What burner will make DVD-R's that work on Apex stand alone?

[i am x]

Ok people, this message is from any of you that have an Apex AD-1200 stand alone and you're able to burn DVD-R and +R movies that play in them. Right now I have an Optorite +/- burner, and I simply can't get the thing to burn -R or +R movies that will work in my Apex, but the Apex WILL play +RW and -RW that I burn with the Optorite with no problems. Some people have told me that is is a compatibility issue with my Apex standalone, and others have told me that it is the burner. The issue is THIS. I want to be able to make DVD-R and +R movies that WILL play in my Apex stand alone. Right now, I'm thinking that I should try getting another burner and seeing if that will solve the problem. This is a big gamble, as it MIGHT be the standalone that's the problem and not the burner, even though I KNOW that the standalone is quite capable of playing -R and +R discs (and that is indicated quite clearly in the specs).
My question to you all is this. Are there ANY of you out there that have an Apex AD-1200 standalone, and are able to view your +R and -R burned movies on it, and if you CAN, please tell me what kind of burner you own, what DVD authoring software you use, and what kind of blank discs you use with that burner. I'm looking to pay the least amount of money possible, and still get a burner that will produce -R and +R discs that will play on my Apex. ANY HELP WOULD BE APPRECIATED. One more thing. I use SVCD2DVDMPG to make my .mpg movie files DVD compliant, then I use TMPGEnc DVD Author to author the dvd compliant .mpgs. Like I said, when I do all that and burn them onto +RW or -RW discs, they play perfectly in my Apex standalone, but when I burn those same movies onto -R or +R, they do NOT play in my Apex standalone.
Please be as detailed as possible with your answers, as I will be compiling all the info I get from you all, and I will get the burner that the most amount of people have had success with regarding -R, +R and the Apex AD-1200. Remember:

1. Please do not reply to this message unless you have an Apex AD-1200, or you have SUCCESSFULLY burned -R and +R discs that have played in one.

2. What DVD authoring program do you use?

3. What program do you use to burn the authored movies onto your discs?

4. What brand of discs do you use?

[defense]

this is the 3rd time you've asked the same question. All on different forums. I've answered the question for you two times and now you post it again. You are very hard headed. If you aren't happy with the answers you get then check your other posts and hope they get the answer your looking for one year. Otherwise, search the DVD PLAYERS section of the forum, find your apex and see what it plays.

But to post the same question three times is ridiculous. Especially when you've gotten the answer to your question several times.

[lordsmurf]

Apex does not like -RW or +RW or cheap -R or +R media. Use better media. And be sure you burn perfectly to DVD spec.

Apex is great at everything but DVD recordables. It's really picky on burned DVDs.

[defense]

well that's the 6th time the question was answered for you. 5 for me 1 for lord smurf. Anyone else want to PLEASE join in and answer the question with the SAME answer?

[dengar]

Cheap DVD player = Cheap results.

[handyguy]

nerd-out.com has a 1200 forum, go ask them.

[i am x]

Apex does not like -RW or +RW or cheap -R or +R media. Use better media. And be sure you burn perfectly to DVD spec.

Apex is great at everything but DVD recordables. It's really picky on burned DVDs.

I already stated that my Apex can play +RW and -RW DVDs. It plays all of them. It just doesn't seem to work with -R and +R.

[lordsmurf]

It's really picky on burned DVDs.

[CaseyComb]

I have two apex machines and they have played any DVD-/+R variants I have thrown at them. This whole Cheap Player = Cheap Results is bogus. If it aint Sony, Panasonic, or Toshiba, then I can almost guarantee the player has the same insides as an Apex. They're cheap because they can be made for less in Malaysia. Thats the bottomline. I swear by Apex. I can't wait until they offer Divx compatability. I don't know what the problem is with the 1200 but I can almost guarantee that it is the Optorite Drive as I have seen nothing but complaints about compatibility issues inherent with them. Maybe Cheap Burner = Cheap Results. Hell the apex just has to read the disc, it doesn't have tor write it.

Uhhh...don't quite know why that there is a link at the top of my paragraph...but what the hell!

