DVD-Rs

[Smatt]

Some basic questions about DVD-Rs:
Any advice about good quality brand for archival- I presume TDK would be ok?
Listed speeds vary for the DVD-r upto 16x, yet the players go upto 22x.
-what are the fastest discs?
-Can the disc 'hold back' the player?

Many thanks for advice

 

[verytalldave]

I believe Kodak sell what they call "Archive quality" disks which I would assume have a longer lifespan given the name. They use a gold surface as opposed to normal silver which can oxidise - according to Kodak.
Worth spending as much as you can afford if its something valuable and/or irreplaceable.

The copy speed is dependant on either the disk or the copier. It will copy at the optimum speed - no need for you to worry or do anything.

Related article...............
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/27/t...418e851fa&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss

 

[hitenhirani]

too quick a speed, and the data written maybe not be readable properly.
last thing you want is to insert the disc at a later date, only to be left with a disc and a prompt on your desktop "CRC errors!"

too slow, and its just not worth having a high speed recorder, but if its for archival, it must be important. I'd go with 4x/8x, quick enough, yet data integrity is held.

Edit: think of it as handwriting...
depending on your handwriting, but working in IT, you tend not to write much!
if you write too fast, the end result is almost unreadable/illegible.
take your time to write the same thing, and you can be sure it can be read, and understood when coming back to it.

 

[grober]

this is a good review but dated 2005? http://www.cdr-zone.com/articles/recordable_dvd_quality_page_1.html and this guys take on why DVD +R is better for archival?? http://adterrasperaspera.com/blog/2006/10/30/how-to-choose-cddvd-archival-media

Taiyo-Yuden are reckoned to be among the best but are rarely seen under that name outside Japan. http://www.taiyo-yuden.com/media/lineup.html They make media for others which is rebranded but will be designated as made in Japan. Available here http://www.dvdshoponline.co.uk/Taiyo_Yuden.html?gclid=CMiI0N2g4ZgCFQ4yQgodkk4Ycg

you can get the kodak ones here http://www.dvd-and-media.com/arita-dvd.htm

 

[Spinal]

We use only Taiyo-Yuden disks... there were a few tests/reports flying about a while ago, and Taiyo-Yuden came up consistently on top.

As Grober says, they are hard to find outside of Japan, and what's worst is that there are alot of fakes flying about.

Given the quantity we use (600+ a week) we contacted Taiyo-Yuden directly, and they put us in contact with their UK suppliers:
http://www.goldingproducts.com/
They may not be the cheapest, but at least you are guaranteed original TY disks...
M.

 

[Smatt]

Thanks all; some great links. This really helps to guide me in quest. Will def get some T-Y DVD+Rs !

 

[grober]

Just make sure your DVD writer will write to DVD +R discs as well as -R before you buy many.

 

[HughJarse]

Im afraid Taiyo Yuden are not chickens teeth and are just as cheap as any other media.

http://svp.co.uk/searchresults.php?sSrch=Taiyo&Submit.x=0&Submit.y=0&Submit=Search

 

[BTB 500]

Any advice about good quality brand for archival

Whatever the brand I would burn at least two copies if it's important, test-read them after creation and every 6 months thereafter.

 

[Antharro]

Most consumer optical discs aren't good for long-term storage. I've seen the metal layer flake off CDRs and DVDRs within a couple of years.

Taiyo-Yuden are good discs, but I personally prefer Ridisk.

I swear by these discs: Link to Ridisc DVDrs at svp.co.uk
And I've also used these with no problems: Link to RiVision Overprints

It's not the brand on the disc that matters, it's the dye used to create the disc. Ritek have generally produced very good dye and I've been using their discs since the G04 dye which was many, many years ago. G05 was also great but it was implemented badly. So Ritek stopped selling to other companies for a while and produced their own discs under the RiDisc brand.

Look for the ADVDInfo. Any decent CD/DVD sales place will provide this information (see here for examples). A google search on any ADVDInfo will give you the low-down on it.

For example, the Philips discs on that page are actually Riteks!

Overprint discs are usually noticably cheaper and good value for money. They are perfectly usable discs, but when the manufacturer's logo was printed on them, something went wrong with the printing process so they failed quality control on that. They get sent off to go through another printing process where they are re-printed (hence "overprint") and sold at a discount. TuffDisc are pretty decent, I've been using their discs for years.

Bill's advice is sound. If your writing software has a "verify" feature, use it. (Nero does). And definitely check them a few months later. Don't just see if you can see the files on the disc, actually open them. They do degrade over time. If you want to make sure your data is safe, make annual copies too.

 

[whizzkid11]

Never had any issues with HP branded, DVD-Rs and DVD-RW.

Use to use Datawrite and RiTek, but HP ones have never had any compatibility issues. Memorex/Kodak have also been used widely.

Check out some of the deals at: S V P

 

[Smatt]

Just make sure your DVD writer will write to DVD +R discs as well as -R before you buy many.

-Only bought this year & supports all formats including blu-ray, thanks

 

[Smatt]

Should I keep my original HDminiDV tapes as an extra source of backup, or is this an unreliable archival medium?
Thanks

 

[Smatt]

too quick a speed, and the data written maybe not be readable properly.
last thing you want is to insert the disc at a later date, only to be left with a disc and a prompt on your desktop "CRC errors!"

too slow, and its just not worth having a high speed recorder, but if its for archival, it must be important. I'd go with 4x/8x, quick enough, yet data integrity is held.

Edit: think of it as handwriting...
depending on your handwriting, but working in IT, you tend not to write much!
if you write too fast, the end result is almost unreadable/illegible.
take your time to write the same thing, and you can be sure it can be read, and understood when coming back to it.

So is it possible to alter the write speed of the drive, or is this decided upon by the disc?
Thanks

 

[grober]

Most burning programmes will allow you to set the writing speed up to the maximum the disc / writer will allow but many folks will crack the speed down a notch or two as hitenhirani recommends. Many burning programmes also have a data verify utility which will check the disc data against the source data post burn.

 

[hitenhirani]

alot of burning programs, will read the disc, and determine the max write speed, at the point of burning, you are usually able to select a write speed.
I would insert the disc well before running through any wizards, so the software knows the type of disc being written to.
Some, not all, software will allow you to select a write speed, and then the point of burn, will ask you for a disc, you put it in, and the selected write speed is then totally disregarded. Just a point worth mentioning.

 

[Smarties]

CRUMBS!, I thought that DVD's as a medium were as good as it gets. Some postings would suggest that you can right them off after a number of years. Disappointing, as I've got videos that are approaching 30 years old, and in the main are still pretty good. Does this mean that my spindle of WOOLWORTHS +R's, which came with a lifetime guarantee, isn't worth the paper it's written on?

 

[Smatt]

Should I keep my original HDminiDV tapes as an extra source of backup, or is this an unreliable archival medium?
Thanks

bump (as it was a few posts back!)

CRUMBS!, I thought that DVD's as a medium were as good as it gets. Some postings would suggest that you can right them off after a number of years. Disappointing, as I've got videos that are approaching 30 years old, and in the main are still pretty good. Does this mean that my spindle of WOOLWORTHS +R's, which came with a lifetime guarantee, isn't worth the paper it's written on?

-probably! (where will you return them to?)