tear on hardware then donations would be requested from the creators, but obviously that would be an extreme situation.


This is the basic structure for the distro - further additions/alterations can be discussed below.


Benefits of a distro system:

- Allows amv coverage for people without hosting or unhosted videos
- Centralised cd distribution allows a fan to acquire many cds from one place instead of from individual creators
- Allows publicity of lesser-known or older videos by a well-known creator
- Allows creators to add personal touches to their work for cd distro


Of course, a fan may prefer to select the videos they want instead of getting lots of videos by the same creator, but this distro isn't about the fans it's about the creators and I personally think it would be fairer to the creator if the distro only distributes CDs that the creator has made.

Also, it's easier to just use master images than create individual cds filled with individual videos so would make the distro more efficient.


Possible additions to the service:

- Compilations of amvs by creators who do not have a significant or accessible online presence such as a Kevin Caldwell collection. This goes against the idae that the distro will have creator backing but I think there are benefits to this added service too.
- Compliations made by creators to demonstrate lesser known areas such as Compilation of Japanese MADs (may need multiple volumes :P)
- Label printing service. Creators could perhaps submit an image to be used as a label. The label would have to be optional and then added to the packaging cost but this can be calculated on the site.
- Free promotional offers. Creators who would like their amvs seen can submit a number of ready-made cds to the distro which can be included as free samples with a regular order.


OK, those are the basics. At present the person most willing to do a US distro is Red Wolf of AWA compilation cd fame (thank you!!). I would be willing to create a european mirror too.

Further details can be arranged and discussed below. So, what does everyone think?
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Postby Phade » Sat Oct 05, 2002 9:24 am

Hey,

The only thing I would suggest about the CDs is that if you can, make the CD destribution quality higher than download quality (if you already have stuff for download). It would be nice to have some great HQ MPEG2 copies of videos. ^_^

Phade.
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Postby AbsoluteDestiny » Sat Oct 05, 2002 9:27 am

Definitely!

Those of you that received my divx cd at AWA can probably testify to this :)
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Postby wolf_hunter » Sat Oct 05, 2002 10:47 am

i was thinking the same thing



fluxy is doing that for me with his vids
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Postby CArnesen » Sat Oct 05, 2002 10:58 am

I would definitely volunteer to be a distro!
--Chris ^_^
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Postby Lyrs » Sat Oct 05, 2002 11:09 am

How much do recordable cd's cost now a days? I think thy're pretty low, aren't they?
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I'm in

Postby anneke » Sat Oct 05, 2002 11:32 am

I was thinking of doing the same thing, but don't have the drive to do so. (It's why I've been doing the CD Re-distribution or as I call it cross-polination)

One suggest I have is to have a spread sheet that record how many of certain creator have been sent out. Available only to the creator. Personally I would send you a CD and leave it at that. Occationally I would check in and find out how many of my CDs were requested/sent out.

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Postby The Wired Knight » Sat Oct 05, 2002 12:49 pm

I'm for it. The only charge I think you should ask though is shipping charges. CDs are cheap to ship but after a while it will cost you a plethora of cash. BTW, check best buy for you CD needs, they sell sets of 50 for $5 when there is a sale. But yeah I'm for it. And I'm with Phade that the quality should be higher. Most people here encode at 360x240 for online downloads but our CDs could be encoded as 720x480 so they get better resolution. My only question is how are the CDs going to be labeled since we don't have direct control over distributing our own CDs.
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Postby nailz » Sat Oct 05, 2002 1:16 pm

the shipping costs is where the SASE's come in. Now, lets say I'm for this... but I dont want to be Distro. Do I still get my videos distro'd by someone else? If so, who's going to be willing to shell out all that money for the CD-RS (It's going to be high priced, eventually, and it's going to take a LOT of time.) Technically, what you're going for, if I'm understanding this correctly, is a feasible database of EVERY video ever made by EVERY creator... having a hard copy on file is much more difficult than say, setting up a database for it, ne?

