Delkin Archival Gold DVDs

RalphM wrote on 7/19/2006, 5:49 AM
Several weeks back I posted a topic regarding problems with some Delkin 4X archival gold DVDs.

I sent the failed burn and unused discs back to Delkin. While I did not get any feedback from them as to whether I had a bad batch, I did receive a complete replacement package this week.

While they are labeled as 4X, I'm going to stick to a 1X burn. That was the common denominator for the 3 discs that burned successfully in the first batch.

I know this isn't an informative post, but since I had raised an issue regarding this vendor I did want to report that they stood behind their product.

RalphM

Comments

farss wrote on 7/19/2006, 7:31 AM
I've used similar disks with a perfect burn but as you say they do need to be burnt slowly. Mine burnt OK at 4x but your problem may relate to the burner being being able to set the laser power correctly.

I've since had my trusty old 4x burner die so it'll be interesting to see how they fare on my new high speed capable burner.

Bob.
johnmeyer wrote on 7/19/2006, 10:41 AM
Do a test burn at 1X and another at 4X and use CD Speed to measure the difference. So far, no one has ever posted that burning at different speeds provided any improvement in quality when actually measured using a tool like CD Speed (there are other tools as well). The easiest way to do test burns is when you have to make more than one copy of the same project for several clients. Just simply burn one at the 1x speed and the other at the 4x speed. Then, measure both using CD Speed, but when doing this test, ALWAYS keep the read speed the same. That is important because otherwise you introduce another variable that may skew the result.
farss wrote on 7/19/2006, 3:52 PM
I've never run tests on DVDs as my copy of Plextools only runs on CDs. However I can report that slower speeds do not produce better burns, if anything slightly worse, for most CDs 20x seems to be the optimimum.

However these specific DVDs use a thicker and harder to burn dye layer. As such it's not so much the rotational speed, it's how much power the laser can deliver to burn through the dye layer. At speeds over 4x there just isn't enough power, possibly on some burners even at 4x there's not enough either.

Bob.
RalphM wrote on 7/19/2006, 8:03 PM
In my own experience, a DVD did not burn properly in an NEC 3550A at 4X, or the drive that came in my HP laptop at 4X. It did burn properly in the Sony 510? drive in my PC at 1X. I will try the NEC drive (in a multidisc copier) again but at 1X.

These discs get a little expensive to experiment with.

I have begun offering these discs to my customers. So far the take rate is about 50%. I make no claims for or against regular DVD-Rs, nor do I claim any 100 year life for the archival discs. I just present what is known and let the customer decide.

RalphM
farss wrote on 7/19/2006, 9:24 PM
Ralph,
you do realise those disks may not play in normal DVD player. Great for archiving though.

Bob.