My latest DVD media compatibility results

[ScorpioProd]

Since many of us do DVD output from our VT[4], I just wanted to pass on my latest findings.

Got a call from a friend of mine about an event I put on DVD that wouldn't play in his Samsung stand-alone player or his computer, though it did play somewhat in his computer.

Based on when the event was done, I thought it was on the Fuji media that had proven to not play in Toshiba machines a few months ago for me and is blacklisted by me.

So, I burned the same project on a Taiyo Yuden DVD and went to visit my friend, along with a spare that was on the Fuji media.

First I tried the new copy I had on Fuji media, and it showed problems, blocky breakups in spots and freeze ups. Not surprising to me.

Then I tried the Taiyo Yuden. Same project, encoding and authoring played PERFECT.

Then I tried the one he originally had, and it showed all the problems, worse than the Fuji, and the surprise to me was it was NOT Fuji, but rather Verbatim!

So again, this is still a relatively small sample, but I have definately had problems with Verbatim since they moved to 8X media, which I still burn at 4X. I never had problems with their discontinued 4X media.

I really wish the Verbatim didn't have issues, cause they make the best designed hub printable media, they are the only company that puts silver under the white on the hub to prevent being able to partially see thru it. Ah well.

So, my latest statistics:

Taiyo Yuden, the best compatibility bar none.

Maxell, neutral for me, I tested one box of 50 and didn't have any compatibility issues show up. But they feel "heavy" and they have square edges instead of rounded, which I don't like.

Verbatim, sadly, slightly negative for me.

Fuji, junk, avoid.

[jport]

Eugene you didn't mention what DVD model you were using. is it an internal, external or stand alone?

i'm using a sony dru700a. i use to have issues with the newer discs released, but after upgrading the firmware my compatibility issues have become minimal.

what works for me are the major brands: Sony, Memorex, Panasonic, Fuji. Maxell.

the newer brands comming out are usually hit and miss: Benq, Pengo, Toyo, BeAll. i do realize though, that some of these generic discs are actually major brands in disguise.

what i do to increase compatibility with other players is to burn at a slower speed, 2x or 4x. alot of the older dvd players people still have won't play dvds burned at 8x.

also i don't burn with the authoring programs either, i currently have Ulead DVD workshop and Sony DVD Archietechture. i just create image files or ts folders and use Nero to burn a dvd. the funny thing was that with the same disc brand i would get different results using Ulead or Sony. i would create an image file and burn them using one or the other app and either burns wouldn't play while other times they'd be perfect.

with Nero i have a very high compatibility burn, especially if you use "verify disc" when burning, takes alot longer but it's worth it. usually if it doesn't play it's becuase it's a bad disc in the batch and not a bad burn.

the kicker is that it has to play on all 6 dvd players in the office before we give it out or start making additional copies. that's 3 computers, 2 standalones and 1 recorder we play it on.

please forgive the long-winded thread, i've been burning alot. apparently no one likes vhs copies anymore. :D

[Pete Draves]

I dissagree with Eugene.
I have found that with different burning software you can get widely different results.
With Encore the winner is fuji (burned at any speed).
with the pioneere 08 burner.

Verbatin 80 %
Toyo yuden 60%
the % is the compatibility with all brands of players

With the new dual layer +r discs
again the most compatible seems fuji with verbatim second.

Again Encore with the Pioneere 08 .

the stand alone recorders that havent had good compatibility, once copied on my duplicator(again 08) seem to play 100%.

Alot seems to rest on the authoring program and the burners.

I do regular runs of 80 - 100 and never get returns.
This could also be due to things I learned in the OLD days making masters for Lazer Discs.
Pete

[Brian Peterson]

These compatiablity issues make me wish for the days of video tape. Are they ever going to fix the format and what do we have to look forward to with future formats?

Just this weekend I provided a video montage to a couple who took it out of town to play at their wedding. The discs worked on my players, their players and then Saturday evening at my own event I get a call from their DJ. The discs would not play on his week old panasonic player... Argh!

My experience is that Ritek 4x went from being trouble free discs a years ago to last winter just being crap. I've always had trouble with Verbatium being hit and miss. Memorex works fine for data stoarge but for video playback is just crap with continous breakups and their burners are horrid. Maxell is what seems to be the best for me.

I have a feeling that 90% compatigbility is a thing of the past. :thumbsdow

[Pete Draves]

most compatible burner -----Pioneer A08-09

Most compatible authoring packages---Maestro (gone)
---Sonic Scenarist (expensive)
---Encore (Excellant)

worst things out there cheep (sic) burners
hardware recorders
(the pioneer the best but all lacking in quality)
Entry Level authoring programs

the most compatible discs burned with the pioneer and Encore.

[Brian Peterson]

Peter,

I'm using the A09 and A5s to burn. You left out a software that is good to use, DVDSP3

[Pete Draves]

I do in house short run in a national market
the local work I do is medium to long run.
the software I use must be good enough to make the glass masters as the bulk of my work is REPLICATION so all the software has to have all tricks.
Yes I get impossible jobs to do like 1700 slides at 1 frame each (fast and funny) and a hal leonard music publisher disc with 400 chapter points.

I pretty much have seen it all.
I am not dissing any ones favorite software but I have tried and Beta tested so many badd things and missed other things that may be out there.

The bottom line is to find the hardware and software that works for you.

And the final word is "caveat emptur" buyer beware, too many short featured pieces of software out there to mess up the choices.

Thank Gleeb for the VT I makes all thins faster.
Pete

[Ivan]

I agree with Brian, DVDSP3 is an excellent package. I rarely get any that won't play and have done many that are either replicated or duplicated with it. One artilce rated it highest compatibility by about 2% over any PC product in the same or slightly higher price range. Down side is you need to by an Apple, up side is you aren't wasting VT time making DVDs.

Ivan

[ScorpioProd]

I use Pioneer drives for all my burning. Currently A05s in my VT[4] and brand new A09s in my new duplication tower. All my present data is based on my A05s and some large orders done on a friend's tower with Plextor drives, which didn't have any returns. I use RecordNow Max 4.5 for all my burning.

If Fuji work for you, that's cool, but part of the issue with Fuji is they don't even make their own discs, so you never know for sure what you're getting unless you actually check them with a program. The Fuji are typically Prodisc brand.

As for Taiyo Yuden, they are the only brand that I can honestly say I have NEVER had a single return on, this is based on at least a thousand of that brand that I've burned in the last year.

[jport]

here's a site that's been my bible for determining what dvd disc to use.
www.videohelp.com/dvdmedia

this other page has a listing of available dvd authoring software.
http://www.videohelp.com/tools?s=2#2