Newbies 106: Blank Media Theory (Part 1 of 3)

[indolikaa]

Good morning students, and welcome to Newbies 106.

Students, before we begin this morning’s sermon, er, lecture? I would like to take this opportunity to remember one of our fellow Post-Whores with a moment of silence. Long live teegee420, wherever you might be.

(Silence)

Thank you.

Today, we will be discussing the theory of Blank Media and how it applies to your daily regiment. (Psst) We will also be looking at a number of manufacturing techniques, different Media ID codes and what they (Psst) really mean, and how to best select the media that suits your (Psst) given project. (Psst)

WOULD SOMEBODY TURN THAT ******* AIR COMPRESSOR OFF?!

(Psst)

Now, let us first discuss Blank Media in general terms. What can you tell me about the world of blank CD and DVD media class? Yes, Stiltman?

stiltman: It’s round.
defense: If it comes out round, it’s a keeper!

(Silence)

Yes, gitreel?

gitreel: Taiyo Yuden. All other media is shit.
northcat_8: (mumbles) Ass-kisser…
gitreel: (mumbles) Shut the **** up!
village idiot: Word.

I see we have much work in front of us, so let me begin with the basics. Yes, blank media is round, and yes, if the disc happens to come out round, it is a keeper. And yes, of course, all other media other than Taiyo Yuden is shit. It would appear we have the basics down pat, students, so let’s get into the more advanced theories of blank media. Like how the discs are made in the first place.

As I’m sure you already know, organic dyes…

offline: Yeah, baby!

Organic, offline, not orgasmic. Anyway, the use of organic dyes provides the actual medium in which the zeros and ones of the binary world are represented by the CD or DVD media. And it is the dye that most hobbyists concern themselves with when making their purchasing decision. Now as you know, Taiyo Yuden invented the CD-R media formula cyanine in the late 1980’s, when the CD-DA disc was beginning to supplant vinyl records and cassette…

Capmaster: Yeee-haaawww!
Baldrick: (murmuring) He said vinyl.

(Silence)

…and they remain the most compatible CD-R media. Taiyo Yuden holds many patents in the blank media world that are outside the prevue of the Sony-Phillips ‘Red Book’ royalty scheme. Thus, they have been able to build a sizable empire by focusing on quality first, and profits second. And that makes them, as gitreel indicated, the top media brand in the world today. In fact, contrary to popular belief, the possibility of burning multiple coasters with Taiyo Yuden media is so astronomically low that user error is the only explanation that can be considered. And considering how many thousands of Taiyo Yuden discs I’ve burned in my lifetime, only an idiot could coaster more than a small handful in their lifetime.

lordsmurf:

So, you might be wondering why anybody would even purchase media other than Taiyo Yuden. I once asked the same question myself, and I could only come to one conclusion…

Ripper2860: They’re a bunch of cheap-ass tightwads?

That is correct, Mr. Ripper.

(Heavy grumbling throughout the lecture hall)

Now, now students. Calm down. The fact of the matter is, if you are buying anything less than Taiyo Yuden media, you are being a cheap-ass tightwad about the matter. Rarely in the world of burnable media will you hear any chorus of voices speaking against the quality that is Taiyo Yuden. And students, you don’t have to buy Taiyo Yuden to get Taiyo Yuden. Fuji and Maxell are two companies in particular that have taken to using Taiyo Yuden discs to fill their own marketing needs.

What surprised me initially about Taiyo Yuden is that very little of it is actually reported at the media forums of videohelp.com. However, if you read through the forums themselves, you will find that most users praise their quality, with the only ‘negative’ concerns being the price. Now price aside, there isn’t much to argue with. The quality is excellent, and the value is even better.

Why would you even consider saving a little money in return for risking your hard-earned work on media that isn’t up to the standards of Taiyo Yuden? Yes, Will Hay?

