How do we no whats bad media?

[kirpen]

I just wonder if there has been anything done to prove which media is good and which is bad. I can see some problems with dvd media because its so new but I still see people posting about how BAD some cd-rs are. I am very new to dvd buring as my pc came with +r I had to wait for media prices to come down before I could sart burning.

I just wonder if there has been anything done to prove which media is good and which is bad. I can see some problems with dvd media because its so new but I still see people posting about how BAD some cd-rs are. I am very new to dvd buring as my pc came with +r I had to wait for media prices to come down before I could sart burning.

It is a "VERY" variable situation, this "Bad Media" issue. If you do a search for it you will find tons (well, maybe not THAT much) but you will find alot of posts about it, from DVD-R's, DVD+R's to CD-R's, CD-RW's. It's all out there. With the different types of drives it gets even worse.

Your best bet is to find someone who has the same hardware you do (mainly the dvd/cd drive, whichever you have) and ask that person(s) what media they have had luck with. I'm just begining my journey into that realm now with my recent purchase of a Pioneer 105. I have found that the Blue/White label Optodiscs work great, although they only burn at 1x, I also have used Memorex dvd-rw with "Slight" problems with my Apex 1100W.

Right now I'm trying to find the best deal on some bulk media so I'm buying the smallest packs to test out. I have a friend I can give them to if they don't work so I won't be out any $$.

Just ask around, PM some people that have the same hardware and you will find the right deal on the best media for your needs!

Goodluck!

[emats]

Megadeus324,

I have the 105 too and used to use only TDK, which of course works great but costs a lot. After trying many brands of bad/cheap media, I've settled in on the Samsung BeAll 2x -R in the spindle version from www.meritline.com. They work as great as the TDKs for me and cost about $1.35 each. They play on every standalone I've tried including my old Panasonic which is very finicky. BTW, I burn with RecordNow Max.

[Vizcaya]

I used to say Verbatim was a safe bet, but not lately. I would say use Apple or TDK, I heard good things about Beall DVD-R's.

I look at it, that if you spend that much time Capturing, editing ,authoring, and then burning, it should be on Media that will be worth the work.

Viz

So far this is what works with my 105 AND my Apex 1100w:

Optodisc - Blue/White label. 1x
Ritek - Gold Top/Purple Bottom. (Just played in my Apex. Never burnt one as this was a "Christening" gift.
Memorex 1x DVD-RW - Able to burn/Able to play in the Apex WITH some playing around. It will say "Disk Loading" for about minute THEN start to play. Don't know why.

Ones that DON'T work in my Apex - Optodisc with Gold Top/Light Purple bottom. Again, another gift so I did not burn it. Would not play at all in my Apex. Disk Loading......No Disk message.

I'm going to be ordering some Ritek's from Meritline. I chose the 4x version with, I believe, the Gold tops/Purple bottoms.

I'm also going with the Ritek 4x DVD-RW. I don't mind the others BUT I don't have 2+hours to mess around with encoding/burning/testing/burning. The Optos mentioned, with the Blue and White label, an hour to burn. My -RW, an hour to burn. I've even upgraded the firmware to 1.33 and still an hour to burn.

I hope this helps. If I can find this post again, once I get and test my Riteks I'll post the results.

[LanEvo7]

I have an a05 and use DupEZ media from Rima. Played in every player i used. I've tried ps2, apex and ge.

[DeadLamb]

Are we talking about over all compatibility or lack there of as "bad" or just junky media that tends to mis-burn or error out near the end of the disk at the 4+ gig mark and so on?

compatibility is going to be an issue of trial and error being there are too many different stand alone players to test and say for sure BrandX works in all Sony player or whatever..

as for just junky media, can't one sort of just go by price? I mean is there any really lame media that also happens to be $$$ too? I don't think media X is going to be x2 better then media Y just due to price but at the least it's not going to be junk I would think..

for the data I'm backing up the cost of $1.50 a disk off the Target deal for TDK was about as cheap as I would want to go right now. CD media is around .20 cents a disk for good stuff right? DVD holds 7-8 of those so just under $2 for that is not really that much $$$.. I know, I know, we all want DVDr to be at cd-r cost but I think for now we just have to wait..

[kirpen]

For me its crappy discs. I mean if brand names wont even stick to one company to produce their dvds isnt it just a crap shoot. Were the buying public never meant to get all the dvd info that lets us know name brand A uses the same exact disc as no name does but feels fit to charge 3x as much.