Is this what you call a "coaster"?

[AlexCR]

I've just made my first DVD from old VHSs (in fact I've made two!). I was absolutely delighted with the results until, after playing certain chapters several times, the audio would start to break up and skip, this fault being accompanied by large areas of ugly blockiness appearing on the video in seemingly random places. Eventually it will all turn really ugly and freeze. Now of course, I'm wondering whether it's the software or the media I've used.

What I've done is recorded the VHSs onto Maxell DVD-RWs using a JVC DR-M10 (XP mode), used TMPGEnc DVD Author to get the DVD video files onto my HDD, done all the authoring, then burned it onto a Maxell DVD-R using TDA's writing function. This media has ID RITEKG04, and I didn't find it particularly clear on DigitalFAQ.com whether this was meant to be any good or not.

What I've done is burned three tracks (which were recorded on XP mode) of approximately 20 minutes each (this comes to 4376 out of 4438MB according to TDA), and so far it has only been the third track which is playing up. I've heard this is because of the outer limits of the DVD spinning faster and therefore being more susceptible to fault, particularly if you're near to maximum capacity. However, my second DVD is only 2704/4438MB and the third track is still faulty, although only a few minutes before the end (not right at the end).

Sorry for ranting on but you need to know the facts if anybody's to help! Does this sound like a media problem? The whole point of converting to DVD is so I can keep my videos on a safe format for a long time, so how can I make a good, stable disc?

P.S. Oh yeah I'm pretty sure this is not a player problem - the JVC had problems playing it and so did my Toshiba SD220E, although the DVD player on my PC played it fine, oddly enough.

[Capmaster]

1) Place disc data-side down on end table
2) Place drink glass on it

Get new media

[bazooka]

1) Place disc data-side down on end table
2) Place drink glass on it

Or you could make a frisbee out of it.

[tim6661234]

Shame RITEK were OK once now all I see are posts like this

[AlexCR]

Well that sounds pretty conclusive! Trouble is I've just gone and bought a fat load of the discs I thought Maxell were pretty good but I guess I made mistake numero uno - went for the brand.

Does anybody in the UK know of a retailer that sells the kinds of discs that are recommended here (MXLRG01, TDKG02, etc)? There are so many people here talking about where they get their media in the US, but I'm lost when it comes to buying across the pond from you guys.

[Capmaster]

Hint: Buy Taiyo Yuden. It's harder to find in the UK and more expensive, but if you're getting piles of coasters from the Maxells, they look much more reasonable

Maxell used to use TYG01 for their 4X, along with Ritek G03. The TY were excellent, the Ritek were just OK. Sounds like they went to Ritek G04 for their 8x. I've been hearing many bad things about Ritek G04 lately.

You can buy TY media in the UK here:

http://www.cd-rduplicators.co.uk/media.htm

[tim6661234]

The brand can be misleading, what matters is the media code. You can buy what appear to be the same disks and find out they come from different sources.

I use www.svp.co.uk because they show you the media codes. I'm very happy with the Verbatim -R's I bought from them (MCC). They are about £27 for 50. Never heard a bad word said about them.

[tim6661234]

Capmasters right Taiyo Yuden are the best but expensive. You get what you pay for! You can buy them at www.svp.co.uk also and there cheaper. God I sound like a sales rep. Maybe they'll give me commision for all this advertising

[AlexCR]

Thanks a lot guys, that's been a great help

I'm relieved that it's probably down to bad media rather than some other terminal problem. I'll give it a crack with some new media, and only if it doesn't work will I post back here... so hopefully we'll never see this thread again!

[Capmaster]

Capmasters right Taiyo Yuden are the best but expensive. You get what you pay for! You can buy them at www.svp.co.uk also and there cheaper. God I sound like a sales rep. Maybe they'll give me commision for all this advertising

Thanks. I knew there was a cheaper place but I couldn't find it and had no bookmark

No problem with the help. I hope you get it sorted with some good media

[iooi]

You can buy TY media in the UK here:

http://www.cd-rduplicators.co.uk/media.htm

Ouch.....
Try some datawrite 8x printables using the Fuji03 dye.. From either svp or ukdvdr both good online UK stores. Ukdvdr has the edge at the moment know a few people who have had issues with packing from svp, replaced without a problem but its a pain when what you order arrives in bits...
Ty's are over priced in the Uk even svp want £69 for 100..... datawrite fuji 03 £23 for 100 no contest really and the quality is just a good.... Having said that i'm still getiing good results with riteks both 04 & 05 dye....

[lordsmurf]

RITEKG0x ... 2nd class ... at best these days, not worst like it used to be.

www.nomorecoasters.com

Better stuff exists, some of it cheaper.

[monzie]

Ouch.....
Try some datawrite 8x printables using the Fuji03 dye.. From either svp or ukdvdr both good online UK stores. Ukdvdr has the edge at the moment know a few people who have had issues with packing from svp, replaced without a problem but its a pain when what you order arrives in bits...
Ty's are over priced in the Uk even svp want £69 for 100..... datawrite fuji 03 £23 for 100 no contest really and the quality is just a good.... Having said that i'm still getiing good results with riteks both 04 & 05 dye....

