DVD media recognition

[Vianty]

Have you heard about some DVD drives not recognising some original DVD-s? There are also drives on the market not correctly operating with some (re)writeable media.
How does DVD media recognition works? Is it about reading some information from the disk? Or is it measuring some disk parameters (thickness of protection layer, reflection intensity)?
Does DVD reader calibrates somehow itself on each disk?

I'd appreciate any detailed information on above, or related links on the web.

[lordsmurf]

Yes, heard of it, quite often.
List discs (brands + media IDs), as well as the player/burner/recorder/reader being used.
That helps troubleshoot issue.

There's no one answer.

[redwudz]

There is some manufacturers information on the disc that the burner/player? can read.

When burning a disc, there is a trial area towards the inside of the disc. The burner does a short calibration burn there to set the laser burning power before burning the disc. (Power Calibration) On RW discs, you can use up this area and the Power Calibration can fail, but it has room for many calibration test burns.

If your drive doesn't have the correct burning firmware for your brand and version of disc, then the burn can fail.

And some brands of players/burners don't work well with some brands of DVD media.

lordsmurf's site has a lot more information.

[Vianty]

Currently there is a problem with Samsung HT-DB750. Doesn't read correctly some original DVD-s--tracking errors. Drive replacement doesn't help. No answer from manufacturer so far. Maybe they don't support this product anymore. They are also not giving any information on root causes. Good if they provide with FW upgrade.
I'm interested what's behind that kind of compatibility problems. There are standards the DVD-media and -drives should meet. Is it about deviation from standards?

[redwudz]

I'm interested what's behind that kind of compatibility problems. There are standards the DVD-media and -drives should meet. Is it about deviation from standards?

Quality control is one of the bigger issues with cheaper DVD media. Disc quality may vary between batches or even within a box of media. Dyes are very important in producing burned DVDs. Not all companies use good quality dyes and their disc producing machinery may be worn. Disc standards are more likely to concentrate on the physical dimensions of the discs and not so much the quality of the products. It amazes me that some brands of DVD discs are just crap and have always been, but they still seem to be able to sell them.

With DVD playback/recording devices, each manufacturer uses different parts and different methods to create the devices. They can't all be exactly the same as that would violate copyrights. Quality control also applies here. And many electronic devices today are 'throwaway' and made with minimal quality to compete in the market and give a year or two service before replacement. Repair is too expensive most times.