Will Hay: Maybe because there are countries other than the United States in this world, and they don’t have access to Taiyo Yuden? Did you ever consider that, Professor?
northcat_8: (mumbles) Fuckin’ foreign-exchange students…
flaystus: (mumbles) Wanker.

You’re kidding, right?

(Silence)

Dr. WankHer, will you put your ass in front of that computer and find out if this is true, or if Mr. Hay just needs a fist shoved down his throat.

Dr. WankHer: I’m on it, Keptin.

Now, aside from the possibility that Mr. Hay maybe correct on this one, would anybody else like to offer up a theory to counter my vaulted research into this matter?

(Silence)

That’s what I thought. Now that we have a clear understanding of this matter, let’s move on. Yes, there are always situations where people might not purchase Taiyo Yuden media. And some of them are acceptable, if they are being done for the correct reasons. In fact, buying media that is not made by Taiyo Yuden can even be considered socially acceptable, if done with the right reasons in mind. Now students, what would be a socially acceptable form to make such a purchase? Yes, Dr. Zombie Nuts?

FulciLives: Only buy blank media that is MADE IN JAPAN!

Correct, Dr. Nuts. And as the Lord of Smurfs once stated, anything outside of Japan and Singapore should be considered suspect. Even Ritek, which…

(Chaos in the Lecture Hall)

SILENCE, YOU DISRESPECTFUL BASTARDS!

(Silence, except for a lone cricket chirping under tekkieman’s chair)

As I was saying? Ritek was the lone exception to the Rule of Smurfs, until it became the victim of, and I quote, “mistakes and bad batches” that have resulted in people no longer being able to trust whether the name Ritek really means you are getting Ritek. Now don’t get me wrong, others have fallen victim to this scam. But Ritek’s public handling of this problem has been questionable at best.

Moving on, we will now look at some of the socially acceptable brands of media for those cheap-ass bastards who won’t fork out the extra few dollars for Taiyo Yuden media. And for this…

redwudz: Hey, didn’t you once mention that you were putting Maxell DVD-Rs on nearly the same level of quality as Taiyo Yuden?

(Silence)

That is correct, redwudz. Particularly Maxell discs, which are are so nearly equal in quality to Taiyo Yuden that I allow them to sit on the same shelf together.

Lecture Hall: GASP!

Knock it off, you sarcastic wads. I also have a collection of as-of-yet unburned Apple DVD-R discs that are also sharing that sacred shelf. But let’s talk for a minute about discs you won’t see on that shelf, shall we?

tekkieman: Princo!
gitreel: (raises pitchfork) Yeah, down with Princo users!
offline: (raises sword) All Princo users will burn in hell, they will!
village idiot: (raises dead parrot) Argh, matey!
flaystus: (raises sock-on-hand puppet) Kill the Princo masses!

(Record scratching across vinyl, followed by dead silence, with all students turning towards…)

Capmaster: Psst.

Now wait a minute, students. Capmaster has repented of his ways. And I think you’ll find many of us have wandered down the Path of Poopy Media at least once in our lives.

gitreel: (drops pitchfork) Even you, Dr. Khan?

Yes, even me.

(Collective ‘gasp’ uttered from the masses…)

tekkieman: (In the voice of William Shatner) Khan!
gitreel: (raises pitch pitchfork) Yeah, down with Dr. Khan!
offline: (raises sword) Dr. Khan will burn in hell, he will!
village idiot: (raises dead chicken) Argh, matey!
flaystus: (raises sock-on-hand puppet) Kill Dr. Khan!

SILENCE, YOU INSOLENT BASTARDS!

(Silence, except for a cricket chirping under tekkieman’s chair…)

(Psst)

My experience with Taiyo Yuden goes back to the days of the orgy formally known as Napster. And if you’ll remember students, I once purchased a large quantity of Memorex discs with gold silkscreen labels because they were the only ones that would play in my Jeep Grand Cherokee, and they most certainly were not Taiyo Yuden discs. Sometimes, one must bend the rules to accommodate the needs at hand. And until recently, these Memorex discs remained the only discs that would play in my beloved Jeep.

