Jerky playback - dvd-r media or firmware related

[Snowface]

After I bought my Pioneer A04, I experimented with a few different DVD-R brands. Since my LG dvd-player (stand-alone) is very picky, I stuck with That's Write media. Every other brand gives jerky playback after, say 15 minutes. Pioneer, Verbatim, Princo... it doesn't matter. After approx. 15 minutes, it looks like I'm watching an illegal pay-per-view channel. Some even stop playing, but not the That's Write, they always worked.
Now I bought another cake-box of 50 pcs (my 8th..), but they look different and are simply not the same. I burned 6, 2 of them became coasters and 4 with playback problems. 1 even won't play perfectly in my A04.
The company where I bought them, claim I have to upgrade my firmware or change my burning software (I'm using Prassi PrimoDVD). But my Princo 2x still work fine.
I don't think it is my software. It either works or it doesn't. And it always worked. And I find it hard to believe that it could be fixed with a firmware upgrade. I mean, a dvd-player reads/burns nothing but bumps, potts and holes. How can this change witn new firmware? Or are they telling the truth?

[djadjet]

Which firmware are you running?

Newer firmware versions do have significantly changed writing strategies.

[gooki]

Since 'that's write' don't acutally manufacture DVD-R discs, they probably have changed manufacturers (from your statment saying the look different is a very good indication fo this).

Before you go upgradign your firmware I recomend you run ADVDinfo or DVD Decrypter and find out the manufacturer code of the discs that work well for you, and the latest batch so we can comfirm a change of manufacturer and point you in the right direction.

[Snowface]

gooki, thanks....this is something I can realy use. I'm gonna find out immediately as soon as I come home from work

and djadjet....how exactly does new firmware change the way my dvd's are written? doesn't it just mean better compatibility with other software or hardware. to be honest, I don't like the idea about changing firmware or bios etc. I did it once so I could playback all regioncodes, but that's it: if it ain't broke, don't fix it

[padre]

Snowface, I think djadjet was trying to see if you had a known 'bad' version of firmware. There were some cases where a version of the firmware would create bad burns, with similar results as to what you are seeing. It's one of the reasons that many will post of the version of firmware, as well as make/model of the burner they are using.

I agree with gooki, though, that it sounds more like bad media. Check it with ADVDinfo or DVDDecypter and post the results.

[Snowface]

I agree completely. But doesn't that mean they should have failed from the beginning? And not after 7 or 8 cake-boxes of 50 pcs each?
Or does it mean that I'm having difficulties with these dvd-r's and I can burn more intensely/precise with new firmware, so these dvd-r's could work after a firmware upgrade?

[djadjet]

gooki is absolutely right, you should definitely check the media. That is always the first thing to do.

However, I don’t like the fact that you cannot burn properly on Verbatim/Pioneer and that the problems start that early on the disk. If you cannot burn these media (your drive has been made for them) properly at x1 you might be having an issue with ‘bad’ firmware, or even laser pick-up.

Firmware does control I/O and HW/SW interface with the rest of the system, but most importantly the laser that burns your blank. Writing strategies affect this part in terms of calibration, power, etc. (not where to burn, but how & when). If you have A04/104 with firmware below 1.32 (official) or 1.31(leaked) you MUST upgrade, even Pioneer requires you to do so, because you can fry your laser using high-speed disks.

[Snowface]

In that case I'm gonna check my firmware immediately. Because I'd like to burn as good as poosible for better compatibility and longer lifespan of my hardware.
But I think Pioneer advised to upgrade because the drive might hang with 4x media. Since those discs are expensive and I can't write on 4x, I don't buy these. But again....I'll check for new firmware. I just hope that there's a region free one....

[rodlane]

Have you ever cleaned your lens?

[Snowface]

Well....Finally they told me I was right. I contacted That's Write and they admitted that they had changed their die. So I'm getting a full refund. But what they didn't say is that they were gonna look into it. So it could very well be the same die for the next few months. I think I'm gonna switch to Sentinel. Any experience with these, anyone?

[gooki]

I highly recomend you start looking into brands where the disc manufacturer can be clearly identified.