what is the best media for dvd movies?

Pete

I'm surprised you didn't look at the site before you made a decision. Just the few words I translated made the navigation possible and understandable. Most of the data is in English. You would have found a lot of what people are saying is misleading. BTW your prepared statements are a bit dated and the news article you refer to is about CDs and not DVDs. I guess the companies that make a bad CD would probably be bad at DVDs. However, it would be nice to have an article about DVDs when talking about DVDs.

I thought by now you would consult me before questioning my word. Rarely do I say something and not have the info to prove it, especially in the volatile media arena. The branded Verbatim that you are fond of is manufactured by at least 4 companies. Among those are the company that you put down Memorex for using, CMC Magnetics. Mitsubishi, Ricoh and Taiyo Yuden manufacture the branded Verbatim as well. So who is making your branded Verbatim today? Luckily, it appears that CMC only made some of the -R discs. So people using -R Verbatim have to be more on the watch.

The Generic or branded Ritek comes in +R as Ritek R028 and -R as the G04. So, if one wants to use the G04 that is so often prescribed, they have to use the -R format. I didn't notice anyone pointing out that fact. Guess we all should have known. Since Ritek is a manufacturer, it is safe to say a Ritek is a Ritek. We are lucky enough to have the Ricoh brand. With the branded Ricoh, you are assured of a Ricoh. Too bad we don't have a Taiyo Yuden and Mitsubishi brand to choose from.

And bundle size doesn't necessarily denote the discs one buys with a brand. I got a 50 pack of Memorex and they were the same Ricohs as the Verbatim. My smaller purchase was the CMC. Philips makes some of the +RW for Memorex. The Ricoh was a major manufacturer of discs for Memorex until recently and now one sees more of the CMC. For a while CMC was manufacturing the -R and Ricoh the +R. But now CMC appears to have the Memorex + and -R franchise. Pack size isn't the determining factor for manufacturer, but the depletion of stock and the current manufacturer is.

Since it'll be long I'll split this up into sections for the data on this.
_X_X_X_X_X_[small][bold]'brobear'[/bold]



[bold]Et tu, Brute![/bold][/small]

 

http://dictionaries.travlang.com/GermanEnglish/
Here is a handy little dictionary to translate the few words you will need to navigate and understand the MediaWatch site. Most of the data is in English with some descriptors in German. The words translated above are the most pertinent.

 

Edited out.

 

If one cross references between manufacturer and brand, they will see that brands very often use more than one manufacturer. Sometimes the manufacturer only produces one format for the brand and one can have a better chance of getting the disc desired. But who knows when the brand changes disc manufacturer for a particular format. So, all in all, it is pretty much a crap shoot when one goes to purchase disks. So far one can be fairly sure they will get a GO4 when they buy the generic Ritek or a RiDATA -R discs. Some brands are very limited in their offerings.

So for your best chance, browse the data and pick a brand with limited offerings that have the disc you want. Then hope luck is with you when you make the purchase. Me, I sort of like the Verbatim and Imation +R discs, good odds of getting a Ricoh or Mitsubishi. Since Taiyo Yuden uses a Metal Azo dye, that wouldn't be bad either. Happy hunting.

With this search engine, everyone can compare their favorite brands and see who is making them. You don't have to be able to speak German either. Just note the few words I translated and the German-English dictionary if you see a word you might want to translate. Some descriptors are obvious from context.

 

Edited out.

 

Edited out.

 

what works for me is ridata or ridisc ( ritek go4 )

xllent grade a discs

 

Ricoh was making some RiDATA discs; one manufacturer's brand selling the competitions discs.

http://www.meritline.com/ritek-dvd-blank-media.html (US Ritek authorized sales)

 

Hey there brobear,

Actually I have that site, I just don't read German at all


I still was under the impression that although Mitsubishi makes the metal, "Advanced Metal AZO" was the sole proprietary property of Verbatim.

Meanwhile I'll try to get through the German site -

Still, as I read your post, I can't agree that all DVD discs are fine for our needs - That's what it looks like your're saying. Memorex are the equal of Verbatim and Ritek G04.

When my week winds down and my rehab gives me some extra time I'll look at everything you've sent me -

Pete

BTW, there's no reason to get an "attitude" about it -

 

Brobear

You need to have a usefull point if you want a huge post
I'm not sure what yours was.

Simply, Vebatims, and Riteks when in branded form have a superb record.
Branded Memorex cannot make that claim.

You can use any DVD you want but don't cry if you venture away from the media with better recomendations and you have difficulties.

Don't be mean to Pete. He's just trying to point people the right way.

I use a lot of prodisc. They use metal azo, make their own discs and burn perfectly stack after stack.
But if I do have a bad stack at some point. I blame me.

 

No attitude Pete. I just did a lot of boring research a while back when this media question was brought up before. So, when I say I have some data, I usually do. I didn't think anyone would want a post that long. However, since many were reluctant over the language barrier, I thought I might as well show some of the cross referenced data. Whether Verbatim has the control of AZO dye or not I can't say. But, Mitsubishi (MCC) and Taiyo Yuden (Yuden) are both using it for manufacture. There may be others. As for the Datalife Plus; they are predominately manufactured by MCC and Yuden. However some are made by Ricoh; which is supposed to be another good company. The -R format Verbatim is where the CMC appears to be prevalent.

[bold]I wasn't getting an attitude. However, I hate being told I'm wrong when I know the facts to be contrary.[/bold]

It was just the cavalier attitude of dismissal without checking the facts that shouldn't happen on the forum. The branded Verbatim has at least 4 manufacturers and one of those for the same company that Memorex is put down for using, CMC.

