newbie looking to learn seeking converting and burning advice

[jim11757]

hello all i just recently starting downloading movies and burning them to dvd so far i have learned a lot to the point were i have learned how to download a movie enhance it using enhancemovie 2.2 convert it using tmpeg divx authoring, and burn it using imgburn i started doing this using dvdsanta and shortly found out that dvdsanta sucks for converting i had problems with just about every disc i burned i switched to tmpeg and most of all the issues i had went away aside from skipping problems i then switched to imgburn to burn the disc's after reading up on these topics and then i went out and bought a brand new samsung 22x dvd burner burning at 22x (max) 90% of the movies had no problems they were fine i burned approximately 200 disc's within a week and burned out the burner it doesnt work anymore i cant finalize any track i burn so i switched back in my trusty old lite-on sohc and updated the firmware no more finalising problems i am now having skipping issues again i read up on this and found that burning at a slower speed seems to help this so i am trying that now i am also using cruddy disc's this know but they are $10 per 50 disc's and i didnt have a problem with them until now they are windata 4.7g 16x dvd+r i was told the dvd+r have a longer lifespan than the dvd-r i was just reading a post on here that said if u switch programs to the ones i am using and lower ur burning speed and use verbatim and still have skips or freezing then to try using the dvd-r my questions i have here just to make sure i am on the correct learning path here is

1) whats the difference between dvd+r and dvd-r
2) if i had no issues before using crappy disc's why would i have them now?
3) is 200 disc's a short life span for a 1 week old burner?
4) after reading everything i wrote above seeing the programs i am using and everything i was wondering if someone could give me a quick rundown from avi to dvd step by step so that i can make sure i am not missing anything
5) also both programs are at default settings are there any settings that should be changed and if so why and what do they mean? the only settings i changed were in tmpeg i use progressive and display 16:9

i am at the point in my learning to start learning what all the settings are and what they mean and then after that i will move on to understanding more about enhancing videos and using filters and everything i understand virtual dub is the best i use enhance movie becuase it can do a pretty descent job with the automatic filters alone but hopefully once i get these questions answered hopefully i will be able to help other people with other minor problems and i can continue to learn more about this very interesting "hobbie"

thank you in advance for all your help

[jagabo]

Get a Divx certified DVD player and you won't have to convert most Divx/Xvid AVI files (Philips DVP 5990 ~US$60). Get a Media Player like the WD TV HD Media Player (US$120 + external hard drive) or the Popcorn Hour and won't have to convert MP4, MOV, MKV files either.

1) whats the difference between dvd+r and dvd-r

Two different industry groups fighting for your dollars. DVD-R had a slight compatability advantage several years ago. They're about even now.

2) if i had no issues before using crappy disc's why would i have them now?

You're filling them more? (Problems are more likely near the outer edge.) You're using a different burner or player? You started using sticky paper labels on your DVDs?

3) is 200 disc's a short life span for a 1 week old burner?

Yes. Make sure you case is well ventilated.

[jim11757]

the converter i am using is very good but it purposely uses as much of the disc as possible i noticed and yes i have been using sticky labels the whole time

and case has 3 fans with no side cover and i removed top drive above burner to allow the top of burner to vent heat instead of holding it in this i did after i came out of the bathroom to realize my entire basement smelled like melted wires this is also when i burned out the drive and changed it

thank u for ur advise i did actually notice my burner doesnt burn to dvd-r i have not tried with the updated firmware though

[jagabo]

If you have a disc with a label that isn't playing properly -- try removing the label. This has restored every disc I had with similar problems.

[jim11757]

i just burned it at 6x and the movie played fine no skips but like i mentioned earlier not every disc skips

[redwudz]

The main problem with cheap DVD media is that it's inconstant in quality. If you don't mind lots of coasters, go ahead with it. But expect some of the ones that do work now to fail in the future. I use Taiyo Yuden or Verbatim discs and it's been a couple of years since I had a burn failure.

If you burned several DVDs in rapid secession, that can sometimes overheat a burner and cause early failure.

As mentioned, paper labels are almost always problematic. You would be much better off just using a Sharpie pen.

You should be able to adjust your encoding program to reduce the size of your files so you avoid the outer edge of your discs. 200MB is usually enough, or about 4.2GB total.

[jman98]

1) whats the difference between dvd+r and dvd-r

Two different industry groups fighting for your dollars. DVD-R had a slight compatability advantage several years ago. They're about even now.

Additionally DVD+R discs have slightly higher capacity than DVD-R. If you are just about filling up your discs, DVD+R might be more useful to you for that reason. You can find various papers on the web that describe why DVD+R is supposedly a vastly superior format, but in reality newer DVD players play both +R and -R equally well and you're not likely to notice any difference. Some older DVD players wouldn't play DVD+R unless the burner used bit setting to make them look like DVD-ROM discs, but I'm not aware of any current models that actually still require this. Not all DVD burners were able to do this bit setting when burning.