Dr.Gee: And what other disc now works in your Jeep, Dr. Khan?

Maxell.

tekkieman: (In the voice of William Shatner) Khan!
gitreel: (raises pitch pitchfork) Yeah, down with Dr. Khan!
offline: (raises sword) Dr. Khan will burn in hell, he will!
village idiot: (raises dead parakeet) Argh, matey!
flaystus: (raises sock-on-hand puppet) Kill Dr. Khan!

SIT YOUR UNRIGHTEOUS ASSES DOWN AND SHUT THE **** UP, BEFORE I COME DOWN THERE AND ADMINISTER AN ASS-KICKING TO EACH AND EVERYONE OF YOU, YOU DISRESPECTFUL COLLECTIVE OF ANAL-RETENTIVE DVD PIRATES!

(Silence, except for a cricket chirping under tekkieman’s chair…)
village idiot: Argh, matey.

Maxell CD-R for Professional Use discs are MADE IN JAPAN by Taiyo Yuden.

flaninacupboard: Oops…

Now listen, I’m sure everybody here has experimented with different brands and varieties of media. There is nothing wrong with that. We learn this hobby through the experiences we have, both good and bad.

Cobra: (stands up) And it’s what we learn that makes us who we are. (uplifting music begins to play) Every person has the opportunity to find the media that works best for their own needs. And rather than scold them for their choices, we should support them in their search. For videohelp.com would be a better place if we all just looked past our differences and focused on the things we have in common.

Doramius: (sniffs) Touching…
offline: (wipes away a tear) I’m speechless…
JohnnyCNote: Word…
jimmalenko: I always did like a happy ending…

Those are some good thoughts, Cobra, and I applaud you for standing up and sharing them with your classmates. What media did you find that worked for your specific needs?

Cobra: (uplifting music continues to play) BulkPaq!

(Record scratching across vinyl, followed by dead silence…)

jimmalenko: Who makes BulkPaq?
flaystus: Princo…

(Silence, except for a cricket chirping under tekkieman’s chair…)

tekkieman: Cobra!
gitreel: (raises pitch pitchfork) Yeah, down with Cobra!
offline: (raises sword) Cobra will burn in hell, he will!
village idiot: (raises dead ostrich) Argh, matey!
flaystus: (raises sock-on-hand puppet) Kill the Cobra!

(Cobra makes a rapid egress from Lecture Hall, with most Newbies 106 students in chase…)

Well students, as you can see (opens a Zima bottle) the subject of Blank Media is one of the more emotional subjects at videohelp.com. Would somebody like to alert campus security on behalf of Cobra? Oh, and let him know that he probably shouldn’t make that left turn at Albuquerque? He might run into Capmaster’s house.

Oh, and Dr. WankHer, did you find any online retailers in the UK that sell Taiyo Yuden media?

Dr. WankHer: No, Professor. I didn’t. Then again, I wasn’t looking too hard.

Well, I guess there’s nothing better to do than to kick back and down a few wine coolers and such. I don’t think the masses will be back anytime soon.

Dr. WankHer: Why is that, Professor?

At their current rate of egress, they’ll reach the sheep ranches in about six minutes…


TO BE CONTINUED…

[Capmaster]

<wipes tear from eye>His name is Teegee420 ......his name is Teegee420 .....

Stirring lecture, teach! I have sinned, and used Princo in the past. In fact I was one of its most outspoken supporters. But I have seeeeeeeeen the light, brothers. Hallelujah .........I have seeeeeeeeen the light. Can I get an AMEN?

One question - why wasn't Naked Geek media mentioned? It's round, well, almost ...

