Is it common for standalone dvd layers to only play either DVD+R or DVD-R discs? Apologies if this is a stupid question but I've been using ScubaPete's method with Shrink and Decrypter successfully but the last two discs have refused to play on my JVC player, although they will on the pc using Intervideo winDVD. The only difference is that the discs that won't play are +R and those that will are -R. I obviously didn't notice when buying my last batch.
Older standalones may not play +R disks, but most newer ones do. If you are experiencing this problem then you can switch to -R and have compatability with all standalones. Or if your burner is capable of booktyping, you can booktype your +R to DVD-Rom and they will then play on all players. What drive do you have?
Here is a nice little read that will help you to understand booktyping/bitsetting: http://forum.digital-digest.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=46559 Very informative.
In general, DVD-players brands like Pioneer of Panasonic only support DVD-R whilst Philips only supports DVD+R. This has to do with the coorporations that developed the + or - standard. This DVD+/-R support is rapidly changing however, and newer players can often handle both formats. I recently bought a Sony, it can handle anything from DVD-R to DVD+R and various DivX formats. I'm not a big Sony fan, but with DVD-players I think they are the way to go...
I have an 3 year old Toshiba which only plays -R and also a 3 year old Apex which plays both. Cheap players like Cyberhome will play both and my new Sony plays both. If you want to find out what your player will play go here http://www.videohelp.com/dvdplayers
If you want to play safe, use only DVD-R. I notice that DVD Players that can played both -R & +R tends to favour -R disks. -R disks pickup faster. But when you come to DL you don't have much choice. Only the latest DVDRW can write DVD-RDL but this format is not available readily.
Thanks very much for the help and links, sounds like it's -R for me for the moment but I will follow up the links to try to learn more.This is a great forum for advice. As a slight aside, as I said currently I use Decrypter to burn as described by ScubaPete. I actually also now have Nero 6: is there any advantage to using it to burn over Decrypter? (I initially had Pinnacle which I hated, but now I could obviously get Shrink to use Nero) Or should I stick with what works?
Nero will burn DVD files along with iso files, where Decrypter will only burn iso files. If you now have Nero you may want to try out Nero Recode to encode and then burn your files. It is made by the same developer as Shrink, but is much faster and better than Shrink. The quality is excellent and it is not as CPU intensive as Shrink. Since you like Scuba Pete's guide here is another for Recode http://www.dvdplusvideo.com/petesguide5.html
Those stand alone players can be really screwy when it comes to playing backups. Some may prefer a certain format/certain brand name of media/and even different burn programs. There's a whole lot of stuff out there that can effect dvd backup playback. Even different burners can give a player fits.Some of these are strong and some of the generic burners are weak. I've got 6 dvd-rw drives and know how their backups react on my stand alones. That's why I have 3 benqs being used to burn,1 kypermedia +8x to read,1 I/O magic 16x along with an HP 640c-both sitting in boxes!!!! Some stand alones can really pick out the quality of burners. Different burn engines can also give players fits. Burning with dvd decrypter does give me more issues than burning with nero. I'll take nero any day. Most say older players dash,newer ones plus format. I have found that as time goes by,stand alones tend to get weaker at reading backups.Sometimes a lens cleaning is in order,but at a last resort. This question is asked many times a day.Some stand alones do have trouble with backups,and it's usually the ones that have quite a bit of wear and tear on them. Also because of weak burners. Here's my formula for a successful playback of backups on over 95% of the players that play my backups, well over 50 of them! That's why I highly recommend booktyping of the plus format to dvd-rom. My dash backups don't even come close to the compatability on stand alones. 1)Quality media is a must.Stand alones will pick out the quality differences. 2)4x-8x burn speed.More experienced players need the 4x burn. 3)Quality booktyping capable burner.After those babies have the plus format booktyped to dvd-rom by a quality drive,they will play in a lot more dvd drives.You have 3 formats to pow around with,more flexibility on finding the right format. 4)No paper/sticker type labels-major no-no. Sharpie is most recommended. 5)No multi-tasking during any of the dvd backup process.Shutdown all background programs. 6)You need a clean/virus-spyware free machine 7)Keep hard drive defragged.Moving these 4.38 gig files around can put a heavy toll on her. 8)Keep the backup target at 4360 mbs,even on the quality media.This keeps the burn from reaching the outer edge.This are is susceptible to uneven dye,and it's also where you handle those discs.A standard single layer dvd says it holds 4.7 gbs. Not! After all the transfers of the byte,it's only 4.38 actual gigs. 9)Keep compression to a minimum. 10)Quality burn program.Keep a couple different on your pc and find the one that plays betters for you stand alone/s.Beware of nero and roxio both being on your pc-they may clash.Avoid drag to disc packet in roxio and INCD packet for nero. 11)Heat issues. Some programs like dvd shrink will max out your processor.Some extra fans may be needed.Another reason for not multi-tasking. These are just a few things that can trigger playback issues on some of those picky stand alones.There's even a lot more possibilities out there.
