Definitive DL Bitsetting post!

[dilby]

Hello all. I have read a lot about the following topic, but have yet to find a definitive answer, and I am sick of going out and spending my cash on different media.

What is more more compatible and recommend for a dual layer dvd project?
DVD-R DL or DVD+R DL with DVD-ROM bitsetting?

I hope this helps a lot of people.

Regards,

Dilby.

[oldandinthe way]

I didn't know there was controversy here. There certainly is about single layer media, but I thought it was generally accepted that DVD-R DL had not reached a level of maturity to be a reliable option.

[mats.hogberg]

AFAIK, only Verbatim DVD+R DL is an option.

/Mats

[dilby]

Oh right, well thanks for that. I had been told otherwise! Looks like another trip to the store for me!!!

[guns1inger]

The overwhelming majority here use Verbatim +R DL with good success rates, and report issues with every other brand. Only a very small minority report success with anything else, and it is not consistent success either.

[Wile_E]

I have always wanted the ability to bitset my DL to single layer! j/k.

But in all seriousness, why is DL still so expensive and hard to find in stores? DL has been around now for a few years, with no price drops. SL has dropped in price a lot. Is it that hard to manufacture DL recordable discs?

[guns1inger]

A cynical person might suggest the MPAA are leaning on manufacturers to keep prices high to discourage high-quality (read 1:1) copies of DVDs.

[t0nee1]

I usually backup only worthwhile 2 hr+ flicks to DL, so price is ok..And I purchase my verbatim DVD+R DL media via online PC stores... I've yet to burn a Verb DL coaster using IMGBurn...
For my SL backups I use Verbs also nothing else! but I use DVDRB
as that is my favorite backup prog...
Just my 21/2 cents worth.....

[BoilerUp]

But in all seriousness, why is DL still so expensive and hard to find in stores? DL has been around now for a few years, with no price drops. SL has dropped in price a lot. Is it that hard to manufacture DL recordable discs?

Office Max has had Verbatim DVD+R DL 10-packs regularly priced for $15 starting a few weeks ago. I've bought several there since and am fairly pleased, seeing as that used to be a sale price that only came around once in a blue moon. And yes, I realize that's way more than twice the price of single layer.

And to answer your question, I think I remember reading here that it IS harder to manufacture double layer discs. A lot of them have to get thrown out if they're not made properly. And obviously, they're newer technology.

[dilby]

I live in the UK and it seems to be reasonably hard to find DL media that isn't RW, at least here. I wasn't aware that RW doesn't play too well in players, and had reports back the DVD's I were making weren't working too well. I found out though that it wasn't only simply freezing and having glitches etc, but button links were different, default buttons had altered etc. Has anyone heard of this happening before?

[bbanderic]

Verbatim DVD+R DL discs are the ONLY reliable DL media available, without question. Most, probably all, newer burners automatically bitset DVD+R DL discs to DVD-ROM as well they should be.

There's more to burning a reliable DVD+R DL disc than just the brand/format of the disc itself. The software used to rip/burn/set layer breaks is important too. Check the forums here for more info on that. ImgBurn should definitely be used for the burning though.

Even if you have the proper media, rip/burn/set layer breaks properly you still may have issues with playback. Some players are finicky with DL discs, be sure you have a player that can handle them.

[dilby]

Thanks bbanderic. I am aware that there will always be a risk of it not working on some players, no matter how compatible I try to make it. I was just curious what people do when sending DL projects to clients. Perhaps I am best using sometihng like DVD Shrink to also supply a single layer project, in case their players are just not liking DL discs, and explain it will just be lower quality? Obviously I still have the issue of the disc doing strange things, please see my previous post. Any help on this problem would be appreciated.

[csteveberg]

Thank you so much for providing this.

[dilby]

You were a bit unsure of it all too, were you csteveberg?