DVD playback problems

[schempsey]

Thanks in advance for any help. I've had numerous playback issues with DVDs I've made. I was using paper labels and have now stopped, I bought a new drive (Plextor 7a), I switched to Verbatium Stock and I'm still having way too many issues that I've never had before. I'm using Sonic DVDIT for my authoring program.

The last few jobs I did had large files, about 4.26 gig. Is it possibe that's a problem? Please advise. This year I've had to redo hundreds of DVDs. I'm either going to quit or just out source the duplication.

Thanks again.

[davideck]

The last few jobs I did had large files, about 4.26 gig. Is it possibe that's a problem?

Are the playback issues near the end of the DVD?

[schempsey]

The last few jobs I did had large files, about 4.26 gig. Is it possibe that's a problem?

Are the playback issues near the end of the DVD?

There are 22 chapters. Some people say it stops after chapter 10 , some after 18 and some after 12. I've not experienced this on any of my 3 players. I have a client sending me back a defected disc

[ROF]

Try slowing down the burn to 2 or 4x to increase compatibility with standalones.

[schempsey]

This year I started to use 16x & 8 X. Is that a documented cause for playback errors? I used to always use 4X but now with the higher speed recorders I thought it was okay to write at 8X and above.

[harley2ride]

It is best to burn media, at or near it's rated speed, so long as the drive is capable of burning at those sustained speeds. IE: If you have an 8x burner, you don't want to overspeed it and try burning 8x media at 10x (although it can successfully be done). You also don't want to use a 16x burner with 16x media and try to burn it at 2x. That will also cause you problems. Use quality media (Made In Japan) stuff, and you should never have any problems burning at the media's rated speed.

[schempsey]

So when it says it will burn up to 16X and I have a burner that is only writing at 4 or 8X is that a problem? Would it be better for me just to buy 4 x stock? Speaking of stock, I've been using Ritek (Ridata) for 4 years. This is the first year I've had this kind of widespread problem so I've switched to Verbatium. Any recomendations for a good stable stock.

[davideck]

This year I started to use 16x & 8 X. Is that a documented cause for playback errors?

That's an interesting observation. I never noticed any compatibility issues with my DVDs until I started burning 8X media at 8X with my Pioneer 108...

So when it says it will burn up to 16X and I have a burner that is only writing at 4 or 8X is that a problem?

I say no. I think my Pioneer 105 burns better at 4X than my 108 does at 8X (both using 8X media).

[schempsey]

I really don't know what the problem is and I don't know what to do....because the DVDs play in my 3 players without any problems...Thanks for your feedback.

[levick]

Regardless of the drive you use or the media, try a burn at the slowest speed possible, 2x if possible and check the disc on your clients player.
Your clients machine may not be able to read the information on your discs if burnt at a higher speed.

[schempsey]

That was very helpful info. Thanks. Hopefully there's a better way coming in the future. A 4 gig file will take 30 mimutes + at 2X

[harley2ride]

I also belong to the CDFREAKS forum, and you can find all over the forum where they do not recommend burning high speed media on high speed burners at 2x. There is documented proof (quality tests) which prove this is bad. Always burn at or just under the rated speed. It is ok to burn 8x media at 4x, but not ok to burn 16x media at 4x. Your write strategy firmware on your burner should control what speed a particular media burns at. If you put a dvd in your burner with DVDCRYPTER, it will show you what speeds you should burn a particular dvd at.

[davideck]

It is ok to burn 8x media at 4x, but not ok to burn 16x media at 4x.

Are you claiming that the Pioneer Media Table is incorrect?
It indicates that 16X Media is fully supported on the 105 at 4X...
http://wwwbsc.pioneer.co.jp/product-e/ibs/device_e/mediachart.html

[levick]

Thanks for the update harley2ride. I have always burned at 2x with the understanding the laser is able to "cut" the disc with less distortion.
This was alwas the case with CDs where the "eye pattern" was easily monitored.
Regards and thanks again.