To Verify or Not To Verify

[rixware]

I make DVDs in batches of 100 or more, and feel like it's a good idea to verify each and every disc (by checking the VERIFY WRITTEN DATA box in Nero).

But it's rare that I get a verification failure, so I'm starting to think that verification may be unneccesary.

I'm wondering what others actually do.

[888888]

Nice poll. Verification is how I found out that my Optodisc gold top DVD-Rs only burn well at 2x. They would never verify at 4x. My good Maxells always verify at 4x. Also, when I needed to enable DMA, my discs would fail to verify, which alerted me to the problem (among other symptoms).

[aero]

Nice poll. Verification is how I found out that my Optodisc gold top DVD-Rs only burn well at 2x. They would never verify at 4x. My good Maxells always verify at 4x. Also, when I needed to enable DMA, my discs would fail to verify, which alerted me to the problem (among other symptoms).

I agree it has been more helpful in determining which media work best with my burner.

[DeleriumMDK]

I only verify data DVD-R's. If Its a movie, theres no need to do it as I can see how the disc is on playback. For me, I can have some slight errors on a movie and minor playback issues without being angry but for real Data I will move back and forth? Has to be perfect.

[Josef K]

I agree with DeleriumMDK, I require data to be bit for bit perfect. I tend not to verify DVD-Videos but always data CDs/DVDs and always verify using CDCheck, which I've used for years and grown to trust.

I suppose it comes down to whether or not you're comfortable with the extra wear of your drive spinning up as fast as the verification process makes it.

Perhaps the title should have been:

How often do you verify the data written to your DVD-Videos?

[rixware]

I changed the question to clarify. Data discs are a different animal altogether. Thanks!

Rick
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[pyrohydra]

I verify most everything, mostly because I'm over-paranoid about bad burns and such. If it's something that's REALLY important to me, I'll do a surface scan on it before it goes in my binder.

[naturalzinc]

I always verify...but i have always wondered why my machine takes about 15 min to burn (@ 4x -Pacific Digital(Optorite OEM)), but then about another 30 min to verify, for a total time of about 45min. is this just me, or is this everyone?

it seems to me if it can burn it that fast it should be able to read it that fast.

and i have done nero CD-DVD speed tests and the burn quality is fine.

my machine is about 5 yrs old so i guess that could be part of it too (i'll post my specs in my profile)

[rixware]

naturalzinc, that's another reason for my question. I have 2 HP 420i drives burning simultaneously. On a recent 2GB burn, writing 2 discs took about 5 minutes, but verifying them took about 15 minutes. If I can cut the verification step, I can burn a whole lot more discs in the same amount of time...

Rick
+

[Josef K]

If I can cut the verification step, I can burn a whole lot more discs in the same amount of time...

Let me ask you this:

If you didn't verify and you find out later that your disc (potentially containing your most treasured memory) was 'bad', would you cry?

[rixware]

Yep, that's the issue in a nutshell, Josef.

But if a disc were to go bad, I wouldn't cry right away. First I would take the angry phone calls, then I'd write a refund check, then I would cry.

Quality assurance is tricky. Testing every single disc is becoming impratical (given the quantities I need to produce). So I'm probably going to end up testing a representative sampling of each batch (a larger sample with a new type or brand of media) and skip it for the rest.

In my current configuration (two HP 420i burners, Ritek G04 printable media), I've experienced a 0% reject rate after several hundred discs. In other words, not a single disc has yet failed the verification test. That's what makes me want to speed things up a bit.

It's about balancing the risk against the need for speed...

Rick
+

[mob]

i never verify only because it takes twice as long and i'm all about the speed.

i don't know what the program actually does when it verifies the burned disc though...

[Josef K]

i don't know what the program actually does when it verifies the burned disc though...

Compares the original against the copy.

[naturalzinc]

yes, but why does it take TWICE as long? (ie 45 min vs 15 min)