Reviewers Wanted

Essential Requirements - DVD Reviewers

• DVD Player: Connection via S-Video, component, RGB or HDMI output to display device. Composite-only connection is unsatisfactory. "No-name" players not usually considered unless we have favourably reviewed it.
• Display Device - 16x9 capable reviewers.
  • 68cm or larger 4x3 display device with 16x9 mode. 66cm or larger 16x9 display device. Applicants with larger displays/projectors will be given preference. Note that a 16x9 capable display device is essential to be able to be allocated and review 16x9 enhanced DVDs. Fixed pixel display devices must be able to natively display all 576 lines of PAL resolution without downscaling. This rules out 4x3 LCD and DLP projector owners with pixel arrays of less than 1024 x 768 and 16x9 LCD and DLP projectors and plasma displays with pixel arrays of less than 1024 (approx) x 576 under this category (see below for an alternate category).
• Display Device - non 16x9 capable reviewers. IMPORTANT: Note that 16x9 enhanced DVDs will not be allocated to non 16x9 capable reviewers. This means that you will not be able to review many widescreen DVDs (only non 16x9 enhanced ones), however, there is a vast library of 1.33:1 source material available for review. If during your tenure as a reviewer on Michael D's you upgrade your display device to a 16x9 capable device, you will then be able to review 16x9 enhanced DVDs.
  • 68cm or larger 4x3 display device without 16x9 mode. Any fixed pixel display device must have a minimum of 576 lines of resolution.
• Audio: Dolby Digital and DTS decoding, with 5.1 speakers. A discrete subwoofer is essential.

Essential Requirements - HD DVD and Blu-ray Reviewers

• HD DVD or Blu-ray player connected via HDMI. Component video is acceptable if the player does not downconvert the video output.
• Display Device. 720p native resolution or higher required. Displays must also accept 1080i inputs. 1080p or higher native resolution display devices are preferred and in the future as they become more readily available will become our minimum required display standard.
• Audio: The ability to decode Dolby Digital Plus is essential for HD DVD reviewers, either in your receiver or your player, without downconversion. The ability to decode Dolby Digital at 640kbps is essential for Blu-ray reviewers, either in your receiver or your player, without downconversion.

Essential Requirements - All Formats

• Familiarity with video and audio artefacts. At a very minimum, you should be familiar with our Guide to Video Artefacts.
• Good in-depth knowledge and love of movies.
• Ability to write articulately.
• Ability to write one or more reviews per week. If you can come close to this, and meet all our other requirements, we'd still like to hear from you.
• Based in Australia.

• PC DVD-ROM
• Scanner

• DD 5.1 EX and/or DTS 6.1 ES Matrix/Discrete decoding capability with centre rear speaker
• Licensed copy of PowerDVD XP (with DTS)
• DVD-Audio capability

    If you think you have what it takes, feel free to write to us with a listing of your gear and a discussion of how you meet the requirements as set out above. If you have any samples of your writing, feel free to attach them.

    If you have a 4x3 display device with a 16x9 mode, please specifically mention how you can tell that it has a 16x9 mode.

    Please also mention the state of Australia you are in. The most promising applicants will be asked to write a review of a to-be-named DVD as the second stage of their application process.

Remuneration

    Product compensation only.

    A final note: If you don't hear back from us within 2 or 3 days at any time, it is more than likely that we either did not receive your email or our reply to you went astray. In either of these cases, please continue to try and contact us.