Best blank media

I'm just getting ready to switch out my 4x dvd drive with a BenQ 1640, which is 16X. I currently use the idiot proof process of clone dvd2 and any dvd to make my backups. My question is: What is the best blank 16x dvd media on market to use?? And will I notice the process being faster now with clone dvd2, with the new drive, or is that a software process that does not matter if a faster drive is used?
Any thoughts would be appreciated.
Thanks

 

Capgeo, I have a 16x drive also. I have only burnt one spindle of 16X media and they were Taiyo Yuden. The fastest I burnt any of the discs was at 8X. Probably half of them at 4X. I always use Taiyo Yuden because it is the best. I also suggest using good quality media such as TY 8X and burning at 4X. The difference in burn time is very small but the quality is outstanding! Stick to slower burn speeds to avoid pixelation and skipping.

 

I've always used Sony DVD-R 8x Media, it will burn at 16x. But like mentioned above you need a very powerfull system to pull it off, and also the faster the burn speed to more chance of skipping and pixelation.

 

Burning video at 16x is not recommended due to a greatly increased chance of write errors. Save some money on media and buy some good quality 8x media and burn at 4x to start moving up to 6x or 8x if no problems. The best media's are verbatum and taiyo yuden but you can also find some ty made media under sony and fuji brand name. Make sure the sony and fuji media are made in japan.

You will not have any faster transcoding times with your 16x dvdrw drive. That is determined by your cpu speed mostly and amount and speed of ram.

 

Best blank media?

Go here http://www.digitalfaq.com/media/dvdmedia.htm and have a look around.

 

@alkohol

Thanks for the great read in the above link. As a newby, I learned a lot.

Which media type (not brand) do you personally use, -R or +R?

I love this site.

 

I agree with everything that everyone said above.......
I use the +Rs cause I can set the booktype/bitsetting to DVD-ROMs, which makes the disk more compatible with most DVD players! If you are interested in Booktype/Bitsetting check out this very informative thread.......#12 explains it all.
http://forums.afterdawn.com/thread_view.cfm/183136

I used DVDInfo Pro to set my booktype on my drive, but you can also use other programs like DVDDecrypter to set booktype, too. Just hit the TOOLS button on top (make sure you chose your drive in the drop down window under SOURCE)then go to DRIVE..... CHANGE BOOKTYPE. DVDDecrypter is sooooooo much more than a ripper! enjoy! ohhhhh and if you don't have DVDDecrypter: http://www.afterdawn.com/software/video_software/dvd_rippers/dvd_decrypter.cfm

 

Thanks for all the good info. This might not be the correct forum for this question, but since I'm using the clone dvd process to copy, I just let that do everything. Put in a disk, it copies it, tells you to put in a blank one and it writes it. How do I know what speed it is doing it at and is there any adjustments I can make with that program? Probably a dumb question, but I'm a newbie and it seems pretty automatic.

 

In reading the responses, I went ahead and ordered these:
1736-50 Taiyo Yuden DVD-R 4.7GB, 8X, $0.35 ea., 50-Pack
From what I can tell, this should be basically the best for backing up movies. Let me know if anyone has any feedback one way or another on anything better.
Thanks for all the good info.

 

capgeo,

That media should be ok but since your benq will be capable of booktyping dvd+r media to dvd-rom, I would have gone with +r's.

 

@capgeo

Which copy program are you using to back up?

If you are using DVD Cloner II there is no way to adjust the speed of the burn, but in CloneDVD2 there is. Check out the guides by bbmayo who posts regularily at this forum. Great stuff.

Good luck burning.

 

I am using clone dvd2. I've never actually adjusted anything on there. I pretty much just put the original in, wait until it is done reading, put the blank in and let it do its thing. Somebody said something about booktyping in this thread with the +r media. I'm not sure what that means. Is that something that clone can do and is there any reason to do it??

 

Dvd-rom is the most compatable format (same as a new pressed dvd) and you can only booktype +r not -r media to dvd-rom. Not all drives are capable of booktyping/bitsetting. Benq's are. There are several programs that will change the booktype of +r media to dvd-rom but I would use the benq booktype utility manager which can be downloaded with qsuite. Here's a link. http://www.benq-eu.com/serviceandsupport/downloads/downloads.cfm?product=750

 

Thanks for the info. I see I have a lot of learning to do with the whole process. I was a little spoiled by just downloading the clone dvd without knowing anything, because it pretty much runs itself. My current drive that came with the hp520n that I have would only burn to +r's and they would not play in the dvd combo tv that I have in the bedroom. I thought I needed to use -r to work on that one. But it seems like if I can get them to be dvd-rom, it will probably work on that one.

 

Yes it will most likely play dvd+r booktyped dvd-rom. I would try a small package of good quality blank dvd+r's and booktype them dvd-rom to be sure. Dvd-rom is the most compatable format followed by dvd-r then dvd+r. Note: keep the burn speeds to 4x. Excessive burn speeds can cause compatability and playback problems.

Mort

 

capgeo,

I received/installed my BenQ 1640 last week, and have already backedup 6 DVDs, successfully. They come booktyped for all +R's as DVD-ROM by default. I did download the software, and latest firmware (BSLB) from their site, and installed both. Mine was from newegg.com, and it was an OEM, so the only software I got was Nero, which I already had.

BTW, I always burn at 8X, even with my Litey, contrary to everyone else, and they come out great, or at least in my eyes/mind.

Great burner, and good luck burning,

Rich

 

sytyguy,

Thats interesting that the 1640's are preset to booktype +r media to dvd-rom. My 1620 wasn't.

capgeo,

You can check the booktype of your burned discs and verify that they are dvd-rom with dvd identifier http://dvd.identifier.cdfreaks.com/

 

Mort,

I based it on this, http://www.cdrinfo.com/Sections/Reviews/Specific.aspx?ArticleId=14268&PageId=23

and after running this software in that review, I noticed it was already set, plus it would not allow me to modify. I already had that Identifier software (thanks anyway), and it noted that the finished result was indeed DVD-ROM.

Thanks,

Rich