Both -R and +R types play and record well on newer Drives. As for your Entertainment Center DVD Player depends on Brand Name and if it's more than 2 years old then recommmend -R if not planning to replace the Player anytime soon. I purchase +R's all the time, I've used -R's but I just don't like to surface label that the companies use to identify them. Now with Maxell DVD's Printable to Center Labels...I can care less about a + or - R. LightScribe is for HP and LG DVD-R/W drives only and are Monochrome pics. Get a nice Epson Printer eg: Stylus Photo R340 or better unit and away you go with nice labels on the disc's. Sony is so-so but I haven't found anything better than my Plextor PX-716A DVD Drive. If you have a recent PC with Pentium 4 2.4 GHz or Athlon CPU above 1.6Ghz then don't worry about the CPU getting HOT. Also 512Mb of DDR memory or a Gig burning/ripping DVD's a piece of cake. Decodes in 30 minutes and burns in 5 using DVD Shrink and DVD43 with Roxio Easy Media Creator 7 or 7.5 or version 8 Disc Copier program. Nero is okay too. Just don't use the INCD of Nero. Memorex DVD-R +R's X16 are not recommended. Sony,HP,Maxell,or even Staples brand do very well. You'll find X4 is slow but affordable. I won't burn at X16 or X12 ... prefer X8 for consistancy. DL-DVD's are a waste of money since DVD Shrink keeps the money in your pocket.
I have to agree with buy a new DVD player suggestion. I purchased three separate players over the last 5 days those being a COMPUSA cheapy USLOGIC, then a Philips DivX DVP642-37 (Came highly recommended)and I finally settled on a SONY DVD Player model DVP-NS50P. All played +R & -R disc media The DivX players played many formats but seemed to strain to start or initilize play. I have SONY tv's in my home so I preferred SONY players because compatibility has it perks i.e. volume control (Just one remote). I was impressed with the stability (rapid initialized play) of the SONY player and picture quality. It even played the tough copies that were movie only with the remaining black screen encryption i.e MADAGASCAR,SKY HIGH with no trouble at all. So I recommend the SONY DVP-NS50P DVD player which now sells for an affordable $79.99 at both BEST BUY and COMPUSA. Oh, I exchanged the other two players for another SONY DVP-NS50P.
@paradyme I bought that same Sony player from WalMart for 74.00 about 4 months ago. And you are right it is a great player, it has no problem with anything including DL's. Looked up the specs before I bought it because I had bought it because I had just purchased a Sanyo about 4 months before and it froze on a lot of stuff, but the new Sony just breezes through.
@arniebear I am in the market for a new standalone for the living room. So you would recommend the Sony DVP-NS50P I take it. I plan on purchasing it just after Christmas. P.S. I added you to my BL.
@ruger I really like this player, it plays everything so far with no miss and the quality is great. Since I had problems with DL playing on the Sanyo and an older Apex I wanted one that could handle this media and the Sony is really good. PS I also added you, lol Merry Xmas
I only have an older VHS player just use it to transfer camcorder stuff to DVD. I never watch VHS anymore it just looks so bad compared to DVD. With the DVD Recorders going down in price you may want to just buy one of them, since you can record and play DVD's. I got a Panasonic DVD Recorder two years ago for Xmas, the one with the HDD in it kind of works like TiVo, which I also have, but now can record on three different stations at the same time and watch something different from TiVo or the recorder HDD. Have recorded several movies from Pay Per View and the quality has been pretty decent. Since recording from your TV is still not illegal no one can come after me for that. One way to beat protection, lol.
I was considering a combo as I have lots of VHS tapes, and want to get rid of the two machines for 1, but what you say makes sense so I will probably go with the sony.
Agree with above, I have 2 sony players and many discs will play on them which will not play on various other brands. -R way to go, many players, especially in car players don't seem to like +R. Sandy
