Software to test DVD media

[joelson]

Does anybody knows a software that tests whether the DVD contains any physical error?

For example, that could cause a possible freezing of the image, or skipping the video?

[Capmaster]

DVD Info Pro. Check the tools section to the left.

[joelson]

Hello Capmaster,

Thanks for the suggestion, it's a very good and easy-to-use software.

So if I run the test, and it results in no errors, I can be sure that the media is ok, and won't freeze or any other problems?

[Capmaster]

Hello Capmaster,

Thanks for the suggestion, it's a very good and easy-to-use software.

So if I run the test, and it results in no errors, I can be sure that the media is ok, and won't freeze or any other problems?

Unfortunately, no. There are no guarantees in the DVD world. Compatibility is also an issue and you can have a DVD that you burned that shows no errors, but it won't play in your set-top player. Other times you could have errors on cheap media, but you have a forgiving player that is compatible with the media and it plays fine.

Trial and error is the only way to feel confident, and even the smartest sage experts here would never make a foolish statement like "I guarantee that DVD will play in your player". In fact, the longer you're in this game, the more variables you see.

DVD Info Pro will be able to give you some data when comparing media brands. One note - test it using burns that are as close to a full DVD as possible, since many cheaper brands that have "dye spread" issues have many errors out near the edge.

[joelson]

Capmaster, when you said "One note - test it using burns that are as close to a full DVD as possible, since many cheaper brands that have "dye spread" issues have many errors out near the edge.", you meant they print over the DATA area???

[Capmaster]

Capmaster, when you said "One note - test it using burns that are as close to a full DVD as possible, since many cheaper brands that have "dye spread" issues have many errors out near the edge.", you meant they print over the DATA area???

No, the recording material is dye. When they make the disc they put dye on it and spread it. Sometimes the dye doesn't reach the outer edge. A reputable media manufacturer will normally reject those, and probably sell them to someone who will market the rejects as a cheap brand. Others have consistently bad dye spreading, like Princo 1x. This might not matter if your writes are always under 4GB, but when you get near the end of the DVD, out near the edge, the dye issue could mean a bad disc.

Read Lordsmurf's great page on media:

www.nomorecoasters.com

He explains the brands, cross-brands. dye, etc. It'll help you understand it more than I could do here.