Best way to burn DVDs? Is low write speed always better?

[shad0w]

Hi,

I have a rather small DVD image (250 MB) that I have created from a Premiere Pro project and I wish to burn it to a DVD (on JVC Taiyo Yuden DVD-R 4.7GB 16x media).

It's very important that the DVD is made in the best way as I need to mail it to a few companies (job applications) - so I was wondering what write speed I should use? Is lower always better? Or what speed would you suggest that I'm using? I am using ImgBurn to do it.

My burner is an LG BluRay burner (I believe it's called HL-DT-ST).

Thanks in advance

[DB83]

I always burn 16x disks at 8x

[mike20021969]

The usual recommendation is to burn at half the rated speed.

But I bought 50 Taiyo Yuden +R 8x discs.
For me, burning them at x4 resulted in bad burns with skips and pixellation.
So I tried at x8, and had no problems. (I occasionally try the occasional TY again at x4 and the same problem happens).

I now only use Verbatims and burn them at half speed. I've never had any errors with them.

[jan5678]

At lower burn speeds the chance of errors is smaller.
It depends on the error correction of the disk used if you burn at high speeds.

So i burn at low speeds usually half or less the speed that's on the disk.

[shad0w]

So if I have the time for 2x it would be advisable to use this? Seems strange that mike20021969 had problems with lower speed though..

I picked the Taiyo Yuden as it seems to be the DVD's most often recommended as the best media to use

[mike20021969]

Seems strange that mike20021969 had problems with lower speed though..

There other factors involved though between burner+blank disc+dvd player.
For instance, my Daewoo DVD player wont recognise Taiyo Yuden discs at all, but PS2 loves them. Both players like Verbatims.

[Moontrash]

at the file size you wanna burn it's pretty irrelevant at how fast you wanna burn. 250mb's won't even get to 6x normally before the speed changes if your doing an 8x burn.

16x discs = 8x
8x discs = 8x
4x discs = 4x

Use verbatim...TY's are fine but in the last few years there quality scans imo have been suspect....stick with taiwan or singapore made verbatim discs...not the "value" line either...they stink

[shad0w]

Seems you are more negative about the Taiyo Yuden in here - I only found positive stuff about them so far and everybody seems to recommend them

I've read that with Verbatim you're more uncertain what discs you get?

[Kerry56]

Burning speed depends on the combination of rated speed of the discs and the firmware compatibility of your particular burner. Slower isn't always better with modern drive firmware. Some of the modern drives don't even offer 4x speed with 16x dvd media.

My favorite media is still Taiyo Yuden +R 8x speed, but I've found it can be burned at the rated speed of 8x with absolutely no issues in all of my drives. I burn 16x Verbatim at 8x or 12x.

Of course all of my blank 8x TY dates back to 2006-2007 that I haven't burned yet, so my supply may be slightly different than what is available now.

[shad0w]

My discs are 16x - are they considered to be worse than the 8x discs?

[DB83]

Seems you are more negative about the Taiyo Yuden in here - I only found positive stuff about them so far and everybody seems to recommend them

I've read that with Verbatim you're more uncertain what discs you get?

Writing of -R disks, there are a few different Verbatim's. I have not used these but I read that the one to avoid are the 'Life' series. The AZO, which I do use, I have found to be quite reliable.

But one thing is that you should always try disks out yourself and not rely upon the experiences of others. Even with TY disks, which should be the best around, it is quite possible to have bad ones and I do believe that some fakes, as with anything else, have surfaced. Buy from regular sources and not some unknown seller who offers a bargain.

Most disks AFAIK are now either 8x or 16x. I have used both but I always burn at half the rated speed.

You will find topics on here that discuss the various media brands about. Some are only good for use as beer mats.

[budz]

Just use IMGBURN to burn your discs.....burn it at 8x speed....turn off any antivirus and spyware programs while burning.....anything that's running in the background......nuff said.....

[Constant Gardener]

I have all kinds of things running in the background: a music server, several torrents, MS Security Essentials, and three instances of the World Grid Project (using 75% of the CPU). I have never had any problems burning discs while the background stuff is going. I use older TY and newer Verbatims, usually burned at 6x except for the double-layers which burn at 4x.

[budz]

made that suggestion because the OP said the discs are important to him....for a job interview......

[Moontrash]

I have all kinds of things running in the background: a music server, several torrents, MS Security Essentials, and three instances of the World Grid Project (using 75% of the CPU). I have never had any problems burning discs while the background stuff is going.

same here...no issues...as long as there's enough RAM then you'll be fine with apps running in the background

Older TY discs are the holy grail of blank dvd's imo (along with old maxell's)....they were dead solid...stick any new TY 8x disc up against any 8x AZO based Verbatim disc in a quality scan and you'll see the results....just don't get that value line from Verbatim...oops...I'm repeating myself...order them from supermediastore,...they have every brand there

[shad0w]

Seems you are more negative about the Taiyo Yuden in here - I only found positive stuff about them so far and everybody seems to recommend them

I've read that with Verbatim you're more uncertain what discs you get?

