The Dolphin tells it like it is....

[The Digital Dolphin]

Hey dolphin

I bought those TY 8x dvd+r's that were on sale at NCIX a week or so ago, since they had your blessing. I've been trying to burn some images with them (pioneer 106, recordnow max), but every dvd I've tried (with 3 different images) have all failed at around roughly the same mark, somewhere just beyond 4 gigs.

Since each coaster is costly, and these dvds are dolphin approved, do you have any ideas what's going on here?

Even more curiously, it seems test-burning isn't supported with these discs. Yet generic princos work fine both testing and finishing the same image.

Thanks in advance

Wow... that's VERY weird! Arguably one of the most forgiving burners available, and arguably the best media available put together and *not* working?!?!?

Are you using the latest firmware? The drive came out before 8x media became popular, so the code may not have been very well implemented yet... still, I'm surprised! Upgrade to the latest firmware, and let me know if that helps.

Please keep me informed!

[Elessar]

Wow... that's VERY weird! Arguably one of the most forgiving burners available, and arguably the best media available put together and *not* working?!?!?

Are you using the latest firmware? The drive came out before 8x media became popular, so the code may not have been very well implemented yet... still, I'm surprised! Upgrade to the latest firmware, and let me know if that helps.

Please keep me informed!

I was using 1.05 firmware, upgraded just now to 1.08 from pioneer's site. Rebooted, but Stomp Recordnow Max 4.5 still refuses to test burn with the TY media in place. It tells me the drive doesn't support test burning!

And then I test burn with a 4x Princo from blankmedia.ca.... O.o

[bigdaddyyc]

I need to know the code of your drive, as in the complete model number, and then I can (hopefully) give you some advice on that one...

TY and Maxell's own media are both excellently made... but Maxell media does not overclock well, whereas Taiyo Yuden's often does. Of course I still don't officially endorese overclocking media.

Maxell brand Ricohjpnr01 media is good.... but personally I'd go for TY or MXL over it. TY and MXL will probably last MUCH longer in the long run, since they have very strict manufacturing quality control.

does Aopen 8x8 DVD Dual AAN or DRW8800 mean anything to you? lol not really sure if this is what your looking for i just found these markings lurking around the box.

[The Digital Dolphin]

I was using 1.05 firmware, upgraded just now to 1.08 from pioneer's site. Rebooted, but Stomp Recordnow Max 4.5 still refuses to test burn with the TY media in place. It tells me the drive doesn't support test burning!

And then I test burn with a 4x Princo from blankmedia.ca.... O.o

Hrm.. try using real software

Download Nero's demo and give that a try.

[The Digital Dolphin]

does Aopen 8x8 DVD Dual AAN or DRW8800 mean anything to you? lol not really sure if this is what your looking for i just found these markings lurking around the box.

The AOpen DRW8800 'AAN' is deffinatly the NEC 2500a.

Try using the DOS flasher... that might work better:
http://herrie.rpc1.org/downloads/2k5107v2b5dld.rar

[Elessar]

Hrm.. try using real software

Download Nero's demo and give that a try.

Wow... Nero's up to 6 now? CloneDVD?

For someone who's stuck with Stomp for the past year and a half, I am scared by all the new darn-fangled programs.

Anyhow, I downloaded Nero 6 demo from their website and installed.

... get this, when I insert my TY DVD+R, the simulation button gets greyed out. Eject, and it comes back as an option. Slide the tray back in, grey it goes.

I'm scared. >.>

[The Digital Dolphin]

Hrm... maybe you can't simulate on DVD+R media? I don't ever simulate burns so I wouldn't know (I get kinda spoiled on blank media... I probably intentionally coaster 5x as many DVDRs as I burn with actual content!).

[Amourek]

Hey DD, first off thanks again for all the useful info in this thread.

I bought some Ritek 8x DVD+Rs from blankmedia.ca awhile back and I popped one in today to try it out on my Pioneer DVR-108 and was suprised to see it would only let me burn at 4x.



Now after some searching I find out that R03-1's are actually 4x? Did I get screwed or is there some way I can burn these safely at 8x? I'm have firmware 1.14.

[Evil Techie]

Hey DD, first off thanks again for all the useful info in this thread.

