Kaleidescape's Convenient Disc-to-Digital Feature
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After our recent review of the Kaleidescape system, a question arose: how does it cater to someone with an extensive collection of Blu-rays and 4K Blu-rays? Personally, I own over 500 titles in these formats. While the idea of converting this sizable library to digital is appealing, especially to significant others who would likely be happy to reclaim the space they take up, the task can seem overwhelming and potentially costly at first glance.
This is where Kaleidescape's disc-to-digital conversion service comes in. Sure, you could opt for a DIY approach like many others, but the time and effort involved are significant drawbacks. The Kaleidescape disc-to-digital service offers a streamlined solution, allowing users to transform their physical disc collections into digital copies stored in the Kaleidescape library. This feature not only saves physical space but also brings the ease of accessing my entire movie collection with just a few clicks.
Starting the Disc-to-Digital Conversion Process
The key question on my mind was about the process and cost involved in Kaleidescape's disc-to-digital conversion. The first step requires purchasing a compatible USB Blu-ray drive. There are several drives that will work as long as they connect by USB 2.0 or 3.0 and have their own power supply. A few of the options include:
After purchasing one of the compatible USB Blu-ray drives, the next step is to connect it to the back of your Strato or Strato C player. It's important to remember that while the Strato facilitates the cataloging of your Blu-ray collection, it does not support playback of Blu-ray discs via the drive, nor will the Blu-ray discs appear on the Strato player's on-screen display. This process is exclusively for cataloging your titles into the Kaleidescape ecosystem.
Once you have connected the player and the USB Blu-ray drive and powered them on, the Strato will enter "Recognition Mode." This is indicated by the front logo blinking three times, signaling you're ready to start cataloging movies.
One important factor – which I initially overlooked – is that even if you have a 4K Blu-ray disc, you’ll need to use the regular Blu-ray disc for this process. I learned this the hard way when I mistakenly inserted a 4K Blu-ray and the Strato’s light flashed orange, indicating a reading error.
One-Hour Challenge
To put the system to the test, I decided to see how much of my collection I could catalog in an hour. The process turned out to be efficient, with each Blu-ray taking about 10-15 seconds to catalog. In just one hour, I was able to catalog 62 titles. This included a range of different film studios such as Warner Bros, Paramount, 20th Century, Universal, MGM, Columbia Pictures, Walt Disney, and many others. I even added a few DVDs and Criterion Collection titles to challenge the system, but it didn't miss a beat. Every title I entered was available for purchase in the Kaleidescape store.
After a movie is cataloged, locating it is simple. By navigating to the Kaleidescape movie store, under the 'manage' section and then 'digital offers,' all the cataloged titles appear neatly listed.
The Cost of Converting Titles
Now, onto the crucial question: What's the cost for each title conversion? At the time of my review, I was pleasantly surprised by the affordability of many titles. For instance, most Warner Bros and Sony Pictures films cost only $4.92 to convert from Blu-ray to 4K. This is a big savings compared to the usual $24.99 price tag. Titles like "Edge of Tomorrow," "The Dark Knight," "Dredd," and "Transformers" fell into this lower price range, where they would typically cost $19.99.
However, not all conversions come cheap. Take "Skyfall" and "Kingsman," for example, which were priced at $25.59 and $13.42 for conversion, compared to their standard rates of $29.99 and $14.99. Disney titles also seem to be on the higher end, with each Avengers and Captain America movie costing $21.67 for conversion, only slightly lower than the regular $24.99 fee. The difference in discount levels is due to the varying levels of support each movie studio provides for the disc to digital program.
Catalog Now, Decide Later
When you catalog a title, there's no obligation to purchase it right away. The information is stored on the system, allowing you to reference or purchase it later. This led me to wonder about special pricing scenarios. If a movie is offered at a discount on the Kaleidescape store, would cataloging it result in a lower price for the digital version? To test this, I cataloged "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl," which was listed at a special price of $9.99 in the store. However, I found that the post-cataloging digital offer remained at the same price, likely due to the generally higher pricing of Disney titles.
My Thoughts
The disc-to-digital program is a great feature for anyone who is invested in the Kaleidescape system. This feature not only enhances the overall experience but also provides a seamless way to transition from physical to digital formats. This process is not only cost-effective but also adds a significant level of convenience and accessibility to any digital library. All things considered, the disc-to-digital program stands out as a valuable tool for any Kaleidescape owner looking to modernize their movie collection while maintaining access to their favorite films in the highest quality possible.
