Hi, I have a Pioneer DVR-108 and use Verbatim DVD -R blanks. I use DVD Shrink to back up my movies and use the "burn with DVD Decrypter" option. I have the DVD Shrink target size setting at "Custom - 4360 mb" as I have heard that some readers don't like the data which is around the edges of the discs. I burn at 4 speed, the slowest I can use (even though I have 2 speed selected in DVD Decrpter). I don't have any multi tasking happening whilst I am burning the backup. Even with all of this care, I generally end up with about half of the backups not playing properly in my LG combined video/dvd and my Sony Playstation 2 players. The backups will almost always play perfectly on the PC in the Pioneer drive. I am concerned that maybe the DVD recorder is playing up, however, I have no problems when using it to record data, DVD files under Ulead Video Studio, or when I play the backups on the PC in the Pioneer drive. I don't want to go to the shop if it isn't the drive playing up. Anyone have any ideas or similar experiences? Or could it just be an incompatability with my 2 playback machines. As I say, it doesn't happen all the time. Any help or suggestions appreciated. Cheers, Steve
Well although Verbatim is a very good brand for media, some players are picky when it comes to different manacfurer media, so try using another media brand (TY if possible) also upgrade the firmware of your pioneer burner which should also help Hope it helps ;-)
Stick on paper labels can also cause that problem. As stated by paztelu, check for a f/w update. Out of curiosity what is the media code of your verbatums?
Thanks for the suggestions. I think I may have found the problem - The disc in question has a bad blotch mark in the dye about the size of a thumb print. I'm guessing that this is why it also isn't playing in the Pioneer burner. Regarding the media code, if I look at the code on the actual dvd surface near the inner ring, it says "zd4167-dvr-147c" There are also some numbers pressed into the plastic on the inner ring, but I can't make these out. Would this be the media code? If so, what does it mean? Cheers, Steve
stevo, Glad you found the problem. Hopefully thats the only bad apple. Verbatum is usually top notch stuff, but once in a while a bad one will slip through quality control. For future referance you can use this free utility to determine media codes. http://dvd.identifier.cdfreaks.com/ A lot of media is not made by the company that is branded on the disc for example the media code of the verbatums I use is MCC003. MCC stands for Mitsubishi Chemical Co. One media to be leary of is memorex which doesn't make any of their own media and buys from the lowest bidder of several different companys and you never know what you will get from batch to batch (usually CMC Magnetics which is one of if not THE worst media manufacturer there is). Good media (in order of personal preferance) is verbatum (azo dye), genuine taiyo yuden, maxell, fuji, sony, ricohjpn, and branded ritek ridata. Stay away from memorex, no name, and retail store branded media (staples, comp usa etc). Mort
Those little "black spots" on the dye are blemishes on the dye I dont think the cause much trouble (I have disc that have blemishes on the dye and can be read sucefully by an lg standalone), I read on another post that you can prevent DRE by taking a black marker and marking the border of disc with it to prevent light refraction, I did this on a optodisc DVD and all DRE was gone (although I had to cover the whole disc with black marker), and when you mean backups do not play on standalone players you mean that the player cant recognize or the movie freezes pixelates? Tell me how you do.