I bought some Ritek 8x DVD+Rs from blankmedia.ca awhile back and I popped one in today to try it out on my Pioneer DVR-108 and was suprised to see it would only let me burn at 4x.



Now after some searching I find out that R03-1's are actually 4x? Did I get screwed or is there some way I can burn these safely at 8x? I'm have firmware 1.14.

mmm yeah i think you got screwed there

[malaca]

NEC uses CAV for 16x, and Z-CLV for 12x and 8x. Pioneer uses Z-CLV for 8x, 12x and 16x. LG uses Z-CLV for everything. BenQ uses CAV for 8x, 12x and 16x.

Thanks for the info. The drives are quite different in this respect. That got me thinking about DVD physics:

So:

• doubling the speed requires 4 times the energy
• Changing speed from 8X to 12X takes 1.7 times more work than going from 4X to 8X. Either the motor will take longer to change speed or more power will be required.
• CAV is a lot easier on the motor than high-speed ZCLV, since the motor doesn't need to change speed for writing.
• If the spin-up time is too fast in order to beat the competitors by 0.1 second then that maybe another problem.
• Assuming motors are equal, a motor with a CAV strategy will last longer than a ZCLV one, because it doesn't change speeds along the way.
• Cheap disks probably have a larger moment of inertia (i.e. out of balance), causing additional stress at high speeds.

Based on this, and assuming the motors are similar, i'd pick BenQ over the other ones.
Might explain why LG sells drives that burn most disks below rated speed and don't publish a detailed media list.
Disclaimer: this is pure speculation on my part. And of course there are many other factors to consider e.g. the MTBF of the laser.

The review websites measure performance and compatibility but not reliability, so the manufacturers push for the fastest speeds as possible without keeping enough margin for the equipment. Is it really important to have a burn finish in 15:10s instead of 15:20s but have the drive fail after 50 burns?

[The Digital Dolphin]

Hey DD, first off thanks again for all the useful info in this thread.

I bought some Ritek 8x DVD+Rs from blankmedia.ca awhile back and I popped one in today to try it out on my Pioneer DVR-108 and was suprised to see it would only let me burn at 4x.



Now after some searching I find out that R03-1's are actually 4x? Did I get screwed or is there some way I can burn these safely at 8x? I'm have firmware 1.14.

No, you weren't screwed... per se. Ritek's R03 Rev.1 media is still 8x certified... even the pic you showed has it listed as being 8x rated... the problem comes in with the fact that Ritek kinda sucks for 8x media, so most drive manufacturers are starting to limit their burning speeds to keep the quality higher. This is even more obvious with Ritek's 8x DVD-R the G05. Ritek Rev1 R03's however will burn at 12x on the BenQ DW1620

[wlee]

Master DD:

Do you think that SmartBuy (Retail) would be better quality (control) than Prodisc (OEM)? I know they are the same company. As you said Maxell branded Ritek or RICOHJPN are better than Ritek branded or OEM with the same media code since Ritek gives their best media to Maxell so does Prodisc use their best for retail brand?

Thanks!

[The Digital Dolphin]

Master DD:

Do you think that SmartBuy (Retail) would be better quality (control) than Prodisc (OEM)? I know they are the same company. As you said Maxell branded Ritek or RICOHJPN are better than Ritek branded or OEM with the same media code since Ritek gives their best media to Maxell so does Prodisc use their best for retail brand?

Thanks!

Well, here's the thing. It's like Optodisc won't use their B Grade media in their own Acro Circle retail brand. Prodisc won't use 'B Grade' media in their own SmartBuy retail brand. That doesn't mean that all unbranded Prodisc or Optodisc are lower grade, but it does mean that it's more possible. Ritek is the only company I know who has been known to sell B grade and lower quality media in their own home brands (Ritek, Ridata, Ridisc, Arita... etc.).

[The Digital Dolphin]

Just a heads up... there's going to be a really hot deal coming up on some good quality 8x DVDRs soon.

I don't know EXACTLY when... but I believe between now and a week from now

[wlee]

Just a heads up... there's going to be a really hot deal coming up on some good quality 8x DVDRs soon.

I don't know EXACTLY when... but I believe between now and a week from now

wish it's TY or MCC (Made in Singapore) +R for $0.60/disc and FREE shipping

Thanks for your answer to my question