DVD+RW Media Quality

[SunMaster]

Hello.

Sorry if this is a faq, I have searched around everywhere (at least it feels like it) but can't seem to find any answers.

I'm looking to stop burning on DVD-R/+R and switch to +RW for various reaons, one being tired of coasters (disks with read errors).

So since rw is becoming rather affordable I was curious if there were huge differencies between the various media - e.g. do the rw media suffer from the same problems as some -R/+R where you tend to get poor readability in the 4g+ region ?

Second, can formatting a +RW disc find and map out media defects, and if it does can a standard cheap TV set DVD player read it ?

I assume there are differences between good and bad RW media, but apart from how many times it can be rewritten (which isn't an issue for me) what are they ?

Has anyone done a quality test of +RW media ?

[indolikaa]

That's two very good questions.

1) I use Memorex DVD+RWs a lot. I don't often exceed 4 GB but I've never had a problem in either data or video when I do. There are some other posts where I've detailed my success with rewriting these discs 100+ times without problems.

2) DVD+RW discs are formatted on-the-fly, except in applications such as B's Clip and InCD, in which the entire disc is formatted for packet writing and no longer readable in any form by a DVD player. The operating system is responsible for defect management. DVD-Video uses a variation of Reed-Solomon error correction and does not support any form of physical defect management.

3) I have used Memorex DVD+RW, Verbatim DataLifePlus DVD+RW and Maxell DVD+RW, all with no problems. I have experimented with other brands, but not enough to form an overall opinion as to their quality.

.indolikaa.

[SunMaster]

Hello, and thanks for your response

To my knowledge DVD Video use UDF 1.01, however newer (really cheap ones ) like my Daewoo 9000s bought specifically to play back DVD+RW can also read UDF 2.01, which supports the handling of media defects. I've burnt out movies on UDF 2.01 which plays just fine on it, which leads me to believe the burner could reallocate data that didn't pass during verify and it'd still be perfectly readable by the DVD player.

At least, this is what I was thinking The UDF 2.01 spec can be found http://www.osta.org/specs/pdf/udf201.pdf , but I do not know if dvd burning software fully support remapping of defects on UDF 2.01, perhaps someone which do, if any.

As for my question about the differences about good and "cheap" brands, it seems by the lack of response/opinions that people don't really know (yet). Only one way to find out I guess, I'll buy some cheap Princo 1x and some Riteks to start with (I already have a couple Verbatims). Price is more important that writing speed to me

[indolikaa]

UDF 2.01, which supports the handling of media defects. I've burnt out movies on UDF 2.01 which plays just fine on it, which leads me to believe the burner could reallocate data that didn't pass during verify and it'd still be perfectly readable by the DVD player

Possibly, but the error-correction for DVD is very powerful and can alleviate many possible problems regardless.

Mt. Rainier will also allow for physical defect management, so I would assume Mt. Rainier and UDF 2.01 would be a marriage made in digital heaven. We shall see...

[SunMaster]

Being a cheapskate I ordered 100 Princo 1x DVD-RW (my money is more valuable than my idle computer time - 1x, 2x or 4x won't matter to me) so I'll maybe soon be able to provide some informed feedback about how poor'n'cheap -RW media behave

[tompika]

Wow....it'll take 100 hours to format them before the first use

[SunMaster]

It'll ne long lasting entetainment then - 200 hours just to format and burn

I don't plan to babysit either though