!00% AGREE with you IOOI, those DATAWRITE 8X Greytops (Fuji) have never let me down yet..IMO they must be best price/qaulity/compatability DVD-R available. I also buy from UKDVDR (excellent speedy service).

http://www.ukdvdr.co.uk/shop/customer/home.php

Anyone tried the new Datawrite Yellow 8X (CMC) speed yet? Any good?

[lordsmurf]

MCC
http://www.ukdvdr.co.uk/shop/customer/product.php?productid=17299&cat=0&page=1

I'd think these were good. Probably MCC 02RG20

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

CMC MAG AE1
http://www.ukdvdr.co.uk/shop/customer/product.php?productid=17307&cat=0&page=1

... supposedly MCC dye made on CMC equipment. .. cannot confirm
if true, may be good.

[kwkanne]

I'm curious, you didn't by any chance put a label on these DVD's, did you? The symptoms sound similar to what happened to me when I did that.

[AlexCR]

Nope, no labels - I read that labels can cause trouble so I avoided them.

Cheers for the tip, lordsmurf.

[RottenFoxBreath]

god,not the yellows...hahaha

[RottenFoxBreath]

Anyone tried the new Datawrite Yellow 8X (CMC) speed yet? Any good?

yeh i tried them 2 spindles,just as bad as i remember.
supposidly a ritek G04/M02 dye,my arse.
just as well they sent them to me in my order by mistake,i might have paid for them too,if they were any good.
ring burns,and black spots after burning,movie skips,pauses,eventually stops-welcome back to the days of princo.
IMO,there just reprinted crap,

the grey ones with the Fuji03 or prodiscF01 dye are brilliant though,so ill stick with them for the foreseeable future.

[glockjs]

cheap=a good way to decorate your xmas tree this year

[iooi]

cheap=a good way to decorate your xmas tree this year

Yep especially the printables as you can add a nice xmas pic to em....

[dartboard]

Before you use all of the ritek as coasters, try burning the files at 2x speed. I bought 25 of these, burnt 5 at 8x and got 5 coasters. I burned the rest at 2x and everyone burnt flawlessly.

I have also switched to TY discs and so far have not made a coaster.

[glockjs]

cheap=a good way to decorate your xmas tree this year

Yep especially the printables as you can add a nice xmas pic to em....

the shiny ones are purtty too

[monzie]

Anyone tried the new Datawrite Yellow 8X (CMC) speed yet? Any good?

yeh i tried them 2 spindles,just as bad as i remember.
supposidly a ritek G04/M02 dye,my arse.
just as well they sent them to me in my order by mistake,i might have paid for them too,if they were any good.
ring burns,and black spots after burning,movie skips,pauses,eventually stops-welcome back to the days of princo.
IMO,there just reprinted crap,

the grey ones with the Fuji03 or prodiscF01 dye are brilliant though,so ill stick with them for the foreseeable future.

Cheers, I'll stick with the '8X GREYS' (excellent) then.

[AlexCR]

Before you use all of the ritek as coasters, try burning the files at 2x speed. I bought 25 of these, burnt 5 at 8x and got 5 coasters. I burned the rest at 2x and everyone burnt flawlessly.

I have also switched to TY discs and so far have not made a coaster.

The TY discs are a little too pricey for me! They only seem to sell them in packs of 100 or more... I generally only need 10 at a time, at most! That would last me a few months.

Thanks for the 2x tip. I'll give it a try.

[hammy]

The TY discs are a little too pricey for me! They only seem to sell them in packs of 100 or more... I generally only need 10 at a time, at most! That would last me a few months.

On the same SVP site they have Verbatim 8x pastel discs, these are Taiyo Yuden discs also, they are cheaper than the other Taiyo Yuden discs they sell and you can buy them in packs of 5 if you only used small quantities. Unfortunately they are out of stock at the moment but i would expect them to get more in very soon.


Hammy

[AlexCR]

The TY discs are a little too pricey for me! They only seem to sell them in packs of 100 or more... I generally only need 10 at a time, at most! That would last me a few months.

On the same SVP site they have Verbatim 8x pastel discs, these are Taiyo Yuden discs also, they are cheaper than the other Taiyo Yuden discs they sell and you can buy them in packs of 5 if you only used small quantities. Unfortunately they are out of stock at the moment but i would expect them to get more in very soon.

They have them in stock now. Should I give them a try; they're not fakes or anything, are they?

[Paul_G]

Those "Taiyo Yuden" DVDs people go on about might be the bees knees (never used them) but £119 for 100 is just ridiculous.

I personally use the Datawrite illuminous yellow 8x (burn at 12x) +R (Prodisc R03) and never had a problem, they are only £30 for 100.

[bugster]

Those "Taiyo Yuden" DVDs people go on about might be the bees knees (never used them) but £119 for 100 is just ridiculous.

Taiyo Yuden (8x) Printable DVD-R in Heavy Duty Spindle Tubs of 100

£59.98

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

[Paul_G]

Thanks bugster

[bugster]

Thanks bugster

My pleasure.

Just an FYI. This is just one of several UK web based suppliers that are always listed whenever anybody posts asking for reliable and cheap UK DVDr supplies. A simple search in the media forum should turn up the others.