Blank DVD Media Quality Guide

[Scarecrow Man]

A wonderful resource for those who use DVD media to backup thier DVD collection, make home DVD's or just regular computer back-ups.

Find out what to buy, what not to buy, and what a "coaster" is :D

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

---------------------------------------

A few interesting articles...

estimate: 100 years

http://club.cdfreaks.com/showthread.php?t=40888

lists a CD-R manufacturer with a "100 year warranty" also estimates the life-span of an average disc to 75 years.

http://www.practicalpc.co.uk/computing/sto...cdrlifespan.htm

Also, this article claims that after 20 months the disc was unreadable.

http://hardware.slashdot.org/article.pl?si...248&tid=198

a bit more in depth, but also says 100 years.

http://www.melbpc.org.au/pcupdate/2106/2106article14.htm

just a few resources among the many. http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=lifespan+of+cd-r

I think it is safe to say that with proper care, your disc will last as long as you require it to. this link from above talks about the dye types, and how they affect the lifespan.

[deuces wild]

Thanks SM. TDK and Sony are the ones that have been dependable for me. I wait till they are on sale though

[Scarecrow Man]

I personally am a big fan of Sony, Memorex. TDK for CD-R or CD-RW.

I like this page, and use it before I go out and buy the disc's on sale, to make sure I am not buying expensive coasters.

If you can find a DVD Media ID program, this site can help you to find out what is good, and what is not.

I'd stick with the top. Sony, Maxwell, Pioneer, TDK.

[Rebel=UK=]

Its all about the dyes in the DVD's really any DVDs that uses Taiyo Yuden dye are the best, but youve got to be careful as sometimes you do get fakes. Ive had some really rubbish ones that wont work in any DVD player, and some qaulity ones that work in all. Once youve found a good supplier stick with it.

[CurlyWhirly]

I have been using the TDK brand of DVD-R and DVD-RW for some time now.

I use these for computer data.

I also use Packard Bell for my DVD+RW needs which is for recording TV programmes on my DVD recorder.

Both of the above brands have been reliable in my experience.

[dadyassa]

I have tried lots of different makes, even cheap "princo" make from the market and they all work ;)

[CurlyWhirly]

I have tried lots of different makes, even cheap "princo" make from the market and they all work ;)

I wouldn't use cheap brands to store computer data on but I would use them for recording TV programmes though.

[djohn]

I use nothing but imation disk both for CD and DVD and have burned hundreds without any problem. Also one paragraph states not to use PC for anything else if burning at more than 4x! :0

I burn CD at 52 times and DV at 16 times while surfing the net, using the forums and doing various other work on my machine such as writing a monthly newsletter or making posters and printing them while burning disk. I think its called multi-tasking! :rolleyes:

[dadyassa]

multi-tasking!

A word used by my wife a lot :lol: :lol: she reckons men can`t do it.

[Scarecrow Man]

I use nothing but imation disk both for CD and DVD and have burned hundreds without any problem. Also one paragraph states not to use PC for anything else if burning at more than 4x! :0

I burn CD at 52 times and DV at 16 times while surfing the net, using the forums and doing various other work on my machine such as writing a monthly newsletter or making posters and printing them while burning disk. I think its called multi-tasking!

Depends on the capabilities of your machine.

It has been said that a lower speed also increases quality, but I think that is a myth.

EDIT:

In reply to pops' comment:

I believe I have read somewhere that a pressed CD/DVD does degrade, but because of the metal dye used in a CD-R/DVD-R (or +r/-rw/+rw etc..) it cannot degrade. A scratch or some other form of physical damage can harm the medium, but it cannot degrade. As long as you burn your disc within the recomended speed of the medium and burner, which cannot be changed without some sort of firmware hack, your medium will last longer than you will.

[-pops-]

It has been said that a lower speed also increases quality, but I think that is a myth.

I agree. I think it's a confusion with analogue signal transfer where high speed tape copying always gave inferior results compared against real time copies - the same with analogue to digital conversions. With digital transfers it is either successful or it is not. There is no grading of quality, nor can there be. This statement does not apply, though, where a file compression or file conversion, one system to another, takes place.

Edit:

The comments above are entirely to do with preparing the disk. What happens afterwards in respect of longevity is a different matter entirely. :)