DVD media Questions

[mjpinsky]

I bought some new CompUSA DVD-r disks and made some backup copies of movies I bought for my kids to use.
The copies do not seem to last. After a few views they develop "errors" and won't play past a cetain point (and you can't fast forward past that point). The disks do not seem to have anything more than fine scratches on them and do not appear to have been abused by my kids.
1. If this is due to "cheap" media, what are some "good" brands of DVD-r disks to buy?
2. I was also told that DVD+r disks seem to burn better/deeper than DVD-r disks. Is the media made better? If so, would restting the code bit fromDVD+r to DVD-ROM (using my drive's utilites so that my player can read it -- my player can't read DVD+r disks), give me a copy that will hold up to repeated use?

[ormonde]

"what are some "good" brands of DVD-r disks to buy?"

Ritek (Ridata); Memorex; Verbatim to name a few of the best quality media.

[setarip]

"The disks do not seem to have anything more than fine scratches on them"

Scratches, fine or otherwise, can be fatal to DVDs. Have you tried cleaning the DVDs?

[mjpinsky]

Yes, I have tried cleaning the DVDs when they would no longer work. Did not help.
I fear that a bought a pkg of 50 garbage DVDs --> CompUSA own brand.

Any help with second part of question.....as to whether or not DVD+r disks are better made media than DVD-r disks? I was told that since most are made by a Sony franchise they are generally of a high quality. (I would change the bit to DVD-ROM so that my old player would recognize the DVD+r disks, which it otherwise would not).

[setarip]

"whether or not DVD+r disks are better made media than DVD-r disks?"

Nope - There are good and bad quality of both formats...

[Triumphdog]

Commenting on the Media Brand, Ive tried Memorex and they were completely horrible and skipped, while I bought some TDK +R's for a great price and they have NOT messed up one time, perhaps they just work better on my dvd player...

[Experi-Mentor]

here are some guides to help determine what media suits :

http://www.videohelp.com/dvdwriters

http://www.videohelp.com/dvdplayers

always, to get the best results, you will need to experiment a little

with your current compusa dvd-r blanks - try burning at the lowest speed.

[theeloved1]

was just going to post a thread similar to this, so I'll add in here....not to hijack or anything

If you have the "best" of each, -R & +R, whats the better choice? Whats the differences in them? Do more stand alone players recognize one format over the other?

I'm looking into purchasing some more disks...the two 30 stacks of Memorex DVD-R's I got for XMas are almost gone, and I'm not sure what to get. Since I switched to using Decryptor/Shrink I've had great success with them, but I'm wondering if there is something out there that can be had for cheaper price, but comparable quality?.?.? Ritek?

I'll start a new topic for the rest of my questions as they stray to a bit different topic.

[Norm]

If your burner supports bitsetting +Rs are the way to go. I buy Verbatim +Rs at Sams Club for $44 for a cakebox of 100 and they work great.

[DVD_Burner_911]

I agree with the Verbatim solution, I also got a Sam's card just for that reason.

[Norm]

Bad thing is they don't show the 100 piece cakebox on the website anymore so I picked up 2 the other day before my local sams ran out of em.

[mjpinsky]

Well;
Thanks everyone, you help answer all my questions.
It seems everyone likes the DVD+r disks best.
Note:
If +r s don't play on your DVD player, don't worry --> go to the website for your burner and you will find a small utility to change the bit that comes pre-written on each disk. Change the bit from
DVD+r to DVD-ROM (BEFORE YOU TRY WRITING TO IT!!!) and after you burn your movie, it will then play in any player.

[Experi-Mentor]

## It seems everyone likes the DVD+r disks best ##
more a matter of compatibility & personal opinion

[setarip]

To mjpinsky

"If +r s don't play on your DVD player, don't worry --> go to the website for your burner and you will find a small utility to change the bit that comes pre-written on each disk."

I know you're well intentioned but, such a universal blanket statement is both misleading and incorrect. Not ALL brands/models of burners capable of burning DVD+Rs can be modified for bitsetting...

[theeloved1]

I have a LiteOn SOHW 1213S...should I be looking into this bitsetting and buying +Rs? or sticking with my Memorex -Rs that seem to be working nicely?