[lordsmurf]

I have two apex machines and they have played any DVD I have thrown at them. This whole Cheap Player = Cheap Results is bogus. ...Maybe Cheap Burner = Cheap Results.

It's the cheap media or incompatible DVD authoring.

Apex model numbers mean nothing, as most models have several board/chipsets out there. My Apex 1100 is different than my neighbor's. Different boards. His is worse than mine.

The cheap burner is less likely than a cheap player. I love my Apex 1100W, but it's a piece of crap on DVD-R and DVD-RW. I got it to hack for overseas DVD and VCD/SVCD/XVCD/MPEG-ISO.

[defense]

It's really picky on burned DVDs.

lmao..they still don't get it...BUT had you used a font 40 times that one...well, THEN MAYBE...JUST MAYBE.

[jdizzy40]

My 2 cents. When I started all this backing-up stuff 7 months ago I had an APEX-1200. The next day I didn'thave it. It went in the dumpster and I bought a better quality DVD Player "Sony" and then a "Panasonic" Need I say more. As stated before, take your disk to a store and put it in all of them, find one that plays it. If none play it, then it's your media or method. Back track.

[CaseyComb]

Do a search on the site for posts about Optorite drives...you'll see that they are complete shite!

[Gil T Pleasure]

I have to agree with CaseyComb. I have an Apex AD-500W and my mom has the $50 Apex AD-1201 and they both play NEC1100 burned DVD+R/RW flawlessly (I was using Sony, Verbatim, Fuji and TDK discs).

My advise to you, i am x, is to play the Optorite burned DVD±R on a different DVD player and see if it plays the disc. If so, then it's your Apex. If not, then it could very well be your burner that's at fault.

Good luck.

[lordsmurf]

then it could very well be your burner that's at fault.

Can somebody please explain to me how it could be the burner's fault, instead of the more obvious, and more likely, answer of cheap media, incorrect DVD-Video formatting on the DVD, or picky player? The "bad burner" issue is news to me.

My understanding of a "bad burner" is one that will not even recognize the blank media, much less burn the disc. If it burns, the general understanding is that the burn aspect was fine. The media, playback, and file structure are issues related to other software and hardware.

[defense]

Can somebody please explain to me how it could be the burner's fault, instead of the more obvious, and more likely, answer of cheap media, incorrect DVD-Video formatting on the DVD, or picky player? The "bad burner" issue is news to me.

you're right..it has nothing to do with the burner...but some people won't comprehend such a difficult concept. I guess the easy fix is to just return the burner and get another one...oh...but then what happens when the same issue occurs...yea...it's the burner then too....I figure if they return 25 different burners...maybe it will sink in...then again.....nahhhhh.

[CaseyComb]

I don't think it is the apex player. Both my 3201 and 2600 work great. Here are the facts:

1. The Apex 1200 is listed as playing all DVD formats
2. Everything I have thrown at these machines has worked perfectly.
3. You are making a hybrid disc (i.e. SVCD mpeg to DVD format)
4. Optorite Drives are notoriously shite. See the links below:


https://www.videohelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=172971


https://www.videohelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=173030


https://www.videohelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=173058

The steps to creating a DVD are as follows:

1. Encode or re-encode video
2. Author DVD with a program.
3. Format to DVD (i.e. Using folders, or as an image file)
4. Burn to DVD

The steps to playing a DVD are as follows:

1. Insert disc into player.

Hmmmm...where could the problem lie?

LORDSMURF and DEFENSE...as I have stated before, the Apex only has to read the disc, the Optorite has to actually write the thing. The technology for Playing DVD's has been around since 1996. 1996!!! You would think the technology would be somewhat perfected by now. But no! Some guy making homemde DVD's on his PC with a crappy burner couldn't possibly be the problem. It could also be cheap media, but I have burned on some of the cheapest media available with minimal problems. Oh and JDIZZY40, next time you decide to put a one day old apex in the "dumpster" send it to me, I'll pay for the postage. Sony's usually only play store bought DVD's anyway. The video decoding chip for the Panasonic makes the video look like crap. Need you say more? No that's not necessary you obviously don't have anything of value to add. This aint rocket science I AM X, return your Optorite and get something else already. I'm tired of you Apex=Crap stooges, yeah a few come off the assembly line as crap, but for the most part they are decent players.

