"Official" AMV Creators CD Distro?

CArnesen · Post by **CArnesen** » Sat Oct 05, 2002 8:01 pm

Hmm... well I remember some fansub distros that would be willing to mix and match on a tape, so I would say that it would, in the end, be up to the actual distro.

When referring to AMVs that are burned on a CDR, it wouldn't take much energy to mix and match for a request...

--Chris ^^

iserlohn · Post by **iserlohn** » Sat Oct 05, 2002 8:09 pm

I find myself extremely hard pressed to remember a fansub distro who'd do mix and match. By the end of VHS distribution most distros just had tapes pre-copied and pulled 'em off the shelf when people sent in requests.

Mix and Match is OK when you've got creators sending in plain CDs with just a handful of files and a low number of requests.

It gets hard once the number of requests go up, the intelligence of those placing orders plummets, and one person suddenly gets a request for 30 videos from 20 different original CDs (some with goodies that go with the videos) and the person requesting fails to understand that these won't fit on one or two CDs. Keeping it to "I have this CD. All or nothing." makes it MUCH simpler for the person doing copies, and if they have a lot of copies to make, it gets much faster.

Plus copying files off this and that CD all the time is a pain unless you run an archive anyways. Whoever takes on the task of running this should be prepared to put a LOT of time into it if business picks up.

I'm up for sending my stuff to the distros if this picks up...it may be about 6 or 7 CDs if I do (break it up by early stuff/newer stuff/MPEG-2/download quality).

One final warning, someone may want to keep track of who's requesting and if they're in the area of bootleg stores. Nothing would piss me off more than to have a dump of my CD being sold at somewhere like Pandora's Cube.

Chaos Angel · Post by **Chaos Angel** » Sat Oct 05, 2002 8:41 pm

Personally, I think it sounds like a great idea. After I finish a couple of videos I am currently working on, I'd be more than willing to create a VCD for the distro service.

And there will be more service too...

dokidoki · Post by **dokidoki** » Sat Oct 05, 2002 11:06 pm

So who'll be a Canadian distro? I hate SASE because I can't easily get US postage.

Kumagarou · Post by **Kumagarou** » Sat Oct 05, 2002 11:24 pm

I'm all for this idea! ^^ I don't have hosting and it's once in a blue moon that I can actually attend a con to distribute a CD with my MVs. This would be a great opportunity for those who can't make it to cons & those with particularly slow computers to get a hold of some good videos ^^

Org Profile · Post by **Vlad G Pohnert** » Sat Oct 05, 2002 11:26 pm

dokidoki wrote:So who'll be a Canadian distro? I hate SASE because I can't easily get US postage.

I suppose I could do it.... It depends on the damand and how id it runs the way it should

Vlad

TaranT · Post by **TaranT** » Sun Oct 06, 2002 3:38 am

Phade wrote:...
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....

The fansubbers I used to deal with always copied to their own tapes which they bought in bulk. I assumed that it saved them time and effort in quality control; e.g. Wanter sends crappy blanks, or scratched blank w/ no case, or worse - a partially filled CD with a request to add the files to it. Distro follows with a rude email and the choice of either giving away a CD or sending the money back.

As you said, CDs are almost free if you shop right, so the SASE cost is the real issue. The Distro could eat the cost (not literally!) of the CDs or pay for them out of contributions. Maybe skip the jewel boxes altogether. Note that this allows the Distro to pre-burn an inventory since he/she doesn't have to wait for a CD to show up.

An alternative is to insist that the Wanter send a name brand CD still shrink-wrapped from the store. But most people don't buy CDs that way - if you can even find them single wrapped like that in a store.

************

Org Profile · Post by **Phade** » Sun Oct 06, 2002 8:53 am

Hey TaranT,

Each distributor is welcome to apply whatever rules they want for themselves when they offer a swap. Back when I did Phish concerts on tape, I would pre-make whatever show the person asked for, just so it was easier for me to send it out quick (otherwise, I might forget and that would make me a bad trader). If the Wanter didn't follow the rules (which was extremely rare), you could actually send the package back to them exactly as they sent it with they postage they provided.

(Example: I and most everyone else always insisted on the good Maxell tapes, which I can't remember the exact name of them, it's been too long. But the one dude sent me the crappiest, cheapest tapes ever made. He got his show on the crappy tapes and I put the premade ones up for "quick trade" for someone who follows directions. I didn't trade with the crappy guy ever again.)

If you have a modern CD writer (one that writes faster than 4x), it will work with 99.9% of the CD media out there. But, if you ask for a particular CD media or whatever in your rules, you have a few options:

1) Try to burn thier request onto the questionable media and give it to them if successful, then put the premade ones up for "quick trade". If the burn fails, move to option 2.
2) Chalk it up to "oh well, I paid $0.02 each for the CDs I'm using. I'll be the better guy, send him the premade ones anyway, email him about how he can't follow diretions, then not trade with him again."
3) Send the package back as is and tell the guy to follow directions.

Personally, I would do #1 then #2. I don't think I could bring myself to do #3, simply because CDs are really really cheap nowadays.

Good luck and have fun!! ^_^

Phade.

* "quick trade" - post a message "I have an extra <CD name here> if someone wants it for trade"

ZeWrestler · Post by **ZeWrestler** » Sun Oct 06, 2002 11:18 am

I like this idea. After I make a bit more AMV's and get a bit better, I'll b all for participating in this. Sounds like a great plan.

My question is, will there be a seperate side catologue that contains a list of creators and videos that will be willing to submit, or when the video information part of the site gets updated to v2, will there be a link at the bottom that says, you can order this on cd??

ZeWrestler

NicholasDWolfwood · Post by **NicholasDWolfwood** » Sun Oct 06, 2002 11:39 am

Okay, so if I'm reading this right, we (The AMV creators) send you (AD) or whoever CDs of our AMVs, and you make a catalog and put it on the internet, and people can request the CDs with that particlar person's AMVs on it, correct? If so, I'm in for it. I'll send you guys my AMVs once I make some more. What format do the CDs have to be in, and who would I (Since I'm in the US....) send the CDs to?