DVD media test results

johnmeyer wrote on 3/19/2004, 2:25 PM
Several studies published over two years ago identified the Maxell DVD-R 2x media as among some of the best, where "best" was defined as ability to play on the widest range of set-top DVD players.

Unfortunately, this media is getting tougher to find (being phased out in favor of Maxell's 4x media). As I was trying to find some factual testing (as opposed to anecdotes or www.dvdrhelp.com user compilations), I came across this report which was presented at a conference on October 13, 2003:

DVD Compatibility Committee Report

While they blank out the information I was looking for (which media was the best), there were two VERY interesting tidbits that I thought were worth passing on.

The first concerns the difference in compatibility between 4.7 GB and 3.95 GB DVD-R. The slide that lists the differences is somewhat confusing. It says:

– DVD-R For Authoring (3.95 GB) = 96.1%
– DVD +/- R (4.7 GB) = 87%
– DVD +/- RW (4.7 GB) = 82.7%

What is not clear is whether the second and third lines refer to Authoring or General disks. What IS clear is that you can get stunning compatibility using the smaller DVD-R and using the Authoring variety. Meritline sells a Ritel 3.95 GB DVD-R for Authoring for about $3. As you can see from the information provided below, there is not much variation in compatiblity between brands for Authoring disks, whereas there is a VERY large variation for General disks.

The other result, which was tantalizingly close to what I was looking for, was a confirmation that the brand of media makes a HUGE difference. Here are the three lines from that slide:

• DVD-R For Authoring (3.95 GB) 90% - 100%
• DVD +/- R 4.7GB 67% - 100%
• DVD +/- RW 73% - 87%

The percentages are the range of compatibility, from the worst to the best media. I would pay pretty good money to know which media scored 100% on the test that is summarized in the second line.

Comments

johnmeyer wrote on 3/19/2004, 2:41 PM
Just a quick add-on to my own message (probably not proper etiquette, but WTH):

Ralph LaBarge was the author of the study that appeared in DV Magazine back in 2002 that was the original scientific attempt to quantify differences in DVD media quality. I figured that if I searched for his name, I might find some more recent information. I found this recent post from him on a forum at DV.com:
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Re: DVD-R Media
posted 2/19/2004 04:03 PM EST reply
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While I have continued to test recordable DVD media for compatibility, I have not published any additional results. I can tell you that the conclusions from the June 2002 article still hold, with a few additions.

1) Buy name brand media (Maxell, TDK, Verbatim and Ritek).

2) Use low to moderate bit rates for video compression (less than 7 Mbps)

3) Use Dolby Digital audio rather than linear PCM

4) Use rewritable media (DVD-RW or DVD+RW) for internal testing to save time and money

5) Use write once media (DVD-R or DVD+R) for discs that will go to customers, friends or family. They work better and cost less.

6) Dont put a stick-on label on the disc. If you want nice looking discs get an ink-jet printer that can print on the disc blanks that have a printable surface.

7) Use a multi-format burner (DVD-R and DVD+R) so you can support whatever your clients need. Some players like DVD-R, others like DVD+R, but most will work with either.

Ralph LaBarge
Moderator
ScottW wrote on 3/19/2004, 2:48 PM
Don't you need a burner that's designed to burn authoring DVD-R's? Last time I looked these burners were quite expensive, something like 2 or 3 thousand $$$'s.
Jsnkc wrote on 3/19/2004, 2:53 PM
That is such a an old report none of it really applies today except for the fact that DVD-R is still the most compatable format. Verbatim, Maxell, Taiyo Yuden are all good brands of DVD-R. The only time you will see compatablitiy issues is if you use generic or cheap media.
johnmeyer wrote on 3/19/2004, 6:15 PM
Don't you need a burner that's designed to burn authoring DVD-R's?

Scott, yes you are correct. However, if you burn lots of DVDs for clients, and you started getting lots of them sent back, this would be a good investment. It's always nice to know how to solve a problem.

That is such a an old report none of it really applies today

That is certainly true of the original report published in DV magazine back in 2002. The report I cited was referenced in October 2003, and I think (although I could be wrong) that the research was done sometime last year. Not exactly yesterday, but not two years ago either.

The brands you mention (Verbatim, Maxell, Taiyo Yuden) are the same ones that usually get cited as the media to use for best compatibility. Also, the author of the original report (the one I quoted in my post), just recently (in the past two months) added Ritek to that list.
Jsnkc wrote on 3/19/2004, 6:49 PM
The only problem wth Ritek is that it isn't licenced by phillips so any high volume duplicator risks getting hit with a BIG lawsuit if they get caught.
RexA wrote on 3/19/2004, 11:04 PM
> The only problem wth Ritek is that it isn't licenced by phillips so any high volume duplicator risks getting hit with a BIG lawsuit if they get caught.

That's interesting. What exactly would one be violating? Is it only if you are putting the official DVD logo on the packaging of the copied disks? If there is a problem with using them wouldn't they sue the vendors selling the blank disks too?