Gee guys, a homemde DVD I made doesn't work in my Apex, well gosh golly! IT MUST BE THE APEX!!!

[ckdexterhn1]

I have an APEX 1200 region-hacked, and it has never failed to play ANYTHING I've put into it, unless there was something wrong with the media.

I have a Pioneer AO5, and it burns cheap media beautifully, Princo, Optodisc, Lead Data, Ritek, Accu, etc. no problem.

"i am x", you should see if the media you are burning will work in another brand of player, as some others have suggested.

Also, my question to you is, why would you spend another $200 to get another burner to record discs for a $40 DVD player? Why not get another player you know is compatable?

[i am x]

Can somebody please explain to me how it could be the burner's fault, instead of the more obvious, and more likely, answer of cheap media, incorrect DVD-Video formatting on the DVD, or picky player? The "bad burner" issue is news to me.

you're right..it has nothing to do with the burner...but some people won't comprehend such a difficult concept. I guess the easy fix is to just return the burner and get another one...oh...but then what happens when the same issue occurs...yea...it's the burner then too....I figure if they return 25 different burners...maybe it will sink in...then again.....nahhhhh.

After all this madness regarding the Optorite drive and Apex AD-1200 I've been going through, I figured I was going to find out 1 way or another which was the culprit regarding compatibility. I decided I was going to start out with the Optorite. I took it back to the store I bought it from, and upgraded to a brand that I had never heard of before. It's a DVD burner called an "LG". Have any of you ever heard of this brand before? The guy at the store assured me that this brand is a top of the line model, right up there with Sony in quality. I was quite skeptical, but since this was the ONLY other brand that they carried other than Optorite, I figured I'd give it a shot. The LG burner was $253.00. So I returned the Optorite and paid the difference for the LG. I got home, installed the LG, popped a disk into my DVD-ROM drive, and a blank Fuji-film into my LG drive. I used Nero to attempt the burn. It was an SVCD video of Beyonce Knowles (SO fine, she is). I burned the copy, and with shaking hands (out of nervousness) took it out of the LG drive when it was finished burning, and popped it into the drive of my Apex stand alone. I knew that if I saw the little yellow light come on, on the dash of the Apex, that means it worked. 1 second, 2 seconds, 3,4,...........BAM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The little yellow light came on, which meant that there ws a bonefide DVD in the Apex's DRIVE! I was so happy that I screamed at the top og my lungs! I played the copy, and it worked FLAWLESSLY. I included chapters when I authored the original DVD copy, and I checked, and all the chapter links worked, then I just let the video play from beginning to end, and it was PERFECT!
If you have an Optorite DVD burner, and an Apex AD-1200 DVD standalone, and you're having problems with getting playback from any DVD-R or +R discs, IT'S NOT THE PLAYER, IT'S THE BURNER!!!!!!!!!. Take that Optorite back, and exchange it for a higher quality burner.
I want to thank all of those people that tried to help me figure this whole thing out. For those of you that thought it was my Apex, you were WRONG. I had faith in the Apex from the very beginning. That's why I started off with trying a new burner. The Apex has played ANY and EVERYTHING that I've put into it thus far. Until that ordeal with the Optorite, the Apex was superior in playback capability. Lo and behold, it turns out that it was the Optorite that was the problem, NOT the Apex.

SPECIAL NOTE TO "DEFENSE". You are a moron. You get on this message board, and do nothing but put people down and argue. That is why I never wasted my time replying to your messages. You had no intentions on helping me, or anyone else with their problems. You are nothing more than an internet heckler that puts people down just because they don't know as much as you do. I believe in what comes around, goes around, and someday, you'll pay for how inconsiderate you are to others...........

[defense]

@ i am x, first off, the only moron is you because your head is as hard as concrete. You also can't comprehend very small things. The next thing is that you were using SHITTY -R AND +R media and didn't even know who manufactured it. People were trying to help you..not just me...but you wouldn't listen. It shows your a complete jackass.

Now you are saying that you returned your burner...and used a 'FUJI' disk...you obviously knew it was FUJI....so did you purchase those FUJI disks seperately..or did it come with your burner? Either way...you are a complete moron...you still haven't figure out that the media you used...the one where you COULDN'T GET THE MEDIA id from was not compatible with your standalone.