If you're saying that all I have to do is send my videos off somewhere for distro, and someone else is doing all the work, i'm not going to say no.
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Postby CArnesen » Sat Oct 05, 2002 1:59 pm

Well, I believe that this would follow the same types of rules as fansub distros. I would collect the master copies of the AMVs from the creators that can be requested and then I would accept a CDR and SASE and I would send it back with the videos the individual wants.

I think that this would definitely appeal to people who want higher quality AMVs.
--Chris ^_^
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Postby Hakura » Sat Oct 05, 2002 2:34 pm

humm..that sounds like an intereting idea ^^
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Postby AbsoluteDestiny » Sat Oct 05, 2002 2:48 pm

Why can't people just... I dunno.. actually read.

All of the above is already answered

The Wired Knight wrote:The only charge I think you should ask though is shipping charges.


In the original post is says "the person sends blanks and postage".. which implies shipping.

The Wired Knight wrote:My only question is how are the CDs going to be labeled since we don't have direct control over distributing our own CDs.


As said already, a labelling system could be used as an optional extra but essentially it would be the good old handwritten label.

Nailz1000 wrote:Do I still get my videos distro'd by someone else?


errr... yeah, that's the whole point. You send in a cd to the main distro and the distro distributes it for you.


Nailz1000 wrote:Technically, what you're going for, if I'm understanding this correctly, is a feasible database of EVERY video ever made by EVERY creator... having a hard copy on file is much more difficult than say, setting up a database for it, ne?


um... no. As I said earlier....

"Creators make a CD or CDs of their videos for use as a master image for duplication."

Which means that creators send cds in to be distributed by this one amv distro. The amv distro can make cds of other stuff as appropriate but essentially it's a collection and distribution point for creator produced cds.

To futher clarify, we already have a distro (although things need finalising) - Red Wolf. He would collect the cds, a database would be made along with an online ordering system. If it becomes really popular then I'm sure other distros would be welcome, at a later date. It's just a database of the cds that the distro has.

I would offer a european distro.

When people order they would send their required blank cds and include the price of return shipping.

and here I thought it was simple... and other questions?
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Postby shinto » Sat Oct 05, 2002 3:20 pm

Red wolf is the perfect distro! Good choice!
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Postby Phade » Sat Oct 05, 2002 3:47 pm

Hey All,

I cannot emphesize this enough: The best method for this is called "Blanks and Postage". Here's the details on how it works (this is old news to you fansubbers and Phish fans out there, but to others, this is a new concept).

There are two people in this example, the Wanter and the Distributor.

1) The Wanter contacts the Distributor and arranges for a swap (by email, instant message, forum post, whatever).
2) The Wanter goes out and gets some blank CDs (they can be found so cheap nowadays that they are almost free) and a reusable padded envelope (a Sharpie marker and sticky labels are also good to get while you're at it).
3) The Wanter goes to the post office and puts the following items in the padded envelope: the correct number of CDs, a return mailing label (the sticky kind is best, but a printed paper one also works), and enough postage to cover the return (this is why you assemble the package at the post office, so you can have it weighed and get the correct amount of stamps to put into it).
4) The Wanter then seals and sends the package to the Distributor.
5) When the Distributor gets the package, the Distributor then burns the CDs, affixes the return label to the package, affixes the postage provided in the package, seals it all up, and sends it back. (option for the Distributor: premake the CDs so you don't have to remember to do it later.)
6) The Wanter gets the package and lives happily ever after. The end.

The advantage of this method is that there is no cash changing hands. It makes it really simple that way; no mess. Turnaround time is usually really quick.

Wanters and Distributors have the option to leave little presents for each other if they are feeling particularly generous (kinda like a tip).

Phade.
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Postby Wonka » Sat Oct 05, 2002 4:02 pm

I like the idea alot. Excellent plan sir Image
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