What IS THE MOST compatible Media/burner?

beatnik wrote on 3/8/2003, 12:19 PM

If I were to create a project and want to burn it to the MOST compatible media
so that it can be viewed on ALL sets what media or burner should I use.

In other words, why can Hollywood create DVD's that play an virtually ALL sets?

AND lets assume for the time being money is no object.

Thanks,

Alex

Comments

Bear wrote on 3/8/2003, 7:07 PM

1- Hollywood does not burn DVD the process is entirely different.
2- At this point I think DVD-R would be the most compatible but I have found that many set top players that say the will read DVD-R will also read DVD+R.
3- Like CDR's I think the biggest problems are with buying cheap media. I have burned hundreds of cd's with Imation CDr media with no problems. I bought some Hi-val cdr's and damned if I could make two good copies in a row. I am buying Maxell, Sony and Verbatium DVD - R and have had no problems so far.

TLT wrote on 3/8/2003, 9:19 PM

Try http://www.meritline.com
I have had good results with the media I have bought there. You can get all of the name brands as well. DVD-R for compatability. Pioneer A05 is a great DVD burner.

jbeale1 wrote on 3/8/2003, 10:00 PM

I am now using Meritline DVD-R with my Pioneer DVR-A03 (current model is DVR-A05) and this works fine ALMOST everywhere, but on one Sony VAIO laptop it would not play. The same program burned to a Maxell DVD-R worked on the laptop with no problems. In the big DV magazine (www.dv.com) DVD comparison test, Maxell was the top DVD-R brand for reliability. However they are not so available, and of course more expensive than Meritline. However, nearly all the new DVD players are much better for DVD-R compatability than models more than 1-2 years old.

Hollywood titles use a glass master and are "pressed" (replicated) disks, this is entirely different than DVD-R or DVD+R. I think they use aluminum film as the recording surface, anyway it is a more reflective layer than the organic dye used in DVD-R/+R and the early DVD players were designed only for this replicated type of disc.

If you have a run of 1000 or more discs, you get a replicated disc yourself. Shorter runs are not economical.

Nigel_Aves wrote on 3/9/2003, 12:50 PM

From the reasearch I did before buying a DVD burner I believe (and please let me know if I am wrong) that the DVD + R is the more compatable of the two formats. It's the +R format that is used for mass produced DVDs.

I do not have a -R DVD but (and dare I say it in the PC world) if you do then a couple of my friends have found that the Apple produced DVD gives the best overall compatability. It has someing to do with the dye they use in the plastic coating.

Nigel.

jbeale1 wrote on 3/9/2003, 2:21 PM

DVD+R was only released on the market a year ago. Its proponents claim better compatability but I've never heard of a careful study to support this. The DVD FAQ claims DVD+R and DVD-R are about equal in compatability. The DV.com writable DVD test last year was done before DVD+R was available. Mass produced DVDs (and also CDs) are made by a stamping process which is quite different (and more widely compatible) than any writable format (DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD+R, DVD+RW).

I used to use Apple brand DVD-R with good results, but a friend had problems with it. Apple actually switched suppliers of their disc (maybe, more than once) without changing the exterior packaging. You can see one difference here:
http://www.bealecorner.com/trv900/DVD/Apple_DVD-R_variations.html

For more information about DVD formats, check out the DVD FAQ at http://www.dvddemystified.com/dvdfaq.html

dvdfool wrote on 3/9/2003, 2:43 PM

I have had very good luck with DVD+R. On www.dvdplusrw.org, there has been mention of studies that show that DVD+R is more reflective than DVD-R and recent studies have shown about a 90% compatibility rate with a sampling of players available about 1 year ago. There have been anecdotal reports that some have found machines that play DVD+R but not DVD-R. I have found this to be especially true for older players.

Supposedly THE most compatible burnable media is the 3.95gb DVD-R for Authoring. You'll need an expensive DVD burner that can burn DVD-R for Authoring, though. Out of the league for most people except studios -- cost is about $3000 for the burner. These DVDs have a reflectivity that's identical to stamped DVDs. I believe you can add copy protection controls on these disks, which you can't do for DVD-R General. My circa 1999 JVC could play these types of DVD-R disks even though it was listed as NOT being compatible with DVD-R.

The truth is that we are still in an era with lots of unknowns. Most newer DVD players can play DVD-r and DVD+r equally well. Some old players won't play DVD-R or DVD+R unless the disk is nearly full.

Hope this helps.