For what it's worth while I consider DVD-R and DVD+R to be interchangeable, I consider DVD+RW and DVD+R DL to be so superior to their -R equivalents that I don't recommend using DVD-RW or DVD-R DL. I especially don't recommend DVD-R DL unless you have no choice such as your DVD player simply will not play DVD+R DL but it will play DVD-R DL. ImgBurn is the only program I would trust for DVD-R DL burning. I found that older DVD players had problems with the discs and they were so expensive that I had no interest in buying in any more after I burned the 3 I bought for testing. However if you want to use DVD-RW and/or DVD-R DL, I would suggest buying only Verbatim as Taiyo Yuden does not make these discs for sale in North America.

[jim11757]

i currently use a dvd+r from windata i am burning 15 different movies 5 times each back to back i know thats what burned out the drive my old drive wont burn to dvd-r for some reason and i am using tmpgenc to convert but as far as the labels go i found it more cost effective to use the stick on labels because i was using to much ink printing case covers instead of the labels i was just debating on switching to a printable dvd+r and buying a printer that prints to the disc i figure i will spend a little more on the disc but make up for it on not buying labels i am making an average of 200 dvd's a week so cost is important but any feedback on the printable discs and any precautions i can take while printing them not to scuff them aside from the obvious? (also in light of people being so helpful if you would like a near perfect copy of the international i just uploaded one to a very trust worthy site i use let me know if u want the link great movie everyone should see it

also do iso files go bad and if so any determination on how long they last on the comp?

[jim11757]

oh and red u are definately correct i have a fast array of coasters i was gonna start a collection

[VegasBud]

DVD+R discs have slightly higher capacity than DVD-R

For clarification, that's true with dual layer media, where +R does have ~4 MB more capacity than -R, but with single layer media, the opposite is true, where -R has ~6.6 MB more capacity than +R.

[VegasBud]

jim11757,

It's not surprising that you would have problems with playback when burning inferior quality 16x media at 22x and then applying labels. It's more surprising that any of the disks work. It may seem like "90% of the movies had no problems", but it's an illusion. Any disk burned that way can only be borderline (at best). If you want consistently reliable burns, use good media like Verbatim or Taiyo Yuden, don't overspeed the burns, and don't use labels.

do iso files go bad

No, but the storage media that hold them can go bad or fail. If it's important, store copies in more than one place (hard drive + optical media, for example).

[jagabo]

I use Verbatim DVD+R and DVD-R inkjet printables and a Canon Pixma ip4000 printer (hacked USA version) with good results.

[fritzi93]

Unless I'm much mistaken, aren't Windata discs bottom of the barrel crap?

You should stick one in a burner and fire up IMGburn, it will list the Manufacturer I.D. in the right-hand info pane. You want the M.I.D., as brand means nothing, the exceptions being Verbatim and Taiyo-Yuden. Compare the M.I.D to the lists here:

http://www.digitalfaq.com/media/dvdmedia.htm

Yeah, sticky labels are a thoroughly bad idea. Personally, I use Lightscribe Verbatims, just so I don't have to decipher my own writing.

So pardon me for asking, but why all the concern about "enhancing"? To me, that suggests the source material is poor. Mind you, sometimes the judicious use of a filter or two is justifiable to correct a specific problem, but...

[EDIT] Do they still make burners that only recognize either -R or +R? I thought all burners these days do both?

[jim11757]

the concern with the enhancement is most of the movies are cams some need a lot of work others are very good but a little clearer picture slight sharpen a little color balance can make all the difference in the world plus i found a copy of transformers in 3d that movie was never made in 3d so i found out you can take a regular and play with it in virtualdub and turn it into a 3d movie and honestly i was absolutely fascinated with the fact that you could do that so enhancement is definately a good place to start expecially since i have reason to enhance the films also i got a bunch of stuff from my kids that i recorded on my cell phone and once they hit the computer they look like the bottom of a garbage dump also i wanted do some of my old favorites on hd and blue ray to sum it up i found something very interesting and now i want to know everything about it

[Nelson37]

For crying out loud, PUNCTUATION, man, PARAGRAPHS, something.

I told you NO Paper Labels, EVERRRRRRRR! Wire coat hangers are, however, perfectly acceptable.

Burn slower, not faster.

Get the best quality media you can find.

Putting paper labels on crap disks burned at higher than rated speed, I agree with the previous poster who expressed surprise that any of them worked at all. I would bet money the failure rate for existing disks will increase over time, possibly reaching 100% within 6 months. Not good for potential repeat customers.

Burning smells emanating from your computer are something to be extremely concerned about. Are you overclocked, by any chance?

A better quality source will eliminate the need for filtering and yield - (gasp!) - better quality. IMO time expended on filtering is much better spent finding a better quality source.

You cannot make a silk purse out of a sow's ear. If you think you have, you need to re-examine a real silk purse.

[jagabo]

So you are burning 200 discs a week of stuff like "cams" of The International? And selling these from the back of your van maybe?

[redwudz]

jim11757, offering, discussing or asking about help with Warez will get you banned on our site. Please read our rules before posting.

Moderator redwudz