DVD duplicator help?

[wetcamelfood]

Hi, hope someone here can help:

I know many feel disc compatibility with set top players isn't an issue anymore but I just bought this combo deck for playing:

http://www.world-import.com/Samsung_DVD-V6800_DVD-VCR_Combo_with_NTSC_and_Pal_Recording.htm

...and it won't play discs I make using Roxio Creator 2009 (first I record a TV program in my 2004 Sony DVD/VCR combo, rip the VOB's to my hard drive, then edit/encode to mpeg then author on Memorex DVD+RW's for burning (this is the brand I've had the most success with in regards to my equipment so that's why I've stuck with them & used the +'s instead of the minuses and yes, my equipment is & supposed to be compatible with these as well), then running that through a QuieTrack 1:1 DVD duplicator (which I bought new this year) to a Memorex DVD+R (and yes, I need a region free player having many R2 discs and all).

First I should say the +RW “finalizes” (so to speak) fine w/RC'09, but when I make the copy with the duplicator, it only goes as high as about 96 or 97% then the time left counter stops counting down and just displays dashes where the number should be. I've left it for long periods of time but it still just stays that way. It does allow me to eject the copy I'm making (but I have to power it off and turn it back on to be able to eject the +RW) and funnily enough it WILL play the copy on my 2004 Sony deck fine but they won't play on the new Samsung I just bought. So I am using the 2004 Sony deck for playing now but it's bound to die soon so I really want to get this resolved before running it in to the ground as both a player & recorder then be left with nothing to play my discs on, and yes, I must keep my masters on the +R's, I can't afford to keep buying the +RW's to use as my masters.

I use a new HP tower/drive (I bought new this year, plenty of space etc.) so I'm more convinced it's an issue with the duplicator.

I do have to use SP or LP when burning a movie from Roxio though as if I use "Fit To Disc" the picture quality horizontally shakes on moving images, so this might be why it only gets to high 90's %?

Some DVD-/+R discs I’ve bought of movies at iOffer etc. do play OK on the Samsung but of course I have no way of knowing what equipment those that sold me the discs at iOffer used to make those discs but the point being the Samsung is capable of playing these kinds of discs.

Anyways, any help would be great as I don't know where else to try on this. Naturally those on the Roxio message boards say it’s not Roxio so I thought I’d ask here for unbiased opinions though it’s really a solution I’m most interested in hearing so hope to hear from some of you soon.

Thanks in advance for the replies.

[classfour]

I'd start with a different brand of media for recording. Memorex are known to have quality issues. It sound like your duplicator is getting to the edge of the disc - where most poor media burn issues present themselves.

As to work flow: I haven't used Roxio in years. If the disc is larger than 4.7 GB: I use DVD Shrink to reduce, and encode to an image file and burn with imgburn. If it requires a high percentage of reduction: I use DVD Rebuilder and encode to an image file - and burn with Imgburn.

Needless to say: I burn with Imgburn for as much as I can, it's a great program. I also tend to NOT burn at maximum, and tend to burn a 16X disc at 8X - I hate coasters!

You may want to check out LS's site: nomorecoasters.com

A read over there should help in understanding what is happening with the duplicator. I have a one-to-three target, and what you feed it is very important.

[jman98]

Memorex discs are and have always been terrible. While there are actually worse discs out there, they're still pretty bad. I can say that before I learned anything about media quality that Memorex discs were easily the worst discs I ever bought and tried to burn.

Roxio? I wouldn't use that if you gave it to me for free. However, I suspect that media quality is your issue here. We get posts all the time like yours that say something like "I use brand X discs and they NEVER have given me any problems" and then you post about a problem that could be caused by bad quality media. It's really up to you as to if you want to consider that your discs might be the problem or if you, like some, are simply too stubborn to consider that.

We generally recommend using Verbatim or Taiyo Yuden as they are top notch discs everywhere. In North America nobody else reliably makes high quality media, but in other markets a few other brands like Sony are generally good but mostly bad in North America. The North American marketplace demands low price above all else, so almost everyone uses the cheapest, lowest quality manufacturers.

[wetcamelfood]

OK thanks for this, no I'm not stubborn, it's not like I have money to throw around & am choosing not to, I just don't have it and won't have it, that's the only reason I can't spend money on the +RW's. If you know of a place in N. America that sells Verbatim or Taiyo Yuden, let's just say, "closer" to Memorex prices than the +RW prices then I'm all ears.

[Noahtuck]

Newegg is one online place.

If you have an officemax near by i pick up 100 packs of verbatims when they are onsale for $20-$25.
Officemax has them onsale usually once a month.

For that price on verbatim you would have to be crazy to buy anything else for $5 less!!

Even free, crap is still crap.

[classfour]

Meritline, Rima, supermediastore all sell both brands - and are reliable vendors, (like Newegg).

[wetcamelfood]

Update on this: I've tried Verbatim and Taiyo Yuden now (well, TY don't appear to make +RW's so I've used the Verbatim +RW's in the duplicator as the original to the TY +R's and Verbatim +RW's to Verbatim +R's) and they still won't play in the Samsung deck.

As said, the file space/srinking isn't the issue, that's fine.

If you think imgburn is the answer I'll do that but if there's any other thoughts on this, that would be great as I doubt Roxio would get anything sold if the DVD's they make through their software didn't play on set top players (and like I say they do play on my older set top player but not the newer one and the older one will undoubtedly die soon since I've been forced to use it as a recorder and player now.

So any other suggestions would be great, thanks in advance.

[classfour]

Have you tested with -R media? or -RW? It could be a failing laser, or a firmware issue. The old Apex that I hacked in the early days eventually defaulted to only playing music CDs. Another one would not play any recorded discs - only store bought.

I'm not a fan of Samsung units: Most were copies of Panasonic models - some weren't even good ones. I've never cared for combos, as if you lose one side you end up with an expensive paperweight.

Imgburn is the only burning software program that I use any more - and results in good burns. I thank LightningUK daily for his hard work on it.

It could even be a failing drive on the duplicator (i.e. lazer won't track to the edge).

Try this: Open the DVD for copy in DVDShrink.

Compress it below 4.0 GB.

Burn it with imgburn

Play it, duplicate it.

See if the duplicate plays.

Do it again at 4.7 GB.

You said the duplicator wasn't getting past 97%: That indicates it's bad media; -OR- the drive will not reach the edge of the disc.

If you get good burns at 4.7 GB on your computer that play in the Samsung, but not the duplicator: You have your answer.

You may have to restrict output size to 4.2 or so GB on anything you plan to duplicate.