RiData DVD-R DL - Don't play in any DVD player!?!

[Mickey79]

Ave,

I just got a pack of RiData DVD-R DL discs, and last night i burned a movie on it. It plays fine on my computer... but the disc is not recognized/plays in any of my DVD players. I have a cheap KOSS DVD Player which pretty much plays every junk you throw in it... I have a Panasonic SC-HT670 Home Theater DVD Player... and a Cyberhome DVD Player. The disc wouldn't get read & recognized in any of these players.

How can i burn a DVD9 Movie on a DL Disc and get it to play in my Player? Is there some other media i should be using?

Mickey

[OneSickPup]

You have two basic problems there:
1) RiData
2) DVD-R DL

Get some Verbatim DVD+R DL if you want the best shot at player compatibility.

[Mickey79]

Ave,

The reason i picked up RiData DVD-R DL was twofold.

A. The Panasonic SCHT670 & KOSS, both don't play DVD+R Media... thus i'm assuming they won't play DVD+R DL Media either, which is why i had to go with DVD-R DL.
B. The only DVD-R DL available (at least on newegg) is RiData.

Mickey

[bobkart]

You can get Verbatim DVD-R DL discs, but they are expensive, $2/disc last time I checked.

I too tried Ritek RiData DVD-R DL's and could not get one to burn without errors at the layer break during PIO testing afterwards, despite using every DVD-R DL-capable burner I had (2 PC drives and a standalone DVD Recorder). It was a $50 lesson in how not to save money.

[mysticmel]

The Ritek DL-R's are a really tricky to burn .... after about ten coasters I finally managed to get good playback on almost a 7gig DL-R! Here's my trick and a list if tabletop players that playback works perfect on........

1. Compile your dvd project with DVD Lab (I use my friend's verson and he has Pro version 2)

2. DO NOT set a layerbreak manually in Lab (it does it for you automatically - don't ask me how, but it does!)

3. Compile your project to video/audio_ts's

4. Burn with Nero (yes, I said Nero! I know I'm going to get screamed at by at least one anti-NEROist out there, but if the truth be told it's not as bad as some say it is) ... either burn the video/audio_ts as usual, or first create an image ..... both worked fantastic for me! Image Burn also did the job for me in this case too.

5. If prompted to set a layer break before burning, select 'ignore'.

Players that had no problem whatsoever with flawless playback are: DMTECH DMP-310 (EXTREMELY CHEAP PLAYER!), Apex 3201 (ANOTHER CHEAPIE, BUT VERY HARD TO FIND THESE DAYS, ITS AROUND 5YRS OLD OR SO), Panasonic DMR-ES15, JVC-TH-C50 (5 DISC Suround Sound)

Oh and I almost forgot to mention the burner that I find will burn anything perfect > Pioneer DVR-R111D.

Good Luck.

Kay

[Mickey79]

Ave,

Well, interestingly, i didn't have any Burning problems at all. The burn went smooth, timely and without any hitch. And like i said, the DVD-R DL disc plays the movie fine in the Intervideo Media Player when i pop it in my computer.... so the burn is not an issue at all, problem is that it's not playing on standalone players.

But seeing all these posts, i'm beginning to realize that 'RiData' might be the problem.

@ mysticmel, i have the Pioneer DVR-111D, and your'e right, i haven't had one coaster or burn issues since i started using it. In fact, i've never really had problems with Nero either, despite what some people might say.

@ bobkart, i think i might buy a Verbatim DVD-R DL just to try it out. They are definately expensive... but important question for you, have you played a Verbatim DVD-R DL disc on a standalone dvd player? What brand of player?

One more thing, i have been thinking about getting a new Home Theater (5 Disc) to replace my Panasonic SC-HT670. I have looked at the JVC-TH-C50, but i wanted to ask, can anyone recommend a player which has a strong media compatibility? (DVD+R, DVD-R DL etc.)

Thanks.

[MysticE]

Ave,

The reason i picked up RiData DVD-R DL was twofold.

A. The Panasonic SCHT670 & KOSS, both don't play DVD+R Media... thus i'm assuming they won't play DVD+R DL Media either, which is why i had to go with DVD-R DL.
B. The only DVD-R DL available (at least on newegg) is RiData.

Mickey

If your burner supports bitsetting (booktype to DVD-ROM) they may work fine.

As a side note a DVD player you may want to look into:

http://www.oppodigital.com/opdv971h.html

The reviews are almost too good to be true.

[Mickey79]

If your burner supports bitsetting (booktype to DVD-ROM) they may work fine.

Could you care to expand on this? I'm not very knowledgeable about this. Thanks.

That DVD player definately looks like a fine piece of equipment. Although, i'm looking for a Home Theater System with those capabilities.

Thanks.

[Noahtuck]

Just to elaborate more on changing the booktype, this only works on +R disc's.

Second, not all players will play double layer recordable media no matter what you do, they are not as compatible as single layer recordable disc's.

I also have a panasonic SA that will not play +R unless the booktype has been changed to DVD-ROM.

You need a burner that supports bitsetting and you need to either use a utility to change the booktype everytime you record a +R or you can reflash your drives firmware so it will automatically change the booktype everytime.
I have been coming across more and more burners that also come that way from the factory so there is no need to do anything.
I have flashed all my drives for the last couple of years at least to always change the booktype on +R's.

When a dvd disc is inserted into a player it is read as either a dvd-r, dvd+r or dvd-rom, ect. all pressed disc's you buy at the store are read as dvd-rom, you can change the booktype on a +R so it is then read by a standalone player as a dvd-rom making it more compatible.

[Mickey79]

Thanks. I actually did some looking around and came to understand what BitSetting/Book Type is all about. Very interesting. The problem i'm facing is, i have a Pioneer DVR-111D. Googling it up, it was pretty much everywhere that you Cannot Change BitSetting on a Pioneer DVR-111D.

