Using 16X Verbatim DVD-R disks with a 4x burner

[slam87]

I have a very old Pioneer DVR-105 (A05). And it's maximize burn speeds are only 4x. I've already burned about maybe 75 16X Verbatim DVD-Rs disks with it and have had no problems so far. They play fine in DVD players and on computer DVD drives. I know I should get a new burner but my burner still works fine. My question is, is there anything bad about burning all of this 16x media at 4x?

[ROF]

If they are playing back fine, I don't understand the question?

[lenti_75]

NO

[waheed]

The rated speed on media means that its the maximum you can burn the disk at. So for the 16X media, you can burn at 16X max and any other speed below that. You should be fine burning at 4X with 16X media.

It would be cheaper for you to get 4X or 8X rated media rather than 16X as you wouldn't be able to burn at 16X anyway.

[ROF]

Trying to find 4x write once media is getting to be nearly impossible. In most stores, online of B&M, you will find 8x and 16x priced the same.

[Gen-An]

If they are playing back fine, I don't understand the question?

Generally, 4x burners don't have proper firmware support for 16x media and so results in poor quality burns. We can assume that Pioneer's generic 4x write strategy is pretty good if the original poster is having success with 16x discs.

[OneSickPup]

If they are playing back fine, I don't understand the question?

Generally, 4x burners don't have proper firmware support for 16x media and so results in poor quality burns. We can assume that Pioneer's generic 4x write strategy is pretty good if the original poster is having success with 16x discs.

I agree - default firmware strategies often yield poor results. The original poster is quite fortunate. If you could next time - might want to try the Verbatim DVD-R 8x MCC 02RG20's rather than those MCC 03rg20's. Might yield better results. Then again - if your current choices are working - not sure I would change anything.

Might want to start saving for a new DVR111 though.

[lacywest]

I have a very old Pioneer DVR-105 (A05). And it's maximize burn speeds are only 4x. I've already burned about maybe 75 16X Verbatim DVD-Rs disks with it and have had no problems so far. They play fine in DVD players and on computer DVD drives. I know I should get a new burner but my burner still works fine. My question is, is there anything bad about burning all of this 16x media at 4x?

Are you asking this question because ... something is going wrong ... or your getting pixel breakup while watching the movie and your trying to figure out ... why ??

[wayne421]

Actually, I burn 8x and faster rated discs at 4x on purpose... you usually get a cleaner burn when using slower speeds. Lordsmurf posts about this periodically as well.

My thinking is why rush to save the extra 5 minutes now if the disc won't play correctly a few years from now?

BTW, I had a Pioneer DVR-105 for a long time and that drive rocked - it was my first DVD burner and it was fantastic. After burning 500-600 discs tho it finally gave up the ghost and had to be replaced. But it served me well.

I'd just keep doing what your doing until a problem comes up.

W

[SLK001]

The burn strategy changed when the speeds went above 2X (there was a warning to the 2X crowd to update their firmware if they wanted to use the faster disks).

What you are doing is very much acceptable.

[OneSickPup]

Actually, I burn 8x and faster rated discs at 4x on purpose... you usually get a cleaner burn when using slower speeds. Lordsmurf posts about this periodically as well.

Under-speeding a known media is an entirely different issue. My Pioneer 108 with v1.20 firmware supports Yuden...T02 (an 8x DVD+R) at 12x, 8x, 6x and 4x. If you chose to burn this at 4x instead of 8x the firmware still has a defined strategy for this. The original poster is burning media not defined in his burners firmware, which means a burner default strategy is used. This usually (not always obviously) yields less than optimal results.

[wayne421]

Actually, I burn 8x and faster rated discs at 4x on purpose... you usually get a cleaner burn when using slower speeds. Lordsmurf posts about this periodically as well.

Under-speeding a known media is an entirely different issue. My Pioneer 108 with v1.20 firmware supports Yuden...T02 (an 8x DVD+R) at 12x, 8x, 6x and 4x. If you chose to burn this at 4x instead of 8x the firmware still has a defined strategy for this. The original poster is burning media not defined in his burners firmware, which means a burner default strategy is used. This usually (not always obviously) yields less than optimal results.

Point taken.