OT: Burning MiniDVDs

2G wrote on 10/28/2006, 8:02 PM
I am trying to burn miniDVDs. I have three burners, different brands of raw miniDVDs and have tried burning with DVDA and Nero. I have burned hundreds of regular size DVDs with only a random failure every once in a while. But I get 10-12 failures for each successful burn of one of the miniDVDs. Most of the failures are on writing Lead-Out. Either the burning software freezes up for ever on Lead-out, or I get an error. (DVDA error is: A session fixation error occurred writing the lead-out).

On the ones that 'accidentally' succeed, sometimes it sits on writing lead-out for 10-15 minutes before finally proceeding.

Again, 3 burners on 3 diff machines, different brands of miniDVDs, and different burning software. The ONLY thing consistent is the size of the DVD. I would think that it's just a fluke or something. But everytime I've had to burn a set of 3-4 miniDVDs over the past few months, I run through a spindle of 25 and still don't always get the 3 I need.

I've removed these miniDVDs from my sales offerings. But I have contracts pending that require them. So I've got to figure out something.

Can somebody please explain what it so different about writing a lead-out on a miniDVD?

Please help!

Thx.

Comments

ScottW wrote on 10/28/2006, 8:48 PM
While I can't address your specific issue, my experience with mini DVD's is that there is so little demand for them (making the raw media hard to find), that it may be tough to find good media. In fact, IIRC, most DVD burners will say that you've voided the warrenty if you burn a mini DVD.

I'd give CopyToDVD a try for burning. I've had pretty good luck with it. You may also want to try not burning at max speed, but 2x or so.
2G wrote on 10/28/2006, 9:54 PM
Well, you may be right about the quality. That's a shame. But I thought those DVD-camcorders were all the rage now for consumers. They use the same blanks. Fry's had no shortage of different brands, quantities, and packages of blanks. Just none that work apparently.

Why in the world would a burner warranty be invalidated for burning a miniDVD? That tells me there is some serious technology differences. Seems if it had the potential of damaging the hardware, there would be much more info out on it than I've found.

In any case, I've removed the offer from my packages. But unless I can come up with some replacement option for the existing signed contracts, at best calculation, I'm going to run through about 150 failed burns before I can abandon this. Yuch!.
2G wrote on 10/28/2006, 9:56 PM
Oh, yeah... and I've already been burning at the slowest speed. No change...

ScottW wrote on 10/29/2006, 4:39 AM
Oops. I was thinking about printable as being hard to find. You might try some of these: http://www.meritline.com/ritek-ridata-4x-mini-dvd-r-white-inkjet-printable.html

Ritek used to have a very good rep for quality media, and while their rep has slipped some lately, they are still better than many,

They stuff you pick up at Walmart is likely designed for burning in a camcorder, while the Ritek stuff is should be basically just a small general purpose DVD.

--Scott
Reliquary wrote on 10/29/2006, 9:42 AM
I use a Sony DWQ30 drive and Sony Camcorder media (DVD-RW&R + DVD+RW) for my mini DVD moments and have never had an issue ^_^

The bonus w/ the Sony DVD media is they are durabis coated (TDK scratch proof coating), so they are more robust than most media!

Look for the brand name "accucore" on the discs...

Regards

Reli
grh wrote on 10/30/2006, 5:13 AM
Too strange. Note that the speed at which you burn shouldn't necessarily be the slowest. Some DVDs don't function in quite the same way as CDs. I use Memorex 16x DVD-R or DVD+R now, and my NEC 3550A specifically will not allow a burn slower than 6X. I usually use 8X. So try a burn at the rated speed or the next one down.

As for voiding a warranty.... huh?