My sister has a 1100WB and _was_ quite able to play DVD+R. I was using a single batch of a Memorex brand (all that our small town had available whilst I awaited my Verbatim -R). Despite the discs remaining clean, they worked for a fortnight and then failed. They were stored well and apart from the room having an open fire, things were pretty much the normal living room scene (nobody smoking cigs etc). The player was UK£20 (US$32) with 90 days warranty so I suspected alignment problems.

Pressed media (CDs and the odd rental DVD) seem fine as do the replacement discs I've made (all of the media I publish for her is family footage and her kids love to see it, and like small kids do - see it regularly). Just that VHS keeps working but DVDs don't play at all if the dropouts are in the wrong place. That is digital progress I suppose!)

It may be the brand of discs. Verbatim AZO dyes, MAM-E phthalocyanine or some TDK / all Taiyo Yuden discs might give the extra reflectivity you need. If the Apex unit spends any length of time hunting to identify your disc, then it is probably a reflectivity problem.

Getting the best disc for your player isn't unlike how the market eventually delivered orange-book (reflectivity wise) CDRs (Philips was one label). These should have been reflective enough to equate to a pressed disc and therefore compatibility in many more decks. Perhaps DVDR is still awaiting this precision in its chemical/laser-power make-up?

Do you burn in DVD Architect directly or via your favourite DVD burning tool (from prepared files)?

You might want to try some RW discs instead of R. The rewritables are a silvery color and often are closer to the reflective properties of commercial pressed DVDs. They are a bit more expensive, but if they're for your own use at home you might have more success with them.

It's a pretty inexact science, but the fact that a disc is - or + is only one factor - different brands seem to work in different machines.

Ritek seems to have a good reputation for compatibility, but as soon as you try and set up a standard, there's an exception.

It's certainly worth trying a few different brands before deciding that a particular player is ok or not with + or - etc.

but as soon as you try and set up a standard, there's an exception.

Sony -- or any other vendor, for that matter -- could do a great service by sponsoring a compatibility study. These are the variables that affect compatibility:

1. Format: DVD-R, DVD+R, DVD-RW, DVD+RW

2. Burner: Pioneer A03, A04, A05, A06 (etc.), Sony, etc.

3. Authoring Software: DVD Architect, DVD Workshop, DVD Lab, Scenarist, MovieFactory, etc.

4. Encoding bitrate: 6,000 Mbs is the default for many of the Vegas templates. There are many variables here, including whether encoding is done with variable bitrate (VBR) or constant bitrate (CBR); and what the average and peak values are for VBR. The DVD spec permits encoding rates up to 9,800 Mbs, but many have reported problems (but only under some circumstances) when encoding at high bitrates (generally defined as anything above 8,000 Mbs).

5. Playback device: Each DVD player (set-top or computer) seems to react differently to various combinations of the above.

My own personal suspicion (completely unproven at the moment) is that bitrate and media are the two variables that contribute the most to DVDs not playing on a given machine, when previous DVDs from the same burner and authoring program have played before.

I burn directly from DVDA and I used Memorex and Maxell DVD+-R discs...

Thanks Guys,

You certainly have given me some direction. You fella's are a wealth of knowledge. It is important that the DVD's play on all machines because I will be burning them for our church to sell. I'd hate for the Bishop to buy one and get home, pop it in and...NOTHING!

I'm going to try ALL of your suggestions...

It is important that the DVD's play on all machines

No matter how much you try, you won't be able to guarantee this. You'll find lots of discussion on this forum about how best to prepare clients for the fact that the DVD might not play. I think the consensus has been that you should be willing to offer a VHS version to anyone for whom the DVD won't play.

You might also visit Circuit City or Costco and put your DVD in one of their cheapest players. If it plays, another alternative is to encourage the client to purchase one of these players (usually $50-75). I've had quite a few clients that have done exactly that (gladly, I might add).

John,

Thanks man. I see why everyone seeks your advice.

It's well taken.

Skywatcher

About the color of the discs: remember that a DVD does NOT use visible light for reading, so it's not easy to judge how well it reflects by looking at it.

I have not found any new players that my -r discs generated in DVDA won't play on. However older players are often a problem. If you are providing discs for general public, it is a good idea to warn people that the discs might not play on older settop players and that they can get a newer player that will work for about $80.00. When I sent DVD as a present to my wife's parents I also sent along an inexpensive player so I would be sure that they didn't have a problem viewing their great grand daughter.

Soooo guys,

In sumation...am I hearing that the DVD-R's are the standard for DVD Authoring and I should utilize these instead of the DVD+R's, and wait for saturation of the consumer to eventually upgrade their DVD players?

Skywatcher

I've had three clients recently where -R didn't play and + did, so I'm basically using -R but putting a note offering to replace a -R with +R.

I also like wobblyboy's idea of suggesting they buy a new player first ....

I've heard that DVD's burnt with Nero are more compatible with older players. I haven't done it but I imagine you would burn a disk image with DVDA then use Nero to burn it.