[flaninacupboard]

ta-da!!

started stocking them a few weeks ago

http://www.blankdiscshop.co.uk/acatalog/FOR_DVD_R_RW_CLICK_HERE.html

[Treebeard]

.......(class in session).......... Im awake now, where did everybody go? helloooo..... aaahhhh!! I slept through lecture again

Can we have a make-up class?

[gitreel]

I too have used princo b4, but have moved on to the better disc daze.

Excellent lecture professor.

Cap, put the air hose down. No don't inhale the air from the hose.

What will dolly think?

[Capmaster]

Cap, put the air hose down. No don't inhale the air from the hose.

It works like Viagra, but it's a lot cheaper

[gitreel]

As I raise my pitchfork with a parrot tied to it,

Down with viagra!

ZZZzzzzzzzzzz.........Oh sorry, fell asleep

Down with cmc

[Cobra]

Now that the mob has died down, I feel the need to make a full confession.

'Tis true... I have used Princo in the past. I went to some Infiniti discs, with Sony G4 dye and now I use Riteks. Seem to work fine for me.

With hindsight though, I think Flaystus had it right.

That's all I have to say for myself.

Cobra

What a ******* excellent lecture, indo! That's the most I've ever laughed at something I've been reading here!

[flaninacupboard]

i too started my dvd career with 1x bulkpaq discs, costing about $1.5 each. then i upgraded to Nan-Ya discs (hey, -sounds- japanese to me!) then when they dried up i waited forever to get some ritek g04s and i have been so happy with them since. no QC issues over here, they just keep rolling through the door all lovely and dark purple

[DVD_Ripper]

As usual you have me laughing out loud at work again... I gotta remember to read your posts at night when I'm home.

Another fantastic post .. not much going on at the office today eh?

[The village idiot]

#1 NOT round!

#1.5 Also NOT round!

#2 I would never say "WORD".

#3 The parrot is not dead, just drunk and passed out

#4 There would at least be a loud belch when the "silence" fell.

[gitreel]

Just rememer this motto and you will never go wrong.

[tekkieman]

In my haste to leave and pursue Cobra.....I accidentally stepped on the cricket.

[stiltman]

1 little comment?

I got to learn to speak up more in class

[Doramius]

I still like Princo. What else can I use around my computer if I need to set my drink down. Certainly not my GOOD batch of Ritek discs. And I'm running out of Jewel Cases. I can't break or lose anymore of them or I'll have to do the forbidden -PUT A DISC IN A PAPER SLEEVE-
Oh the in humanity of it. That's as bad as laying a disc on a table with the BURN SIDE DOWN. This cruel treatment to discs is making me very ill. I'm going to fffaaain....[passes out on floor]

[Ripper2860]

Are there class notes available?

I'm afraid I was too busy watching Capmaster and Dollie go at it during class. I have become a bit of a Vinyl Voyeur.

[Doramius]

My notes just say:

Taiyo Yuden - Best
Ritek - Good with decent batch
Princo - Best drink coasters on the market. Applebee's might be using company as their major supplier.

Confusion between Maxell & Memorex - Buy it at Wal-mart in the smaller packs to find out which one is which in better quality.

Discs are round. (Do not forget)

My only question is: What about 'credit card discs' or 'Business card discs'?

I've found some that are round on the sides, but are straight on the top and bottom. And some that are rectangular. See site:
http://www.cdroutlet.com/cgi-local/shop.pl/page=card.htm

Granted this media is crappy, but it adds more confusion when my notes show you told us discs are round.

[The village idiot]

My notes just say:

Taiyo Yuden - Best
Ritek - Good with decent batch
Princo - Best drink coasters on the market. Applebee's might be using company as their major supplier.

Confusion between Maxell & Memorex - Buy it at Wal-mart in the smaller packs to find out which one is which in better quality.

Discs are round. (Do not forget)

My only question is: What about 'credit card discs' or 'Business card discs'?