Memorex in some cases was selling Ricoh discs which were as good as the Verbatim, Ritek, and Ricoh (being as how these could be the same as well). When Memorex shifted to CMC, the quality deteriorated, or is said to. I can note a physical inferiority of the CMC and time will tell on the few I recorded. I do not intend to make a habit of buying CMC. So, no I am not saying Memorex is as good. Let me justify that, not overall as good as Verbatim; because Verbatim is selling some CMC products as well.

Now with that search engine it is easy to cross reference a lot of the brands and manufacturers. I also pointed out that one doesn't need to speak German if they use just the 3 words I translated.

@Pete
No way am I saying to run out and purchase Memorex over the others. With the Memorex you run a higher risk of getting the CMC than with other brands. One is safer with the Ricoh or Verbatim Datalife Plus in the +R format and the Ritek G04 in the -R format. There are other brands one can cross reference for a better chance at getting a quality disk. Appears odds are good for getting a Ricoh with +R Imation. I didn't go into all the brands. People can cross reference their own brands to see what they're getting.

My intent was to show that a lot of companies shop around. Even the ones you wouldn't think would do it. And in reality it is a crap shoot in many cases, unless one does the research and deals with a known manufacturer or seller of a particular manufactured disc. Often when I make a flippant statement on a charged subject it is to lighten the atmosphere. Seems like saying crap shoot only fueled the debate.

Have a good evening and no attitude on my part.

 

64026402
I believe the last post may have answered your question. I believe it pulled the whole thing together. One can't even depend on some brands we thought wouldn't let us down. One should do the research.

To the Forum
[bold]Do your homework and buy the disc you are happy with. My suggestion is that one should go with a disc that has a good track record.[/bold] Among those are some of Pete's favorites, like the Ritek G04 and the branded Verbatim. However with the Verbatim, note that CMC is making some of the Verbatim branded -R format discs. Mitsubishi, Ricoh, Ritek and Taiyo Yuden are reputed to be good manufacturers. There are others. In the end, it comes back to personal choice. I'd just hope it to be an informed one. And if anyone has a favorite disc I didn't mention, note I said there are other good discs and brands.
_
_X_X_X_X_X_[small][bold]'brobear'[/bold]



[bold]Et tu, Brute![/bold][/small]

 

I have an LG-4040B burner and since I burn so many DVD's I look for the most consistant cheap media. Right now the best for the lowest price that I've found is Khybermedia -R. Since I use DVDXCopy I'm not sure if this helps, but hope so. Only 2 out of 25 discs don't work. At only 14 bucks a pack, that's pretty good in my book.

 

If you want inexpensive the prodisc are about .35 each and 0 out of 25 are bad burns.

 

justjager
I think I can speak for almost everyone when I say it is most prudent to go with a disc of known quality. If you are pleased with your choice, who are we to say you're wrong. Your money. However who knows how long the unknown brand will function properly and not fade. With the -R format, wouldn't it be wiser to go with a known disc, like the Ritek G04, which just happens to be less expensive than your bargain discs (which many of us have never heard of)?

As Pete says, cheap isn't the price, but the quality of the materials. Hope I got the paraphrase correct. It was meant to be complimentary Pete.

 

brobear,

That's what I've said but as to this post - ->

I believe you read justjager's post entirely incorrently. No where in his post did he ever mention he wanted anything other than the "most consistant cheap media" though his English grammer stinks, I think he meant the most consistantly cheap media -

Assuming that he was speaking in US dollars and not U.K., Grand Cayman, Canadain, Austrailian or another countries currancy - He was paying $.56 each(USD) for his media.

justjiager,

One answer which I can provide, but most surly that will be corrected by brobear, would be Great AZO starting at $.28ea(USD). As I'm sure brobear will agree, it is truly a great buy as it uses the AZO dye which was never used by Verbatim exclusively, but probably by at least 3 other manufactureres as in the "Advanced Metal AZO." According to brobear, "Advanced Metal AZO" can be purchased from several manufactures also.
Remembering that all media is made by many companies so s/b pretty reliable. The AZO dye 'stamp" signifies that a certain dye and appliacation is being used or maybe isn't, not too sure yet But you should have excellent quality by using it.

I hope I have that right brobear, I will try to get to that site this weekend but till I do, I'll try to quote you to any questions about media - OK ?

cheers,

"P"

 

Pete,
Metal Azo, advanced is Verbatim sales term. MCC is just listed as using metal azo and you knew before I did probably that it is one of the preferred dyes. As long as the manufacturing process is good. You know as well as anyone that poor production procedures will ruin anything. The factual data is just that, data. The interpretation part was mine.

And I did catch the part about consistently cheap. In a nice way I said your choice to do it, but most people wouldn't. I guess you missed where I pointed out the quality GO4 was cheaper than his consistently cheap brand. That is where I paraphrased your saying, which is quite right for the situation. If you notice, we agree on this matter almost completely. The only problem I believe there was, is that you may have been unaware of Verbatim slipping in some cheap discs under their brand name. I'm referring to the -R CMC products.

I don't mind your standing up for a brand. However to cavalierly dismiss me as wrong without consulting me is where our disagreement occurred. You were right with the GO4 Riteks, but a person ending up with branded Verbatim by CMC might not be so happy. Not all the branded Verbatim have the AZO dye either. The branded DataLifePlus +R Verbatim seems to assure the best odds of getting the MCC or TY AZO discs. I know from personal experience that Ricoh made some of the DataLife discs.

[bold]I don't claim to be an expert on DVD media, nor would I want to be. Too hot in this kitchen for me.[/bold] So Pete, hurry up and check out that data and you can have the hot seat. I officially bequeath it to you. :0)

 

the media is second nature to the burner

 

Cryptic, needs elaboration.