DVDs 'going off'

[Chris Barnard]

Hi, I've posted on the subject of DVDs not working for clients before. Since I swirtched to Ac3 things have been a lot better.

At the moment I'm having trouble with one particular client. 1st disc checked out fine and was sent off but refused to work for him. 2nd disc 'played through just fine 4 times' but now the same player gives a 'not supported' message.

The discs are Taiyo-Yuden, encoded at 7000kps, PAL, region-free, M2v video and ac3 audio.

How do discs 'go bad' other than as a result of physical damage? The file structure cannot suddenly change like some crazed chamaeleon, can it?

Would it be more sensible to create a disc image file and burn from that rather than doing it on the fly in ULEAD?

[wags]

Taiyo-Yuden disks are very good.
7mbps is good.

How fast are you burning them?
I never go over 6 speed.

It's always best to burn the files from the hard drive.

[THoff]

Are you using stick-on labels (or did the client put one on)? The labels can shift, and the slightest vibration can cause the disk not to be readable.

I generally always create an ISO image and burn from that.

[Chris Barnard]

Thanks for the replies guys!

I'm burning from the HD right now as I writer this. Will have a look when it is done. I guess creating the image file and then using that means the PC is a lot less stressed than having to do it on the fly, right?

1. I DO use stick on labels and although I am pretty good, it's not always possible to get it exactly in the centre - sometimes they are a few mm off . . . I guess this could easily cause problems . . . Would it be better to get those disc printers - do TY discs work with those?

2. I burn at 4x, sometimes 2x if it is a long project!

3. An ISO file is the same as a disk image, right?

THANKS so much for the help dudes!

Chris

[kwshaw1]

I DO use stick on labels...

While, there's your problem then. In my experience stick-on labels will cause problems over time and should not be used under any circumstances on DVDs, especially for paid projects delivered to clients. My recommendation would be to get rid of your remaining labels and the label applicator so you're not tempted to use them again someday, then buy some printable DVDs and an inkjet printer with a CD/DVD tray. I've had far fewer playback problems since I stopped using stick-on labels, especially those mysterious problems which develop after a disc has been played a few times. Plus printed discs can look and feel more professional than ones with paper labels, especially the new water-resistant discs with a glossy surface.

In summary, don't use stick-on labels. Ever.

[THoff]

I concur, that is the cause of your problem -- even if you get the label in just the right place initially, the label can drift when the glue gets soft due to heat (either from the climate or the inside of the computer). I gave up on stick-on labels years ago and bought an Epson R200 (now discontinued) to use exclusively with inkjet-printable disks.

This avoids the playback problems that you get with stick-on labels, looks far better, and the disks use less ink than paper labels.

I order Taiyo Yuden inkjet printable media, slim DVD cases (and ink when I need it) from Shop4Tech, which has very good prices and a large selection of products. They also have free UPS ground shipping in the continental US, which can add up to significant savings on heavy and bulky items like hundreds of DVD cases and blank media.

[SRsupport]

I can second that. Buy a canon dvd printer.
They are cheap and Sturdy and way better then Epson. Epson drinks inked like water, the loading tray is flimsy the dvd loading mechanism goes south very fast when used intensively there is ink smudge.
A lot of us on the forum have changed to canon

Don't use stick on labels.

[kwshaw1]

Can you buy the Canon printers with the DVD tray in the U.S. now, or do you still have to order the tray separately? Also, doesn't HP make a DVD printer now, and if so has anyone tried it?

[pjsssss]

I concur with the rest...no lables.

I have been through the gamet of Epson printers and have used the Canon for quite awhile now. It is much better, but I think you still have to get the tray seperate and do a software hack if you are in the US.

[Chris Barnard]

Cripes on a bike. And to think that I have been suffering with this problem for years now. Keeping me up at night worrying having fixed everything else I could think of!

All the while humming happy tunes whilst merrily sticking on those Satan-endorsed, evil alien made gummy disks of death! I tell ya, say thankya!

Guys, I can't thank you enough!

I'm in the Caribbean but I get my stuff from the UK as it's easy for friends to carry materials on the plane in suitcases. Is there a good printer from the UK that'll do the job?

Cheers again amigos!

[SRsupport]

Chris what is the voltage in St. Lucia?
110/127?

[Chris Barnard]

This looks like it'll get the job done:

http://www.canon.co.uk/For_Home/Product_Finder/Printers/Bubble_Jet/PIXMA_iP5300/index.asp

What do you think?

[SRsupport]

Yes it will. Don't forget to buy inkjet printable dvds :)

[plasma_video]

Canon printers?

First of all, I got rid of all my paper labels for CDs and DVDs a couple of years ago, due to the problems you mentioned. It's rare to have one come back these days. However - watch your media. I recently got a spindle of DVDs that were the same brand and type that I had been using forever, and the first 2 DVDs I burned from that batch were unreadable on a desktop DVD player. I used Nero CD/DVD Speed to check the quality, and the PIO failure rates were through the roof. Looking at that batch of disks, I found little bubbles on the surface near the inner hub, and I think those little bubbles indicated some type of defect, although they were not on the actual burning surface of the disk. The older media did not have the defect, so it must have been a bad run that went through QC.

Anyway, Pat, what about the Canon printers? Why aren't the DVD printing trays and capabilities sold in the US? Is there some kind of Epson patent issue? My Epson works fine, but as mentioned, it sucks up ink - a lot of it when you first cut it on and it cleans the nozzles. Plus, the darn thing shows "empty" cartridges when it's abviously got a lot left, so they are very wasteful.

I'd like to try a Canon - where can you find the right one, get the tray and find the software/firmware hack for them?

Tom

[pjsssss]

Try this link and it will give you the hack as well as some noce feedback on the different models http://pixma.allhyper.com/

For some reason the Canon printers are fixed to not print DVD here in the US (an agreement with Epson?). You can buy any DVD capable printer here, use the hack and it works like a charm. You will have to buy the tray. I think eBay has most of them now. If not, get someone overseas to sen you one.