DVD-R Quality

[alhall]

I have been backing DVDs for awhile now and would like to say how very helpful this forum has been. For those that are new and old, the quality of the DVD-R does play a very important part to the successful back-up. I have tried several kinds from 86 cents to $1.10 each (in bulk) and have finally realized quality is number one. When you use a cheap disk, the movie does breakup towards the end and when I copied the same movie on the better quality disk there was no errors. So to all spend the extra and use the disks from www.meritline.com
100 Pack Accu 4.7GB DVD-R 102-010-100
(Silver/Purple) General
Use $1.04 each

[preston]

My impression is that while some disks are junk for all burners, success often depends on matching disks to burner. I've had no problems with riteks and the Sony DRU-500a, having burned over 100 DVD-Rs, and read them with 5 standalone players and 4 PC units. Plus, with Sony's firmware update, the 1x riteks became 2x! 83 cents each (100 spindle).

[alhall]

You're right. I too have burned over a hundred now but I haven't tried it on that many SAs, never had any problems with PCs. I think the key is what both you and I have said; quality DVD-Rs and the right DVD-R for the right player. A winning combination:-)

[aftertaste]

I have both 1x Riteks and 2x Meritline dvd-r's. I have had some issues with blocks and jerks towards the end of the disc on a Tridex standalone. At first I was alittle dissapointed. The movie I am referring to was burned on a Ritek. However, when i played the same disc on my computer (Pioneer DVD-116) the errors were not present leading me to believe it is the fault of the SA. Since then I have noticed other problems with VCDS and DVDS using that player. Hey what do i expect for a $100 SA. I also have the Kenwood DV-5900M and I haven't had a single problem with anything I have burnt. Now I will also admit, and there is no doubt about this, the Meritlines are far better discs and i wouldn't be supprised if they last 5 years after the riteks hit the trash container. If u look at how the 2 are pressed that says it all. Every single Ritek has an air pocket in the center ring and has almost a translucent look to them. Whereas the Meritlines are transparent with no sign of air pockets. Also if you shine the right angle of light on the discs you can see the Riteks have more waves in the plastic esp. towards the end of the disc then the meritlines. I think what you play them on has more to do with the outcome then what u burn them on (esp if they burn with no errors) But something I will believe till the day I die is you ALMOST always get what u pay for and only time will tell what dvd's were better to use. And i'm sorry to say but we won't know the answer to that question for 5 - 15 years and at that point who cares i'll already have my movies and such stored in some other fashion.

Just a funny note. I have 100's of 3.5 floppys and I can tell you exactly what you should have bought 10 years ago and it wasn't the cheap ones I can tell u that !!! Peace out all thats my 2 cents :)

[RadicalEd]

I've heard a lot about ritek but it seems these days you can get princo's for cheaper. Anybody have some experience with these? I'd like to know before I buy a 50 pack if its worth it.
50 pack of riteks - $47.5
50 pack of princos - $35

[alhall]

Yes, I started with Pioneer but they were pricey so then I tried Princo. I have mixed success with them (more towards unsucessful), but since I started with Meritline, no problems. I use a Pioneer A03 burner.

[IDTib]

I have burned about 200-250 riteks at 2X, all purchased from shop4tech at about 85 cents each. Not a single problem, they have all played fine all the way thru on any DVD player Ive tried (except a really old samsung, cant get anything to work on it)

[jankster]

I bought my first 100 pack of Ritek-G03 for my Pioneer 104 at firmware 1.31. At 2X burn speed 1 in 8 (approx) failed with the "dark outer band" at the edge of disc. The next 100 pack of Ritek-G03 all burned at 2X w/o any failures!!!

The next 100 pack of Ritek-G03 ($0.83 each free shipping), the first 2 I tried failed at 2X. I then upgraded the firmware to 1.40 (2X for all) and it then burned the next 3 at 2X speed perfect. Not enough done to say for sure, but the firmware sure looks good.

[IDTib]

I also am using a 104, but cant remember which firware Im using. I know its one of the (2x all) firmwares....

[Xperience]

I use cheap DVD-R disks from:

- DataWrite
- BulkPaq

These work fine with my Sony DRU-500A DVD Burner with the latest Firmware.

Quality is Perfect !

Regards,
Xperience
Holland

[aftertaste]

Video quality won't be any different between cheap or expensive media. Either it burns or it doesn't. Either it will play in this or that or it won't. The difference lies in how long the media will last. And how long it will last without giving you errors. That my friends is the bottom line.

[flanman]

I have used the Princo and Ritek with hit and miss results. I agree that while more expensive, the higher quality media is well worth it. We do a lot of home videos not just copy movies and want them to last for 25 years. Sorry long winded there. My question is where is a reasonable place to get any of the following:
Maxell,Verbatim, or TDK Dvd-r media.

Thanks,

flanman

[klona]

Originally posted by aftertaste
Video quality won't be any different between cheap or expensive media. Either it burns or it doesn't. Either it will play in this or that or it won't. The difference lies in how long the media will last. And how long it will last without giving you errors. That my friends is the bottom line.

Unfortunatly it's not so simple.

There is a "write quality" depending media, speed, burner and firmware.
Then SA compatibility with media.

For example, burn a ritek @X1 and another @X2. Use DVDspeed and you will see lots of differences : @X2, curve is like an earthquake record adn show well all error correction read retry, calibration settings modifed etc.. during the reading.
at the opposite @X1, curve is a beautiful line from 2X to 7X in my DVD-116.
In both case you have no I/O error, and it should play fine in any SA.
But, some SA can have trouble with the 2X burned dvd-R

Ex 2 : Bulkpag Gen3 : @X1, it looks like @X2 on ritek, plus, you get soemtimes I/O errors (that you also find when ripping when dvddecrypter)
And these disks play fine in my Sony SA and just freeze all the time in my ps2...


This is only 2 examples, on my hardware, my config, so it could be really different on other config, but the fact is when you get no write error when burning is not enough to proove a good media and good playback in SA.

[alhall]

flanman take a look at this site for your DVD needs. (no I don't work for these folks or get a commission). It's just after a while you just want to get good stuff at fair prices without spending a lot of time looking for it. I'm sure ther are other places. Just to let you know, I've backup several(100+)DVDs and to date I'm 75 out of 75 with the Accu disks from below. I use Pioneer A03(flashed), Prassi PrimoDVD 2.0. My DVD SAs are Toshiba combo and single (personnaly I think these are the most pickiest players).

http://meritline.com/dvdrblankmedia.html

[sarahjh69]

what no one ever mentions is why

a standalone player does not care a damm about crc errors
all its looking for is good tracking and reflectiverty.

a pc does not give a damn about reflectiverty or tracking
but will stop dead at a crc error

cheap media (bulkcrap) is full of crc errors but may have
good reflectiverty and tracking....so will play fine on
a standalone (a few sparkles as it hits crc errors maybe)

[klona]

Yes you are right. Thx to point out that.

But I feel that too many CRC error will cause read errors in a SA, even crash of SA (this disc cannot be played.. in the middle of a movie)

[gooki]

That's exactly what happens to my vivastar discs.

After 5 minutes of playing my standalone DVD player stops dead in it's traks due to an overwelming amount of errors.