Nothing but coasters lately

[Capmaster]

I am trying very hard to find a good DVD-R media and I'm having no luck. I had been using Princo white-tops for about 2 years with fairly good success. A few months ago the 200-batch I bought was mostly coasters so I moved to Ritek.

I bought 100 Ritek shiny silver from Shop4tech and they seemed to be OK at first, but near the bottom of both spindles I got about 7 coasters from each.

So I bought 100 Ridata (red-wrap) matte silver from Meritline. So far about 35 coasters. Last night I had to try about 15 blanks before finally using one of the shiny silver Riteks that finally allowed a burn. Each disc has what looks like a faint ring on the dye side just out from the center, on the actual dye surface. The ring is there before a burn is attempted. Maybe shipping damage since they weren't spindle-packed but bulk shrink-wrapped?

These coasters have been failing both in my Panny LF-D311 on the PC and the Panny DMR-E50 standalone. They give an error almost immediately after the recording starts on the E50, and a power calibration error on the LF-D311 using Nero.

So now I have 100 Optodisc gold blanks on order from Meritline and should get them Friday. In the meantime I plan to buy a 10-pack of Maxell branded 4X from Walgreens and try them out since Lordsmurf likes them. I'm getting real sick of throwing away blanks

My blanks are getting more and more costly, but not really when I figure what throwing away all those coasters is costing me:

Princo: $.56/ea (100)
Ritek: $.70/ea (100)
Ridata: $.69/ea (100)
Maxell1.49/ea (10)

If those don't give good yields my next brands to try will be in the following order (increasing cost):

1) Taiyo Yuden - about $1.95 ea (100)
2) Panasonic branded - about $2.50/ea (5)
3) Pioneer branded - about $4.00/ea (any size)

If only there were more controls to keep companies from counterfeiting and selling pure junk while representing them as quality media.

[indolikaa]

You should be happy with those Maxells. Wal-Mart has 'em for $16.xx a 10-pack; I've only coastered one so far, and it was my fault. They've kept me going until my next TY shipment arrives.

[888888]

Each disc has what looks like a faint ring on the dye side just out from the center, on the actual dye surface. The ring is there before a burn is attempted.

I think that is very common. I am not sure why it is there but the Optodiscs have it too.

I have been using Optodisc gold tops from Newegg with great results.

[glockjs]

maybe its about time for your burner to retire???

[Capmaster]

Each disc has what looks like a faint ring on the dye side just out from the center, on the actual dye surface. The ring is there before a burn is attempted.

I think that is very common. I am not sure why it is there but the Optodiscs have it too.

I have been using Optodisc gold tops from Newegg with great results.

Is that ring from where they're stacked? If so, isn't that area outside of the actual writing surface? I always thought it was, but after seeing my coasters last night I wasn't sure.

You should be happy with those Maxells

The Walmart by us has crappy Memorex, Imation and a few others, but no maxells. Walgreens has a sale on the 10-pack of branded Maxell 4X with jewel cases for $14.99 so I think I'll buy a few of those and try them out. I'm now willing to pay more for blanks if I don't have to throw a bunch out. Last night after trying to burn TNG episodes I had to chuck about 25 of the Ridata in the trash :P

[Capmaster]

maybe its about time for your burner to retire???

Both my burner AND my brand-new Panny E50?

[glockjs]

Capmaster

Both my burner AND my brand-new Panny E50?

wow, maybe just a really really bad streak.... dont go to vegas my friend

[Capmaster]

Capmaster

Both my burner AND my brand-new Panny E50?

wow, maybe just a really really bad streak.... dont go to vegas my friend

Don't worry. I knew long ago that gambling and me don't get along. After all, I'm married .... I identify with Al Bundy very strongly

[glockjs]

al bundy is my hero, and im not even married

[Capmaster]

al bundy is my hero, and im not even married

Funny that when the show started as a summer replacement, none of the cast thought it would succeed and be renewed that fall.

I like it because Al says what all of us want to say. I think the funniest episodes deal with Peggy's relatives in Wanker County, Wisconsin. His references to Peggy's mother crack me up

And the classic: "Peg, this woman who came into the store today was so fat, she had three smaller women orbiting her". I laughed so hard I cried the first time I saw that episode

For father's day this year my lovely wife bought me Married With Children on DVD. She knows there's no way I'll miss it when it comes on (every night at 9:00pm on WB). So for mother's day I got her Little House On The Prairie on DVD. That's only fair

[handyguy]

I use Accu dvds, about $62/100 at meritline on my Panasonics with 100% success & they play in any dvd player I put them in. I used 100s of them so far.

Also try:
https://www.videohelp.com/dvdmedia

[Capmaster]

I use Accu dvds, about $62/100 at meritline on my Panasonics with 100% success & they play in any dvd player I put them in. I used 100s of them so far.

Also try:
https://www.videohelp.com/dvdmedia

Lordsmurf's guide lists them as "not-so-good". Of course for two years I used Princo 1X white-tops which are even worse - "Bad" according to his guide. They were fine and then all of a sudden they were all coasters. maybe Princo switched to the dreaded CMC.

[iooi]

Each disc has what looks like a faint ring on the dye side just out from the center, on the actual dye surface. The ring is there before a burn is attempted. Maybe shipping damage since they weren't spindle-packed but bulk shrink-wrapped?

Ok just looked at my printable Riteks and they ALL have this ring its about 48 mm dia thats about 1 3/4 inch to you yanks...
Dont think this is a problem as i have some old Pinco's and they have the same ring as well.
Could this be the area where the media code is stored ?

[Capmaster]

Each disc has what looks like a faint ring on the dye side just out from the center, on the actual dye surface. The ring is there before a burn is attempted. Maybe shipping damage since they weren't spindle-packed but bulk shrink-wrapped?

Ok just looked at my printable Riteks and they ALL have this ring its about 48 mm dia thats about 1 3/4 inch to you yanks...
Dont think this is a problem as i have some old Pinco's and they have the same ring as well.
Could this be the area where the media code is stored ?

That's the one. I never noticed the ring on other brands. Maybe I noticed it on these because Riteks have a dark purple dye and the ring is more noticeable.

[Guest]

Each disc has what looks like a faint ring on the dye side just out from the center, on the actual dye surface. The ring is there before a burn is attempted. Maybe shipping damage since they weren't spindle-packed but bulk shrink-wrapped?

Ok just looked at my printable Riteks and they ALL have this ring its about 48 mm dia thats about 1 3/4 inch to you yanks...
Dont think this is a problem as i have some old Pinco's and they have the same ring as well.
Could this be the area where the media code is stored ?

Ditto.

Are you limeys using the metric system? Bastards! After you got us hooked on that fucked up English system.

[Hawseman]

Don't you smucks still drink "pints".....I don't remember those in the metric system. Maybe you go to the pub for a "half liter" now (or is it "half litre").

"I was quite saused last night after consuming about a dekalitre of brew"....How European

[nufan292]

Here's some cheaper sources of Taiyo Yuden:
Rima
All media

[iooi]

Are you limeys using the metric system? Bastards! After you got us hooked on that fucked up English system.

Sad but true we have gone metric and for us oldies it is hard work....
But we still travel in miles..As "Hawseman" said drink in pints...Now there is a thought a litre of beer
Na a pint at a time is enough any bigger and you might spill some..