OT: Customer DVD failure rate

Paradox wrote on 12/19/2004, 8:50 AM
I seem to be having a run of bad luck (or is it commonplace?) with customers having problems playing my finished DVDs. I am curous: Of the number of DVD's you produce for a customer, what percentage turn out not to play on their equipment?

I seem to have about a 20% failure rate. I use Verbatim -R and burn on a Sony burner, usually directly from DV Architect V.2. I've now switched to a Plextor. I check my product on my computer, in a Sony multi-disk DVD player, and a cheapie Cyberhome from Samsclub. They will work in all three of these, but not for some customers.

Thanks for your thoughts.
BigT

Comments

ScottW wrote on 12/19/2004, 9:46 AM
I've had 2 customers that reported problems (out of many at this point) - in one case it was a known issue with their player so they decided to just view things on a different player. In the second case I believe the issue had to do with how DVDA 2.0 constructs intro media with menus - but the customer was able to get around the problem and they were happy. So I'd have to say that I'm down under 1% with issues.

I've always used Ritek media (G04 mostly), but have burned on a variety of burners - Pioneer, Sony (flashed with Ricoh firmware) and most recently a NEC 3500; also used a variety of burning software - mainly DVDA, but on occasion Nero; bulk burning is done on my Bravo II using Primera's burning software, and more recently CopyToDVD.

I do warn customers about potential compatability issues with players more than 2 years old and if they happen to know the make/model of the player I'll do a compatability check for them. I also discuss the options they have if they encounter problems: 1) Get a newer player, or 2) We'll run them off a VHS copy for free.

--Scott
bstep1 wrote on 12/20/2004, 7:47 AM
Out of ~1000 DVDs burned over the past 18 months or so, I have had less than 25 returned. 15+ of those were a result of a batch of bad media, 2-3 were the result of fingerprints coating the disc (once cleaned, played fine). I really don't think I have had any come back for incompatibility.

These include + and - R, and a number of different media brands burned on NEC 1100A, and Sony 510A burners. I have now changed to the NEC 3500s and have not had problems.

The one thing I have not been able to do on any of the +/- burners is burn a compatible DVD+R. Every one gives me a disc error. -R works fine, +R works fine on the NEC 1100A(which is a +R only) There has to be something I am not doing correctly, but I have update Firmware, Burned with Nero, tried numerous media including Sony on the Sony burner, but nothing works.

Anyone have any ideas on this?
craftech wrote on 12/20/2004, 7:52 AM
One or two maybe in three years.
Don't let your average bitrate exceed 6000.
Render separate AC3 and Mpeg 2 files using the DVDA templates.
Use Ritek G04 DVD-R and burn at 1x (no higher)
Don't put labels on the back of the DVD.
Jason37 wrote on 12/20/2004, 6:30 PM
Knock on wood but I have never had a disc not play. I check every disc before I sell it. I did however give a disc to a woman who I knew did not have the money for it. She had very old DVD player and it did not support the + R format. My numbers are only in the hundreds though. Oh I don't know if it matters but I always use Memorex or Maxell disc's.
craftech wrote on 12/20/2004, 9:00 PM
Oh I don't know if it matters but I always use Memorex or Maxell disc's.
======
Memorex name is used on discs by the following manufacturers:
1. CMC Magnetics
2. FujiFilm
3. Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation
4. Princo
5. Prodisc
6. Ritek
7. Taiyo Yuden
8. TDK
9. MBI
10. Philips

Maxell name is used on the following:
1. Maxell
2. Ritek
3. Taiyo Yuden
4. JVC Victor
5. Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation
6. TDK
7. Ricoh
8. Philips
9. Matsushita

So when one recommends a "brand" one must specify the media ID code decrypted with DVD Identifyer or DVDInfo software (available for free download)
Ritek G04 seems most compatible and reliable to me regardless of whose name is on the disc. Mine usually say Ridata, but not always.

The industry can drive one crazy.

John