Writing of -R disks, there are a few different Verbatim's. I have not used these but I read that the one to avoid are the 'Life' series. The AZO, which I do use, I have found to be quite reliable.

But one thing is that you should always try disks out yourself and not rely upon the experiences of others. Even with TY disks, which should be the best around, it is quite possible to have bad ones and I do believe that some fakes, as with anything else, have surfaced. Buy from regular sources and not some unknown seller who offers a bargain.

Most disks AFAIK are now either 8x or 16x. I have used both but I always burn at half the rated speed.

You will find topics on here that discuss the various media brands about. Some are only good for use as beer mats.

I will of course try the burned disc in a the two DVD players I have as well as my computers - but I will need to send the DVD's to a few companies by mail as part of a job application - so if it doesn't work it will most likely just go in the bin - without letting me know that it didn't work.

So because of this I'm quite concerned about the compatibility - the worst thing would be to use DVD's that tend to have issues playing on DVD players - even though they may work with my particular devices.

I picked the Taiyo Yuden just because of this, but I'm getting in doubt with the respones in this thread

[jan5678]

I also use verbatim AZO discs and have never seen a compatibility problem with several different players

[DB83]

Many job applications go straight in to the bin anyway.

But I have, in my time, sent out or given out, many Verbatim AZO disks and have IIRC NEVER had a single complaint.

Whilst most players will now read both +R and -R disks, there are still some that will only read one or the other. -R , in my opinion, have the highest compatability and, really, if you got these TY disks from a reputable source then you really should not have issues with them.

[shad0w]

Yeah I know - I'm just trying to do my best of ensuring that it will play back if it gets that far

Perhaps I should just stick with the TY for now as you say - but I'm thinking I could get Verbatim for next time (I don't have so many discs so I need to get some more anyways).

So I found a few options - most of the Verbatim got a media code of MCC 03RG20 or MCC 02RG20 - for example these:

http://www.nierle.com/en/article/2781/DVD-R_4,7_GB_Verbatim_16x_Speed_in_Cakebox_50-pack.html

http://www.nierle.com/en/article/4269/DVD-R_4,7_GB_Verbatim_Archival_Grade_8x_Speed_ph...x_25-pack.html

http://www.nierle.com/en/article/10506/DVD-R_4,7_GB_Verbatim_Digital_Movie_8x_Speed_in...x_25-pack.html

Do you think these would be fine? Or are there other Verbatim discs from this store that you would recommend (the only store I could find here where I live which gives an indication about what media code it is)?

[DB83]

Here is the standard guide to dvd media

http://www.digitalfaq.com/reviews/dvd-media.htm

The Verbatim AZO 16x have a ID of MCC 03RG20

[dfisher052]

I find all this talk about which discs to use , TY or Verbatim very interesting. For over 3 years I have been using Sony -R 16X discs burning with 2 different Optiarc (Sony) burners. I have them set to maximum burn and they usually end up burning an hour program in about 6 minutes at about 11X. I supply these discs to 2 different cable stations (Time-Warner & Comcast) and I have yet to get a bad disc. In over 3 years I have not had one instance of a disc not playing. I also provide discs to others (individuals) on Verbatim printable discs. For those I have always used Verbatim DataLifePlus P/N: 95079. Again, not one failed disc. To tell the truth ever since I started using Optiarc burners I have burned quit a few brands with very few problems & that includes Memorex & Staples brand. But, I have not had good luck with the current TDK's I picked up on sale at Radio Shack and will not buy those again. I know there are many variables with discs and burning, but I'm just relating my experiences for anyone that might find it helpful. I also only buy my discs when they are on sale as I go through several hundred a year.

[CobraPilot]

shad0w: It's very important that the DVD is made in the best way as I need to mail it to a few companies (job applications). . . .

Have you considered sending TWO copies of the disc, from different manufacturers, one a -R and the other a +R? . . . . Increases your chance that the recipient successfully opens your job application, might even suggest to them that you are a very serious, detail-oriented applicant who doesn't leave anything to chance (such as a defective disc or one damaged in transit).

http://www.digitalfaq.com/reviews/dvd-media.htm

Seems to have a lot of outdated information, prices, etc., although some interesting history there . . . .

[GSP_87]

I've read that with Verbatim you're more uncertain what discs you get?

I always burn at 4x, and until recently, using Verbatim DVD+R had severe blocky problems with video, that may have been solved by using ImgBurn instead. For Verbatim, you have to make sure it says "AZO" on the label because even if it says Taiwan, it could be the junk ones. I bought a 50 pack recently and noticed they changed where on the label they show "AZO".