Dual Layer Burning Software

[chris18]

Just bought a Pioneer DVD-RW DVR-108 Dual Layer Burner.

Can someone tell me which burning software I need to burn dual layer discs? If it's FREEWARE then all the better.

I think I read somewhere that DVDDecrypter would write a dual layer ISO image as a 1:1 copy on a dual layer disc but can't find the link again so not sure if this is correct.

Also, does anyone know if there are any plans to produce a dual layer DVD-R/-RW disc in the near future?

Thanks

[daniel9801]

nero 6 ultra edition is great. This will do what you want. Alcohol120% is another but burns images and copies full discs rather than individual files.

Go with nero

The dvd-9 (dual layered discs) writables are out already but cost is ridiculous...they will be far more common this year in normal retail shops for sure.

Of course 50 GB blu-ray discs are on their way in the future...too much going on ey?

[Edmund Blackadder]

Just bought a Pioneer DVD-RW DVR-108 Dual Layer Burner.

Can someone tell me which burning software I need to burn dual layer discs? If it's FREEWARE then all the better.

Chris, Sonic RecordNow 7.2 is absolutely the best for DL burning. This rather lengthy thread explains why:
https://www.videohelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=225001

Unfortunately it's not a freeware and a basic version will cost you about $30 (hey, that's only as much as 3 blank DL discs ). But trust me it's worth it. And it works great with DVR-108. DVD Decrypter is good for most dual layer ISO 1:1 copies, but not all. Superbit titles are among those that are troubled. Nero 6 is still not good and not as compatible, especially in the file mode. Direct DL image copies made in Nero 6 are often stutter on some players (and I'm not even talking about layer break issues in DVD-Video mode). RecordNow 7.2 would be the wisest investment for your burner, in my opinion.

Also, does anyone know if there are any plans to produce a dual layer DVD-R/-RW disc in the near future?
Thanks

No DL RW for either + or - is coming in the near future if at all (technically not quite achievable), but DVD-R DL is soon to be released. Pioneer DVR-109 will record to both DVD+R DL and DVD-R DL.

Cheers.

[chris18]

Thanks for the replies.

Edmund Blackadder

Will take a look at the link you gave and try and fllow the thread.

You mention Sonic RecordNow 7.2, which retails at £16.73(GBP).
What, if any, are the benefits of opting for either the deluxe or deluxe suite?

Thanks for the info on dual layer discs. You say the Pioneer DVR-109 will write to both DVD+R DL and DVD-R DL. I thought the DVR-108 did that, or was that a typo?

Any suggestions as to the best dual layer discs to use with the DVR-108?

[Edmund Blackadder]

You mention Sonic RecordNow 7.2, which retails at £16.73(GBP).
What, if any, are the benefits of opting for either the deluxe or deluxe suite?

Here you can see the RecordNow versions feature comparison:
http://www.sonic.com/products/recordnow/deluxesuite/whatsnew.asp

I myself got a Deluxe Suite, but for DL video and image burning, the simplest version will still do the job.

You say the Pioneer DVR-109 will write to both DVD+R DL and DVD-R DL. I thought the DVR-108 did that, or was that a typo?

No, as of now DVR-108 only writes to DVD+R DL, because there's still no DVD-R DL visible anywhere and it's not even clear if the specifications are finalized by DVD Forum. You might be able to add DVD-R DL support with a firmware update, but from the past it looks like Pioneer doesn't like to add new features to their older drives. And while Sony/LiteOn are not often being liked on these forums, they constantly release firmware updates with writing improvements and new functionalities whenever possible. For example, my Sony DRU-710A originally came with 2.4x DVD+R DL and 8x DVD-R support. But with the latest firmware upgrade it now supports DVD+R DL at 4x and DVD-R at 12x. And the writing quality on DVD+R DL has improved quite a bit. So I think we will sooner see Sony/LiteOn releasing DVD-R DL support to their old DVD+R DL only drives than Pioneer. I hope I'm wrong though.

Any suggestions as to the best dual layer discs to use with the DVR-108?

As of now the best discs are Verbatim DVD+R DL. With DVD-ROM bitsetting (which DVR-108 does by default on DVD+R DL) their compatibility is currently unbeatable. Ritek's are not very good yet with problems playing second layer on many players.

[ricky1756]

dvddecrypter does it for free

[Edmund Blackadder]

dvddecrypter does it for free

Yes, but only for ISO read/write and not for VIDEO_TS burning. For certain titles (such as the infamous Superbit DVD's), VIDEO_TS burning in video mode with RecordNow 7.2 is the only way to do it if you want your DL disc to be as compatible as possible. And it's also the best idea to burn that way all the other DL discs, whether they are your own creation or backups of your DVD collection. Please read the earlier mentioned thread to get some pretty disgusting details about DL burning.

On a side note, yes, perhaps DVD Decrypter is free and Nero comes with most of DVD drives, but with the prices on DL media being so high I would rather spend some money on a tried and true burning application, such as RN 7.2 and get it right the first time, instead of getting expensive coasters or questionable quality burns from other programs that are known to have at least some issues with DL discs on one level or another. (That was a long sentence, wasn't it?)

I've had my share of incompatible DVD burns with Nero and DVD Decrypter. At $10 a DL disc I don't feel like doing that again. During my last trip to BestBuy, every DVD player recognized and played a Verbatim DVD+R DL disc that I burned in RN 7.2 VIDEO_TS "data" mode on Sony DRU-710A with DVD-ROM bitsetting. And that included a successful layer transition. There was only one Sony that was poorly playing the second layer (I think it was DVP-NS575, which is known not to be compatible with DVD+R DL) out of every single player I've tried. Now, that's a successful burn. Wasn't so with Nero and DVD Decrypter copies. Try it and see for yourself.

P.S.: I guess those people and reviewers who get a 38% success rate on various DVD players with their DL burns are burning in either Nero or DVD Decryper . To be fair, the book type bitsetting set to DVD-ROM is also important. But to make a long story short, I get very close to 100% compatibility with RN 7.2 burned DL discs on a wide variety of DVD players using Verbatim media.

[chris18]

Hi again

Read that provided the disc is OPT then DVDDcrypter should work fine (PPT seems a problem) even with Superbit. Also read that recordble DL are slightly smaller than commercial ones and that this can cause a problem if the amount of data is slightly more than the recordable discs can take on a layer.

Confess OPT & PPT, Superbit, as well as layer break flags, are all new to me so I will need to investigate more to try and avoid making expensive coasters.

Will also consider investing in RN 7.2.

For now I'm going to do some more reading then give thought to buying a few DL discs just to try. At about £4.50(GBP) I can't afford too may failures and currently Verbatim, as you comment, seem to get the best reviews.