DVD-R media compatability problems.

[countzer0]

I am writing this mainly to see if others are experiencing this problem.

I currently transfer peoples movies from VHS to DVD-R using my Pinnacle DV500, Impression DVD Pro, and a Pioneer 103 drive updated to 1.9 firmware.

I have been doing this since January at 1x with a stack of generic unbranded DVD-R i picked up with the drive in January. Since then I have sold over 500 discs and only had 16 customers whose set top players wouldnt play them. I thought that was a pretty sweet run.

Last month I picked Up unbranded Prodisc 2x DVD-R for 1.65 online and thought it was a sweet deat at half of the price of the first 1x generics, and would burn in 25 minutes.

Well customers who could play the old discs cannot play the new discs, and 6 out 10 new customers cannot play the discs either. I immediately contributed this to the cheap "unbranded discs".

So I went to my local Best Buy and Sucked it up and payed $50 bucks for 15 packs of both 2x Memorex and 2x TDK branded spindles. I spent a little over $100 for 30. I though for sure this would cure my problem.

Well long story short is customers i allready had that could read the oringal 1x discs still cant play either of these! Neither can 6 out of 10 of my new customers. This is ruining my business.

My question is this. Is 1x vs 2x recording affecting the discs compatability? Most of these players show up as playing DVD-R here on VCDHELP. If it is 1x vs 2x, is it in the media or the burn method? Meaning can I simply burn 1x to these 2x discs to at least get all my customers satisfied.

My other question is why cant the DVD-R salespeople help me with this? They insist all the discs are just as compatable, and if a player will play DVD-R it will play any x recording speed.

Is the problem just me?

On a seperate note. Are there things you can do to make the 1x DVD-R's more compatable in general. Does capitalizing the video_ts Just the V or the whole thing make a difference? What are your experiences?

[byrdmaniac69]

This article should help some http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/Pioneer/CDA/Common/ArticleReviewsDetails/0,2651,92097,00.html

I have heard that 1x should be used for greater compatibility but I am no expert in this area. The link above shows memorex as 59% compatible and verbatim 69%.
I always capitalize all letters and have 2 folders: AUDIO_TS and VIDEO_TS, also I use nero 5.5.9.0 and always drag AUDIO_TS over first so it is on top. DVD standards call for all caps.
As far as best buy sales people goes, most don't even know the difference between the dvd formats, at least that's my experience. Good luck.