OT: Sony Dru 500a and Ritek Ridata G04

Randy Brown wrote on 12/24/2004, 8:09 AM
Just curious if anyone else uses this combination successfully. I had been using Prodisk with about 98% success but decided to try Ritek since they were on sale ($22.49 for 50 plus free S/H). I've had about 80% success (10 coasters out of the first 50). Hardly any worked at 4X but some didn't even work at 1X. My Toshiba 2X burner didn't have problems but I noticed when I used the last of the Prodisk in it that I had left that they burned this 40 minute project at 17 min as opposed to 33 min on the Ritek. I've heard people swear by Ritek here so wondering if I'm missing something. I can tell you that I do have the latest firmware in both burners.
TIA,
Randy

Comments

Laurence wrote on 12/24/2004, 8:38 AM
I use a Sony burner and Ritek disks all the time with absolutely no problems. I wonder if you got a bad batch?
Randy Brown wrote on 12/24/2004, 8:53 AM
That's what I thought so I ordered another batch (with the intention of sending the bad disks back to Meritline) but have the same results.
Randy
nickle wrote on 12/24/2004, 9:19 AM
There seems to be some discussion of updating the firmware to 2.0g to burn reliably at 4x.

Compatibility with Ritek is almost 100%.

Check out

http://www.videohelp.com/dvdwriters.php?DVDnameid=51&Search=Search&list=2#comments
scdragracing wrote on 12/25/2004, 9:18 PM
i posted some similar issues with sony dvd burners out here recently... they have crappy laser assemblies.

now my poor neighbor is going to have to take his liteon(sony) standalone burner back because it won't read some commercial discs anymore... it's barely a month old.

get a pioneer burner, your sony is probably going out.
Mandk wrote on 12/26/2004, 6:16 AM
Are you using DVDA to burn the disks?

I switched from DVDA to Nero last year after some comments on the board. I just finished a project with RITEK disks 125 disks burned on 2 different sony drives with no coasters. I am using Ritek G04 printable disks.

Randy Brown wrote on 12/26/2004, 7:10 AM
I think I'll just go back to Prodisk, I've also had a problem with ink from my Epson R300 easily wiping off a day or two after the application (G04 silver matte)...I suppose I can live with 2% coasters.
Thanks guys,
Randy
Hey Nickle, out of curiosity I'm using the newest firmware, 2.1 something are you saying I should revert back to 2.0g ?
nickle wrote on 12/26/2004, 11:18 AM
Keep the firmware you have, unless there is a newer version or problems with what you have.

The posts I linked to are getting fairly old.

If you followed the link and scrolled down there were 231 comments from users of the same unit and the only complaint and fix I saw was the firmware upgrade.

Ritek compatibility was all good except for a couple of mixed results.

The best dvd's are supposed to be from Japan, and yet the only coaster I had was a Maxell.

Ritek are known to be excellent, yet they are made in Taiwan and China.

Most of the cheapo disks are made in Taiwan.

Fuji boxed disks are made in Japan, but the spindle disks are made in Taiwan and are of a lesser quality.

At least everything keeps getting cheaper and faster.


B.Verlik wrote on 12/26/2004, 10:46 PM
Randy,
Before you give up on the Epson 300, try using some 'Clear Acrylic Enamel'. Probably any brand will do, but they're about $5.00 a can (auto parts store). When you print your DVDs, let them dry as directed, for 24 hours. Then lay them on a very flat surface on some plain paper and lightly spray them with the Acrylic enamel until they are fairly covered but not too drenched/wet. When dry, a few hours, they will almost look professional. (I haven't tried the silver discs yet, and don't know if they would be different, but I have done that on different brands of 'white printable' discs, including Ridata G04. Much, much better than just plain ink, nice, pro looking sheen and...no more smear.)
Arks wrote on 12/27/2004, 7:38 AM
THe r300 is an inkjet printer, isnt it? you need inkjet printable discs, not silver matte; I be thats why they are smearing off the disc.
Mandk wrote on 12/27/2004, 8:25 AM
If you are printing before burning this could also be mucking up the burner.
Hunter wrote on 12/27/2004, 4:14 PM
They now make silver printable disc, how cool is that.
Randy Brown wrote on 12/27/2004, 4:54 PM
Hmmm, I thought that "silver matte" was printable. That would explain why the ink actually "beaded up" (even though it didn't "bead up" or smear with the Prodisk "silver matte"). BTW, what is the purpose of "silver matte"?
TIA,
Randy
craftech wrote on 12/27/2004, 6:37 PM
Have you tried looking at the Firmware Forum for some discussion of issues with that burner and the best firmware to use?

John
pb wrote on 12/27/2004, 7:30 PM
My Microboardsd Orbit works with Verbatim media only. The Canadian price has dropped from 2.50$ to 1.00$ for 8x inkjet printables. I also use these in Sony DRUs and DRX drives. Just did a run of 500 DVD-Rs and had one (1) bad disc. That is a failure rate of just 0.2%. I don't think I ever had a bad disc when using the Sonys. Try the Verbatims, you won't be sorry.

Also, if you have a disc printer the new Verbatims are great beacuse even the hub is printable.

Peter