Does Burning Speed Affect Quality?

[majagua]

Does the speed at which you burn images, be it a DVD Image or VCD/SVCD affect the probability of pixelation???

In other words, could you say that at higher speeds, the final DVD / VCD is more prone to pixelation??

Thanks!

[coona]

It is more difficult to hit the right place on the disc in higher speed (and burn each pit as close to optimal standard size and shape as possible) but it doesn´t mean it will result in worse quality. It is the same with CD-R/W burners - they started at low speed and became faster and faster so burning at low speed produce (in my opinion) worse quality that at high speed.

Pixelation is much more effect of bad quality media than burning speed.

[halek2]

While this is not exactly the same subject, but I'll try it here.

Is there any info that the higher burn rates may reduce the longivity of the DVD? My thought is that since it is easier to write that it may not be as stable.

[Happygolucky]

In early CD burners it was sometimes (many times?) necessary to burn at slower speeds to produce a disc that was either more compatible or less prone to errors. This is because those early burners lasers were not as well-regulated. Within the past couple of years the laser manufacturers have advanced considerably and burners, especially the newer DVD burners, have such highly regulated lasers, burning at a slower speed will have a negligible effect on the disc. Burning at a slower speed only wastes your time, it doesn't make your discs any better.

[henry_nettles]

Originally posted by Happygolucky
In early CD burners it was sometimes (many times?) necessary to burn at slower speeds to produce a disc that was either more compatible or less prone to errors. This is because those early burners lasers were not as well-regulated. Within the past couple of years the laser manufacturers have advanced considerably and burners, especially the newer DVD burners, have such highly regulated lasers, burning at a slower speed will have a negligible effect on the disc. Burning at a slower speed only wastes your time, it doesn't make your discs any better.

I mostly agree with the above quoted statement, but....

Sometimes a particular burner will not do a good job with a particular type of blank at a high speed, but will do a much better job at a lower speed.

[Happygolucky]

Originally posted by henry_nettles
I mostly agree with the above quoted statement, but....

Sometimes a particular burner will not do a good job with a particular type of blank at a high speed, but will do a much better job at a lower speed.

That would be the fault of the media, not the burner. Whatever works for you.

[henry_nettles]

Originally posted by Happygolucky
That would be the fault of the media, not the burner. Whatever works for you.

Well, no, not exactly. For example, I have some 4x LeadData DVD-R blanks. They burn at 4x in my Pioneer 106 drive, and play back perfectly in all 3 of my settop players. In my Sony DRU500A, they burn okay at 4x (mostly, sometimes fail writing leadout, but mostly okay). However, those burnt in the Sony at 4x will not play back worth a #%^$@*. Pauses, skips, pixelation, right from the beginning. If I burn the same disks at 2x in the Sony, they play back perfectly.

I think it's a matter of the drive (firmware?) having the correct burn strategy for the particular media at the particular speed.