Remember that brainy? I doubt you do...do you remember downloading DVDINFO and were it clearly said the minimal "DONATION" was $10 and you responding by saying you can't D/L the proggy because you had to pay $10 in advance for it? I doubt you remember that too. And only a total idiot would do the same process 11 STRAIGHT TIMES and make 11 STRAIGHT COASTERS as you did. I should of known on your first of FIVE threads...when you said you made 11 STRAIGHT COASTERS...you had some other issues there and couldn't figure out things which were basic..instead you tried for a miracle and burned 10 more coasters after your initial one.

[OldGuy100]

[lordsmurf]

1. https://www.videohelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=172971
This is due to cheap media, not the player. Memorex media is about as reliable as using pancakes.

2. https://www.videohelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=173030
All I see here is complaints and pissing contests. Nothing of important came out of that thread.

3. https://www.videohelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=173058
This post suggests an error with the firmware, which may be the case. Would that make the burner "bad"? Maybe by some definitions, but not technically. The easy fix for this is a firmware upgrade. If none exists, then by all means, take it back. The company should support their own devices. But again, it's likely limited to a certain kind of cheap media not supported by the firmware or the media/burning interaction is not cooperative. Again, "bad burner" or "bad media"? Flip a coin, depending on how you choose to view the circumstances. I have a Pioneer (Compaq OEM) 103 that refuses to read/write Princo 4x (and yes I have the 2.00 firmware). Is it the burner? Nope. It was the media.

Again, it's the player, cheap media, improper DVD-Video spec information, bad burning software, and newly added: bad burner firmware. Not the burner itself, not the hardware. I have yet to see proof of a burner making "bad burns."

The issue with old vs. new players, and incompatiblity on players lies with the UDF formats, laser strength, and reflectivity recognition. Some players like Sony also have more stringent anti-burned technology that was made for VCD and CD-R Audio, but has affected DVD-R and DVD+R as well.

After having various issues with my Apex, my Toshiba, friends burners, media, and players, I took it upon myself to go out and learn, not from boards full of people, but from manufacturers sites, technical guides, and format specification FAQs. These days, I rarely have situations of "it won't work" and "pieces of junk".

And as defense said, media "brand" means diddly, as the media ID codes and write strategy are the important parts. Fuji, Memorex, Verbatim, etc all have variants versions of media. I promise you an MCC and a CMC are worlds apart.

I'm just trying to help. As well as learn about "bad burners" if they truly exist. Call names if you must.

I suggest PIONEER burners anyway.

Glad you fixed it. But if you run into the same errors on your next batch of cheap media, don't be surprised if this type or error, or a similar one, rears it's ugly head.

[defense]

Here Brainy, here's your quote from one of the other various threads you posted the same ignorant question:

Laddydaddy wrote:

i am x I hate to sound like a broken record but I really think you have a defective burner. Try DVDInfo and see if it is set up to write DVD-R and DVD+R. It is FREE, not $10. They only request a donation which isn't mandatory.

Then the GENIUS "i am x" who is asking these BRAIN DEAD QUESTIONS SAID:

There's nothing wrong with the burner.

No, of course there isn't...then why did your BRAIN DEAD ASS COME BACK AND SAY THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH YOUR BURNER NOW?

LMAO...that was how you responded to someone else trying to help you. And you did the same thing to me when I told you what the problem was. Getting a new burner didn't solve your issue.....and it's really hard to believe that you could the that damn stupid you still haven't figured that out. Keep answering your own questions Brainy.....I can't wait to see your next question......something to the affect of....how do I flush a toilet?


caseycomb said:

I'm tired of you Apex=Crap stooges, yeah a few come off the assembly line as crap, but for the most part they are decent players.

I suggest you try to read some facts as opposed to just using your personal experiences. That's the problem with too many posts as it is...someone has one good or bad experience and they post it as fact for everyone. Do the research..on the DVD PLAYER section itself...I must of read at least 20 posts where people were extremely satisfied with their APEX because it read everything...and then after 6 months or so it died. That's not quality.....I've had Sony equipment for over 12 years which plays like brand new. IF you even THINK for a second that Apex makes better electronics components then Sony....you really are nuts and In that case, I suggest rehab first...and research second.