I've found some that are round on the sides, but are straight on the top and bottom. And some that are rectangular. See site:
http://www.cdroutlet.com/cgi-local/shop.pl/page=card.htm

Granted this media is crappy, but it adds more confusion when my notes show you told us discs are round.

Did I not bring this up hours ago? Somebody please confirm that I really do exist, and so do my posts

[The village idiot]

#1 NOT round!

#1.5 Also NOT round!

#2 I would never say "WORD".

#3 The parrot is not dead, just drunk and passed out

#4 There would at least be a loud belch when the "silence" fell.

I'll even quote it for you.

[tekkieman]

Did I not bring this up hours ago? Somebody please confirm that I really do exist, and so do my posts

It looks like your post count is moving backwards.....

[Doramius]

I see a "Village Idiot" on our role. Anyone know who that is? I think someone got his info. on the wrong role. I think he's that 7 fingered kid in the Special Ed. Shop Class.

[The village idiot]

I see a "Village Idiot" on our role. Anyone know who that is? I think someone got his info. on the wrong role. I think he's that 7 fingered kid in the Special Ed. Shop Class.

It's 7 on one hand and it really makes the ladies happy

[thayne]

holy crap indolikaa, you sure do like to write a lot....

I got to:

Good morning students, and welcome to Newbies 106.

Students, before we begin this morning’s sermon, er, lecture? I would like... blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah

LOL, sorry I have adult ADD

[gitreel]

So do I Thayne. I was diagnosed with one of the worst cases you can have.

Computers and jigsaw puzzles have always been therapy for me.

I made it through the lesson though. Just read slowly, and a little bit at a time. When you start to get bored, walk away for a little bit and come back to it.

[stiltman]

blah blah blah blah blah blah blah

LOL, sorry I have adult ADD

On selective threads?

[hobmob]

What a load of CRAP?

I have sold, now let me see......2430 CRATES of PRINCO DVD-R, that works out at about 121000 discs, and I have not had 1 come back.

For your information there are three different types of Princo DVD-R, now would it not be in your BEST interests to find out just what levels there are.
Or are you just going to sit in your little puppet world of looking in the mirror wishing you were some kind of EXPERT TEACHER OF DVD BLANKs.

Why dont you talk to a person who is in the know?

[tekkieman]

Oh nooooo...here we go again......

[Cobra]

What a load of CRAP?

I have sold, now let me see......2430 CRATES of PRINCO DVD-R, that works out at about 121000 discs, and I have not had 1 come back.

For your information there are three different types of Princo DVD-R, now would it not be in your BEST interests to find out just what levels there are.
Or are you just going to sit in your little puppet world of looking in the mirror wishing you were some kind of EXPERT TEACHER OF DVD BLANKs.

Why dont you talk to a person who is in the know?

It was a joke.

As I say, I haven't had too much trouble with my Princo DVDs until I got a bad batch and lost a lot to them. That's enough for me to steer well clear.

Who do you work for that you've sold so many discs?

Cobra

[flaninacupboard]

What a load of CRAP?

I have sold, now let me see......2430 CRATES of PRINCO DVD-R, that works out at about 121000 discs, and I have not had 1 come back.

For your information there are three different types of Princo DVD-R, now would it not be in your BEST interests to find out just what levels there are.
Or are you just going to sit in your little puppet world of looking in the mirror wishing you were some kind of EXPERT TEACHER OF DVD BLANKs.

Why dont you talk to a person who is in the know?

is this DVDeez, Palpatine, Gina, Lordsmurfintraining or Whackjob???

Or even scarier, someone happy with Princo??

[offline]

I had a great run with Princo then got the inevitable bad batch.
I have just now suffered a bad batch of Maxell's and so my
next 200 purchase will be Princo grade A. TY and re branded
TY may be the best but I'm willing to lose a few discs and pay
40 cents Australian each than pay $2 a piece Australian and lose none.

Sorry Dr. WankHer but I've returned to the dark side :P

psst