You do seem to know in detail about this. Thus i need to ask you, do you know of any Firmware Update or Utility that can possibly allow me to change BitSetting/Book Type to DVD-ROM burning on Pioneer DVR-111D ?

Thanks.

Just to elaborate more on changing the booktype, this only works on +R disc's.

Second, not all players will play double layer recordable media no matter what you do, they are not as compatible as single layer recordable disc's.

I also have a panasonic SA that will not play +R unless the booktype has been changed to DVD-ROM.

You need a burner that supports bitsetting and you need to either use a utility to change the booktype everytime you record a +R or you can reflash your drives firmware so it will automatically change the booktype everytime.
I have been coming across more and more burners that also come that way from the factory so there is no need to do anything.
I have flashed all my drives for the last couple of years at least to always change the booktype on +R's.

When a dvd disc is inserted into a player it is read as either a dvd-r, dvd+r or dvd-rom, ect. all pressed disc's you buy at the store are read as dvd-rom, you can change the booktype on a +R so it is then read by a standalone player as a dvd-rom making it more compatible.

[MysticE]

Thanks. I actually did some looking around and came to understand what BitSetting/Book Type is all about. Very interesting. The problem i'm facing is, i have a Pioneer DVR-111D. Googling it up, it was pretty much everywhere that you Cannot Change BitSetting on a Pioneer DVR-111D.

I believe it does, from CDFeaks:

The Pioneer DVR-111

Book type (Bitsetting):

The Pioneer DVR-111 supports auto Bitsetting, and supports DVD+R DL media with DVD-ROM book type.

Here is how you could check if your discs are really written with DVD-ROM book type:



The complete review:

http://www.cdfreaks.com/reviews/Pioneer-DVR-111-DVD-Burner-Review

[budz]

You have two basic problems there:
1) RiData
2) DVD-R DL

Get some Verbatim DVD+R DL if you want the best shot at player compatibility.

As OneSickPup mentioned buy VERBATIM DUAL LAYER DVD+R media. The PIONEER 111D drive will automatically booktype to dvdrom with only DUAL LAYER DVD+R media. FYI if you wanted to booktype to dvdrom for SINGLE LAYER DVD+R media you'll have to crossflash your 111D drive to the 111L drive. This is done by using hacked firmware from "The Dangerous Brothers's website. All you need is to download the TDB PIONEER 111L 8.19 INT* firmware and the 111L 8.29 firmware. You'll void the official PIONEER warranty by using the hacked firmware. I got 2 of these drives crossflashed with TDB firmware. Flash the drive in safemode if you decide to crossflash.

[Mickey79]

Ave,

@ MysticE, Thanks! Although my burner is DVR-111D, i'm assuming it is pretty much the same thing. And that's interesting that it does support Auto BitSetting for DVD+R DL. That could be my problem. I used DVD-R DL instead of DVD+R DL. And thus it didn't change BookType to DVD-ROM. What's that Software you're using to check BookType? I'd like to check the BookType on that DVD-R DL Disc i recently burned. And then i'll get a DVD+R DL, burn it, and check it's BookType as well, as a test.

All you need is to download the TDB PIONEER 111L 8.19 INT* firmware and the 111L 8.29 firmware. You'll void the official PIONEER warranty by using the hacked firmware. I got 2 of these drives crossflashed with TDB firmware. Flash the drive in safemode if you decide to crossflash.

Very Interesting! I've used Firmware from TDB's site before to upgrade a Pioneer DVR107 in a Mac OS X, and i had great success. I'm willing to go for this as well. One question, you mentioned two different Firmware's. Do i need to Flash to TDB PIONEER 111L 8.19 INT* first, and then Flash to the 111L 8.29 ? I'll definately do it in Safe Mode.
Doing this, i'll still get the Auto BitSetting for DVD+R DL to BookType DVD-ROM, Correct?

Thanks.

[MysticE]

The review is for the 111D.

Here's some of their DL player compatibility comments:

All our DVD Standalone devices played the DVD+R DL media burned by the Pioneer DVR-111 without any problems.

Only one DVD Standalone device would play the Pioneer DVR-111 burned DVD-R DL media without any problems.

We would like to mention, that the compatibility issue with standalone DVD Players/Recorders and the DVD-R DL media format is caused by incompatibilities with the standalone devices used in this review, and not the Pioneer DVR-111 or media format used.

Summary: The Pioneer DVR-111 burned our Double Layer media with good quality. All our test disc's were well within specification.

[budz]

Very Interesting! I've used Firmware from TDB's site before to upgrade a Pioneer DVR107 in a Mac OS X, and i had great success. I'm willing to go for this as well. One question, you mentioned two different Firmware's. Do i need to Flash to TDB PIONEER 111L 8.19 INT* first, and then Flash to the 111L 8.29 ? I'll definately do it in Safe Mode.
Doing this, i'll still get the Auto BitSetting for DVD+R DL to BookType DVD-ROM, Correct?

Thanks.

DVD+R DUAL LAYER MEDIA is already booktyped automatically without having to crossflash your drive to the PIONEER 111L drive.

If you want to have booktype to dvd-rom for DVD+R SINGLE LAYER MEDIA then you'll have to crossflash the drive to the 111L drive.

Flash in safemode. Download TDB 111L 8.19 INT* & TDB 111L 8.29 firmwares.

You need to flash with TDB 111L 8.19 INT* first then reboot your computer. Boot into safemode again then flash with TDB 111L 8.29 INT then reboot your computer. Your drive will now be crossflashed to the PIONEER 111L which will now booktype to dvd-rom for single layer dvd+r media.