Compatibility question - is it the player or the disc?

[Gilliland]

A few weeks ago, I bought a new DVD+R burner. I've burned a few DVDs, mostly just data backups, but I also burned one of a TV show that I wanted to keep.

It wouldn't play on my old Sony player, though, so I went out tonight and bought a new JVC unit. (The old Sony was beginning to fail anyway.)

Well, the new unit recognizes the disc just fine and shows me the menu and plays the selection, but the resulting video is slow and the audio is choppy. Something is way out of whack.

But when I play store-bought DVDs on the new player, they play fine.

When I play my DVD+R on a computer with DVD drive and software, it plays correctly. In fact, I've tried it on two different computers with complete success. In addition, I tried it on a small portable DVD player at Best Buy, and it worked fine there, too. So it seems as if it is created correctly.

So which is my problem, the disc or the player? Should I take this JVC 900 player back, or did I do something wrong when I created the disc?

Any thoughts? Thanks in advance.

[bugster]

Compatibility question - is it the player or the disc?

YES.

I know that doesnt help you but thats the answer. You could try different brand media to see if you can find one that works better, but when buying a DVD player for DVD+/-R(W) playback, check it out either in store or at least on the DVD players list on this site.

[Redeye07]

Gilliland, I'm having the same problems.

Right now I'm testing different media to find which one plays on my new Philips 724 player.

Imation CR-R plays awful, Memorex CR-RW plays better but not good. Tonight I'm testing TDK.

It seems like the better the quality of the picture is (XVCD or SVCD), the worse it plays on the Philips. My two computers play everything fine.

It's making me crazy.

[nutt318]

What authoring program are you using, I had somewhat of the same problem except the movies I made would do the same in my computer dvd player. I ended up switching the authoring software and some other stuff. Now it works fine.

I would say try DVDit PE, it works for me perfectly everytime now. Knock on wood. :P

I thought it was my media, but the memorex ended up working just fine.

Hope this helps you.

[Redeye07]

I've been using Ulead Movie Factory for my recent tests.

In the past I've used Nero without menus and VCDeasy without menus and had no luck on my Toshiba SD2800 player.

I'll try using Nero and VCDeasy with my new player.

So many variables!!! I'll be glad when this technology gets more standardized and compatible.

[SingSing]

It could be the format. DVD-R is closer to DVD.
DVD+R is more tageted for PC, that why it does not have problem in your test.

[epo]

There have been speculations about future problems what Blu-Ray may have with DVD+R/W. You may have same issue.
If player reads every disc with same power, it either reads recordables or not. If it calibrates reading power for disc type (possible with Hi-End), it very likely has problems with "+" and not at all with "-". Why? It just has no way to distinquish "+" from pressed DVD as they are marked same "for better compatibility".

[Gilliland]

Yikes, so many possibilities. I've already packed up the JVC to take it back, and I was going to do some testing on the Philips 724 (in the store, of course), so it's disappointing to hear that it may be troublesome, too. I've read a lot of good reports about that one.

Ironically, I DID test this unit in the store. But, of course, it wasn't actually hooked up to a TV, so all I could do was to make sure that it recognized the disc and began playback. It does all that fine - you can't tell that you have a problem until you actually see and hear the playback.

My test DVD was authored and burned using the NeoDVD Standard software that came with the drive (a Ricoh RW5125).

Anyway, thanks for all the help.

[epo]

Blind test is OK for "-" only. Nearly every player recognizes "+". Nearly every player, that recognizes "-", plays it.

[SingSing]

DVD-r was designed as DVD recorderable.
Then I think format war again in Japan by Sony and foes.
The only + point on DVD+R, is it takes less time to close a session,
thus more pratical for PC backup.

Sony has kisses DVD-R ass since their last DVD writer.

[Redeye07]

Thank you, nutt318!!!

It was NOT the media, it was the burn! Ulead DVD Movie Factory failed every test and Nero scored 100!

I can now use cheap media (as long as I author and burn with Nero).

I ended up with a GREAT copy of my VHS tape -- just what I wanted.

I am happy now!!!! :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P