[jdizzy40]

Listen Caseycomb, I don't usually get bent out of shape like you do and for that this post should of been locked and you locked out from posting. Obviously you are a young kid, I'm 42 retired Air Force and own 2 businesses. I prety much can buy what I want and usually do. The APEX was junk and it went to the dumpster. You must not be able to afford a SONY becasue you would know they play anything you put in the tray. The Panansonic is a progressive scan and above your price range. So quit your whinning and find another site to complain on. Spend good money for good hardware and you won't be crying. But then you'd have to get an education and get a decent job. Oh well!

[CaseyComb]

Well Airforce tough guy. I do have a Sony and it doesn't play everything, actually thinking about selling it. I also have a toshiba progessive scan player (That looks great on my widescreen 60" t.v). I also have my own business. Which makes me wonder genius... first, how did you ever succeed in business by throwing away money. Second If you are just swimming in the cash why did you buy a fifty dollar Apex? Obviously you haven't learned nearly as much in your 42 years as I have in my 30, at least not how to lie properly. I aint crying, I'm just telling it how it is. As far as my education well, lets just say its fairly more extensive than your half ass community college business degree that was paid for by the air force. I aint gonna get into a dick measuring contest with you old man, but I'm not gonna take crap from somebody who joined the laughing stock of the military.

Semper Fi, Old Timer

[jdizzy40]

You need to find another site to cry on because you won't post again after midnight.

[birdygal]

1100 and 1010 models played everything I threw at them and never had any problems that weren't media related
I tested a 1200 model at circuit city and it played fine however the one I took home wouldn't play much of anything so it went back to the store. I think that particular model was crappier than their other models

[LanEvo7]

My Apex 1500 has yet to fail me. It has played every type of discs I have used. Ranging from Craptastic Manufacturing Company's CDRs high quality Taiyo Yuden discs. I have yet to find a disc that is incompatible with it. Its been running for over two years.

The quality of Apex's machines may not be as great as Sony's or Panasonics's, but whatever gets the job done is good enough for me. I know four people that bought better quality Sony drives(this was like two years ago), yet not one of them can playback CDRs.

[defense]

I know four people that bought better quality Sony drives(this was like two years ago), yet not one of them can playback CDRs.

Seems like your just lucky Lanevo. I remember you had the same luck with the DUPEZ "LD's".....while a large number of people weren't as fortunate.

Not everyone who has an Apex has had issues..but if you do the research you'll see that there are way more then a reasonable number of complaints on APEX players. The reason is because they simply aren't constructed as well. Hopefully yours will continue to remain stable.

As far as Sony goes....I'm a huge supporter of Sony products because of my experiences as well as most of the people I know who have had nothing but positive experiences with Sony products. But Sony's DVD players and compatibilty don't have anything to do with construction and how long they'll last.

My Sony DVD player was sold on Ebay..it wouldn't play any mp3 disks and that's because Sony has taken an anti-piracy approach to all the hoopla with the RIAA..etc. Of course, I expect that will change...they seemed to make a statement with their multi-format burner...but we'll see.

Anyway, I purchased a Philips for 1/3 the price and it's played every damn format imaginable and played them flawlessly. I have tried a countless number of DVDR/RW media and it's played each of them flawlessly.....as long as the disk burn process goes smoothly, it will play in my philips. But interesting enough...my Sony 5 disk cd carosel I purchased back around 1991 plays every mp3 disk on ANY media i've ever thrown at it. MP3's weren't even a thought for being widespread and that just shows how far ahead in time Sony was and still is. The damn lights on this cd player look brand new...they arne't even faded...and this cd player is better then most cd players produced today....it has digitial signal processing which sounds just as good as any that gets produced with DSP today.

If Sony's stance changes...no doubt...they'll have the best DVD Players on the market like just about everything else they make.

[LanEvo7]

I dunno, maybe I am lucky. I'd admit that the Apex players aren't as well constructed "quality" wise, but its so cheap, if it fails, ill get another one. I still use DupEZ's "LD" discs, I think they work great.