Best DVD for recording?

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Dec 4, 2003
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Norman, OK
Hi all, I've just moved into the realm of DVD recording...got me a DVD recorder. What DVD format is best to use? Thanks for your hints and help!!
 
I have to agree with both Gordon and Mick.

A couple of years ago I did a run of DVD's for a project for servicemen stationed overseas at the Christmas Holiday. I had both DVD-R and DVD+R. I ran 10 copies of both and gave to various people that had contributed to the project. 6 of the DVD+R's wouldn't not play in various DVD players. I never had one issue with the DVD-R's.

With that information in hand, I ended up sending 65 Christmas DVD's overseas. The ony problem I had at that point was that I had three come back to me as the Military Mail system ate up the DVD's and their packaging.

You might check with Verne Carlson or Greg Stumpf and see what they used for their Masters they sent to a DVD Production Company. As the DVD's we see from the Storms of 200X series are produced differently than our locally "burned" DVD's.

As far as the best DVD-R? You'll find as many opinions about that as you find opinions about lightbars. My experience is Memorex, Sony, and Staples that I haven't had any issues with. I have had a serious "Bad Burn" rate with HP DVD-R's (about 1 out of 3).

Good Luck!

John Diel
 
I've found it almost didn't matter and what mattered more was the brand. I even found issues with versions of brands. I was selling a fair number of dvd's and from time to time would have issues with the dvd-r I'd send. So I'd send a +r replacement for them. Since going to dvd-r Prodisc brand, I never have any issues. Some of that may be people having new players by then too.

I can stick about anything in my parent's new dvd player and it will play. The same certainly isn't true for my JVC(which I paid $300 for back then). It's my testing player, as I know if it will play in that thing it will probably play in others. Another issue is if someone's dvd player is somewhat dirty. I'll have some not play, so I'll take the dvd out and blow inside there as I hard as I can. I put the thing back in and wala, it plays.

I buy my stuff here: http://www.supermediastore.com/
 
I also believe the +R and -R fomat doesn't matter as much as the quality of media you buy. Whatever brand you purchase, it should be either Taiyo Yuden, Maxell, or Verbatim. You can get them at www.meritline.com.

As far as burners are concerned, I will purchase nothing but the Plextor brand. You will pay a premium, but they do the best job when it comes to new firmware updates. PlexTools is also a nice set of tools to have.

Mark
 
In my experience, it doesn't really matter which format you use. I've had one report in over 220 sales of a +R not playing. The customer told me not to send a replacement but instead bought a newer player and wala....the disc played fine. Like Bobby said, -R has a slight advantage but by now the technology has caught up for +R and the two formats are virtually the same.

I also stopped using CD labels after a string of complaints about play issues....apparently labels can cause serious balance problems with the laser spin, so I just stopped using them and have had no complaints since.
 
I've heard that label thing before too, but I'm not sure how much merit there is to it. All mine have gone out with labels for the last 5 years without issue. If the label ain't lopsided I don't see it causing much imbalance. It's been a long time now since I've had any playback issues, so it seems a non-issue.
 
Best thing to do is print directly on the DVD. Labels can screw things up . Epson has some great printers for really good prices that print on Discs . I use an R220 and a RX580 myself. You can get ink for them really cheap at www.meritline.com. Someone mentioned them earlier for a site for discs as well
I've heard that label thing before too, but I'm not sure how much merit there is to it. All mine have gone out with labels for the last 5 years without issue. If the label ain't lopsided I don't see it causing much imbalance. It's been a long time now since I've had any playback issues, so it seems a non-issue.
 
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