Hi All
I have read the discussions about the different media brands. I am currently using Memorex DL's to back up movies with. Some get erros using Image Burn, and the ones that do burn always freeze during playback on my DVD player. Is it possible for the disc to be the problem even after a successful burn? The single layers play fine on my DVD players. I have a Phillips DVD player and a VizioBlu-ray player.
The problem probably lies in the fact that your DL discs are manufactured by a method referred to as "inverse stack," a method that is less expensive than the early method of making DL discs but which also yields better quality and more uniform production. To a DVD recorder, these discs look "upside down" because of the way the layers are arranged. Your DVD+/-R drive has to have its firmware set to recognize and record inverse stack DL discs, but it sounds as though it does not--even if it tells the software that the recording is OK.
You have three choices: 1) use 4X DL discs (the least promising option since most DL discs are now 8X, and the 8X Memorex uses are all inverse stack production); 2) see if there is a firmware update that adds inverse stack capability to your drive (a little more promising, but not by much since firmware updating is one of the items eliminated in the pressure to cut the costs of recording drives; or 3) switch to Verbatim DL discs because I don't believe Verbatim has moved to inverse production yet. (Ricoh developed ththe IS technology.) Because Verbatim still uses photo-polymer methods of DL production, the cost of their DL discs will be greater than the cost of the Memorex/Ritek DL discs, but they are going to be more compatible with your drive.
Thanks. So what do I do with the rest of the Memorex I have? Coasters? When I play the Memorex it freezes in the same spots everytime. About half way through the movie, it acts like the DVD is hard to read and will freeze. Guess it's my fault for trying to get more quantity for a cheaper price.
Thanks Again
so they haven't worked out cheaper have they.. when you price up crappy cheap disks against the failure rate you may as well buy premium brands.. they work out cheaper in the long run.
There is nothing wrong with the Memorex DL discs. They are simply incompatible with your drive because your drive cannot detect the layer transition in the middle of the programme when the outer layer appears to be upside down. The retailers and public demanded lower prices on DL discs. The only way to do that and not degrade the quality was to move from photo-polyer to inverse stack (which actually IMPROVES production quality and yields significantly). Ritek made the move and so did Ricoh, but they did it only for 8X DL speeds in order to control the change. Verbatim apparently has not made the change in order to avoid any risk of incompability with older drives; and Taiyo Yuden has avoided all risks by not moving into DL production. It's a question of which company is more responsive to customers demands/needs. The mention of "crappy cheap disks (sic)" has nothing to do with this topic at all.
Some recording software is able to identify a drive's firmware version. If you can find out, then go to the manufacturer's website and check under "Support" or some other like category to see if the manufacturer lists the firmware updates and allows customers to download them. The best manufacturers do, and they also list the types of fixes in each successive firmware version.
Originally posted by Makadelic: How would I check to see if my drive firmware can be updated to burn inverse stack?
I used to buy Memorex and was getting 3 coasters for every 5 discs burned. There was a great list of DVD manufacturers and what "class" of blank media they were (class 1-4). Memorex was class 3, second from the worst. I still have unopened 50 packs of Memorex I will never use.
I started buying TY's and Sony (made in Japan, not Taiwan) and my coaster problem disappeared. I now use Verbatim +R and DL and get perfect results.
And I always flash the latest firmware on my drives!
