Erratic playback from Verbatim DL in DVP642

[Aquilonious]

I've had several Verbatim DL discs that have played erratically on my Philips DVP642 DVD player. This is whether I use the stock NEC 3520 3.06 firmware or L&D's latest, 2.U3. The DVP642 is utilizing the latest Philips 0112 firmware. I've also tried the 1109 firmware but no change.

I'll play this disc and pause it, then when I press play to resume from the pause the DVP642 keeps searching (I can hear the drive) but it doesn't pick up where it left off. If I wait long enough the player gives a "disc error" message. I have to reload the DVD and manually skip and fast forward to pick up where I left off viewing. I've tried this at several different points on the disc with the same results. And as I mentioned, this is not the only Verbatim disc it has had problems reading.

I used Nero 6.6.0.18 to burn this particular disc but have also used ImgBurn 1.1.0.0. Nero CD-DVD Speed shows what looks like a good burn so I don't know what's going on, other than the DVP642 just not liking Verbatim DL discs. It reads Memorex/RITEK DL discs better despite the quality of the burn being considerably worse (though it has shown this same erratic behavior with one of them). It has no problems with DVD-R/+R discs, even "bargain" ones.

Any clues?

I'm actually thinking of getting another DVD player--a decent one under $150. Any suggestions?

[CWR03]

At what speed did you burn the problematic disks?

[setarip_old]

other than the DVP642 just not liking Verbatim DL discs.
Hi!

I've had no such difficulty in playback of more than two dozen burned Verbatim DL DVD+Rs on my DVP 642/37 (1109 firmware).

Although you've said it has no difficulty with other media, you might want to try running a DVD/Cd cleaning disc on the player. Maxell makes one that retails for approximately $10US...

[Aquilonious]

At what speed did you burn the problematic disks?

The problematic discs consist of both 2.4x and 4x burns. 4x is the 3520's max DL burn speed. The discs are rated up to 6x. So that shouldn't be a problem.

As you can see by the attachments the quality of the burn is quite good for this "problematic" disc. I'll have to see if I can check it out in another player.

[Aquilonious]

Hi!

I've had no such difficulty in playback of more than two dozen burned Verbatim DL DVD+Rs on my DVP 642/37 (1109 firmware).

Although you've said it has no difficulty with other media, you might want to try running a DVD/Cd cleaning disc on the player. Maxell makes one that retails for approximately $10US...

The player's not that old, but I'll have to look where I put my CD/DVD cleaner. It works well on my Panasonic portable so it should do likewise on the Philips.

What burner are you using and can you post some scans? I'd like to compare. Also, what software do you use (Nero, ImgBurn, etc.)?

[setarip_old]

1) I've never scanned a burned disc. My approach is that the only proof of quality of burn is that i plays properly ;>}

2) I typically use NERO to burn - and have done so for several years, with excellent results

[Aquilonious]

1) I've never scanned a burned disc. My approach is that the only proof of quality of burn is that i plays properly ;>}

2) I typically use NERO to burn - and have done so for several years, with excellent results

It's funny you mention your approach, because I was criticized for that same approach in the ImgBurn Support forums (that a disc plays back well in a broad range of players, not necessarily what Nero CD-DVD or Kprobe scans give). My approach is the same as yours.

I cleaned my player with my CD/DVD cleaner but I still get the same erratic playback. I think the only way I'm going to solve this issue is to see if the problematic discs play back on other players OK. Unfortunately I don't have ready access to one unless I visit a store, and I live in a rural area. It is a fact that certain players "like" certain discs, but that doesn't seem to be the case here.

I do appreciate your feedback and will have to further explore the issue.

[voo_doo99]

I didnot see it mentioned but changing the DVD+R DL booktype to DVD-ROM would help.

[Aquilonious]

I didnot see it mentioned but changing the DVD+R DL booktype to DVD-ROM would help.

Good tip, but I already have that set in my NEC firmware.

I just burned a backup to a Memorex DL disc and it plays fine all the way through, despite the disc having more CD-DVD Speed errors than the Verbatim. Seems like my player just doesn't like the Verbatim discs. :confused:

[voo_doo99]

Good tip, but I already have that set in my NEC firmware.

I just burned a backup to a Memorex DL disc and it plays fine all the way through, despite the disc having more CD-DVD Speed errors than the Verbatim. Seems like my player just doesn't like the Verbatim discs. :confused:

My recipe for DL burning success:
1. Create ISO with PgcEdit 0.6.2, I do not use the 32K padding.
2. Burn with ImgBurn 1.0.0.0 at speed 2.4X, Change booktype from DVD+R DL to DVD-ROM in ImgBurn before burning. I do not verify.
3. Use Verbatim DVD+R DL blank for smooth burn and playability. The best I could get with Memorex or Ridata blank was a playable backup with video break-up near the layerbreak.
4. Verify playability with my old Audiovox portable DVD player. It it worked there, it worked everywhere.

I use my NEC 2510A and 3550A for burning. Thank you PgcEdit, thank you ImgBurn :thanks:

[Aquilonious]

My recipe for DL burning success:
1. Create ISO with PgcEdit 0.6.2, I do not use the 32K padding.
2. Burn with ImgBurn 1.0.0.0 at speed 2.4X, Change booktype from DVD+R DL to DVD-ROM in ImgBurn before burning. I do not verify.
3. Use Verbatim DVD+R DL blank for smooth burn and playability. The best I could get with Memorex or Ridata blank was a playable backup with video break-up near the layerbreak.
4. Verify playability with my old Audiovox portable DVD player. If it worked there, it worked everywhere.

I use my NEC 2510A and 3550A for burning. Thank you PgcEdit, thank you ImgBurn :thanks:

I'm also using PcgEdit/ImgTool Classic/ImgBurn to burn my backups. PcgEdit allows me to select the optimal place for the layer break.

PcgEdit's help file explains 32k padding as such:

When saving, leave at least 32k of space between IFO and BUP is a way of ensuring that errors on a disk are not fatal by placing the IFO and BUP too close together. This function will save the sector references in a non-standard way, leaving “padding” where blanking has occurred. Note that if you save the DVD in another application such as IfoEdit, DVD Shrink, Nero, these sector references will be recalculated by those programs and the padding will be lost. So only use this in conjunction with a burn through PgcEdit (or ImgTools Classic, or any burning program using mkisofs under Linux or MacOSX).

I typically (though not always) use padding as a safeguard of sorts, but I know it's not an absoulte necessity. I burned the bad performing discs with and without padding--it doesn't make any difference.

Some burners either like or disllike certain media, even Taiyo Yuden. Perhaps that's the case with my 3520A. What I do know is what works in my player and what doesn't, and Ritek DL media play better than the Verbatims--all other things (software, burner, firmware, etc.) being equal. My old HP burner never liked Verbatim or Maxell media but loved el-cheapo discs. Those cheapo discs would play back on everything.