media, mastering, replicating & packaging - Buyers Guide

Emedia Professional, Nov, 1999

Verity Launches Art Master CD Printer

Verity Systems has announced the Art Master Auto CD Printer, a stand-alone, fully automatic color printer. Discs are fed from the Art Master's input hopper into position for printing, then the image is printed directly onto the disc, which is transferred to the output hopper. The Art Master Auto CD printer offers a 4.3GB hard drive for image storage and an internal zip drive. The package includes Bespoke software and can use other PC-based publishing systems. The Art Master will handle up to 100 CDs and offers 1440dpi color print output.

(Verity Systems, Inc., 6246 Main Street, El Dorado, CA 95623; 800/642-5151, 530/626-9363; Fax 530/626-9395; http://www.veritysystems.com)

Microtech Offers Automated Handler for CD-R Printing

Microtech Systems is now offering an automated handler designed solely for CD-R printing. Based on the company's ImageAutomator, the ImageAutoprinter is a standalone system with PC, software, and handling robotics. ImageAutoprinter features 200-disc capacity, includes the DiscPrint labeling application, and can print more than 100 discs per hour. Options for the ImageAutoprinter are the addition of one or two Perfect Image monochrome or color Prisms, Signature II or III printers, and ImageAligner (a hardware-software mechanism that combines ,printed text with silk-screened graphics). ImageAutoprinter sells for a base price of $8,995.

(Microtech Systems 2 Davis Drive, Belmont, CA 94002-3002; 800/223-3693, 650/596-1900; Fax 650/596-1915; http://www.microtech.com)

Primera UPS Resolution and Speed with Signature III

Primera Technology, Inc. has introduced the latest in its Signature line of printers, the Signature III, which now offers 1200x1200 dpi resolution. The Signature III has three print modes that allow the user to specify the level of speed and quality desired, the fastest of which prints a full-color CD-R at 100 percent coverage in about 38 seconds. When printing monochrome, the Signature Ill averages 6 seconds per disc at 15 percent coverage. Signature III maintains the same foot;print, case design, and interface as Primera's previous printers, allowing plug-and-play integration to dozens of auto loaders and duplication systems available. Signature III ships with printer drivers for Windows 95/98/NT and Mac as well as a design program designed for CDs, called CD-ID for Windows. The suggested retail price for the Signature III is $1,495.

(Primera Technology, Inc., Two Carlson Parkway North, Plymouth, MN 55447-4466; 612/465-6676; Fax 612/475-6677; http://www.primeratechnology.com)

New DVD Production and Mastering Facility Launched

Sterling Sound, Metropolis Studios, and David Anthony have teamed to launch a transatlantic DVD production and mastering facility, Metropolis DVD. Metropolis DVD will operate as a full-service studio offering DVD creative development and production management, project mastering, video and audio encoding, authoring, emulation, and DVD reference disc output. Metropolis is a DVD-Video service bureau, with MPEG-1 and 2 encoding services, and CD-to-DVD conversion. The studio features Sonic Solutions DVD production workgroups, a digital video network, and a fully switched fibre optic storage-area network.

(Metropolis DVD, 1790 Broadway, 9th floor, New York, NY 10019; 212/675-7300; Fax 212/765-9336)