What's better than my DRU-500A?

[steelborn]

I've been having problems where dvd's I burn don't play right on friend's dvd players. I upgraded the firmware, 'cause I heard this would help fix some compatability issues. Well, it didn't.
I don't know if it's my hardware that's the problem, or I'm using the wrong media and software. It's driving me nuts. I can't keep buying new hardware. This is the second dvd burner I got after my HP Disk Writer 800i.
I've been using the DVD authoring programs I have to create the dvds (DVDit, DVD-Lab).
This one guy took a disc of mine that didn't work on his player, then copied it with his burner, and the copy played fine on his home player. I'm waiting to hear what equipment he used, but still, I'm supposed to have some of the best rated stuff here, and the burns still won't play right? ARRRGGH!!
Any suggestions? Is there a place that reviews these things? I've heard about the new Iomega burner, but haven't seen it mentioned on this site.

thanks in advance

[jdizzy40]

Well first off you spent a lot of time telling us nothing that we can use to try and help you. Like your source material you are using to author (DVD 9 or raw MPEG-2 etc.), burning program and the brand of media being used. But I would eliminate the first issue by asking if you did a search of your friends DVD player by Brand and model number to the left under "Other", DVD Players, to see if his model will in fact play the type of disk you are expecting it to play (i.e. DVD-R or +R). Please post back with more info please.

[steelborn]

I'm exporting Quicktime Reference files from Avid Xpress Pro. I encode those files using TMPGEnc using its dvd settings. I bring those files into DVD-Lab and when I've created all my menus, I use that program to burn the dvds. I'm using a no-name brand DVD-R, that's supposed to be comparable to Ritek. However, the other day, I did use a TDK DVD-R and my friend said it would stop and skip on the player. They still haven't told me the name of it, but it hasn't worked on other machines as well (but they were probably older machines).

I'm running XP with a P4 2.8 cpu. I've got a gig of ram.

[henry_nettles]

First of all, let's get the unpleasant truth out on the table and look at it.

You are not going to achieve 100% compatibility. The DVD discs that you create are NOT going to play on every settop player in the world. This will never happen, so face up to it and get over it.

So, your quest is to achieve as much compatiblity with settop players as you reasonably can. Your Sony recorder is as good as any on the market when it comes to producing compatible discs. The most important thing is the type and brand of blank discs that you use. I have found the greatest compatibilty lies with the Ritek G03 discs, burned at 2x, using RecordNow.

Good luck in your quest.

[steelborn]

So just create the dvd files with my authoring program, but use something like RecordNow to actually burn the dvds?

Where do you shop for your Riteks?

Thanks,
Erik

[pharlap]

if you use rubbish you end up with rubbish

[handyguy]

Why use cheap media to save a few pennies per disk when it takes you hours of labor trying to get them to play? Sonys need the right media, Accus are nice.

[69Dartman]

Cheap minus media will not burn at 4x with most Sony 500's, I know I own one. If you check Meritline they have garanteed to work minus media on their list for the Sonys. Be All by Samsung, Optodisk, and the Meritline house brand worked, everything else burns OK but only does 2x.
If you want a drive that can burn most cheap media well for a reasonable price get a Pioneer 106 or a NEC 1300a with the modded firmware.
The Nutek 081 might be a good choice too, but for now only does plus media, the rumours say they will release a upgrade to minus also some time ths month. They just released a 082 that is dual format, probably the same drive all ready upgraded.
It is the Sony not being upgraded to do most cheap media that's the problem, some peoples will burn evryhting they throw at it at top speed, most wont.
It does best for me so far with plus media like the TDK's if your machines can play them.