Sorry for bringing this back up.

Concerning the DVD-RAM stuff:
Even with Verbatim dvd+rw media code MKM A02 the 2nd burns are getting worse. 1st burns I posted here
, I guess, aren't bad at all but on successive burns I'm beginning to get max PIFs in the 4-5 range seen in my next post in that thread.

So I'm looking at the -RAM option.

Can the Sony DRU-820A be recommended along with previously mentioned drives or not?
Also can the Maxell branded 3x DVD-RAM also be recommended? BTW, I liked the old 10x CD-RW Maxell had a couple of years ago but don't know the DVD side of their business. I still have a couple of those CDs laying around still scanning good to this day and I've rewritten to them quite a bit.

Both of the above are available locally. I'm trying to stay local to save on shipping but will shop online if need be.

Edit: BTW I'm reading the cdfreaks review for drive right now. Just now noticed it.

I think I'm sold on the LG GSA-4167B considering the price now at newegg.
And since reading the reviews and gathering what I could about the -ram verification, I guess it doesn't matter what media to use.
Sorry to waste your reading time.

Good luck with buying a 4167B, enjoy your new drive, when you get it.

Hehe, this thread went a little OT ...but on the subject of media, I'd buy Maxell to try, if I could find some. ATM, all I can find is Panasonic, which works very well (had one disc on the go for a good year or so, no probs yet).

Yeah it kinda of went off topic but then again isn't dvd-ram dvd rewritable media of a sort ? Plus this is still a good thread for storing vital info for -ram newbies like me.

Well I've been trying to see if I can get 5x rated at least maxell brand stateside. Walmart has the Maxell 3x 3 in a pack for $10. But no luck on 5x at rima.com or business-supply.com. I found http://www.business-supply.com/offic...dvd-media.html
through googleing and they shipped real quick and they carry the better brands. That's where I found my Verbatim CD-RW stuff. So I recommend put them on one's list of sources stateside.
Arachne, I see that you are 'somewhere in England' so I can't help you out there.

I do have one question for those in the know. I'm seeing some of these in Type 1, 2, and 4 cartridges for both the single-sided 4.7 GB and the double-sided 9.4 GB dvd-ram. What are these used in? Commercial units?

I'm guessing that I'll need the non-cartridge type of disc just like dvd-r for example, or a type 4 disc removable like shown here correct?
I'm interested in getting some 9.4 GB appropriate for my new drive coming soon. It's too bad that newegg doesn't sell any -ram media. All in one package for an early Christmas AND birthday which are both in the same month BTW . That LG drive in black at newegg is only $38.

Hehe, I was talking about the "drives" discussion, rather than the media thing, being OT

Yeah, I use Panasonic 2-3x non-cartidge RAM in my 4167, but that's all I know about it!

I'm sure I'll find some Maxell somewhere to satisfy my curiosity, thanks for the thought

I was just following karangguni's posting of advice in my head. Sorry if I stepped on any toes. I just noticed you are a MOD but a easy going MOD at that.

I've already got the LG on the way but I need some 5x 4.7 or 9.4 GB online sources stateside.

I am looking at this one but I can't tell what speed by the photo and it is not explicitly said whether the disc can be removed from cartridge or not.

I could really use some more sources.

Ok, I have a habit of following a discussion which is OT and then carrying on until the topic is all but a long lost memory. My fault.

How about directly from Panasonic?

http://www2.panasonic.com/webapp/wcs...00000000005702

5x SL DVD-RAM (non-cartridge type - the 4167B doesn't take cartridges) is $3.99. I've used these same discs on both my 4163B and 4167B and they work fine.

Hehe, no worries from me, I just know Franck likes to have his threads on topic, as far as possible, anyway.

All we can get here that I've seen locally is 2-3x RAM...guess we're a little slow, have to see what I can find online

Right, as far as possible.

When it's NOT possible (and it's rather often actually, like it's the case here with media and burners..), I just let it be...

Why am I so picky with this? Because I remember the time when I was looking for specific infos on this forum, and couldn't find them when I needed them most. Then weeks later, out of mere chance, I found these info in the places I wasn't looking!

OT: Haven't seen you around for a few days, nice to see you back in here!

I know what you mean...dozens of times I've done a search of the forums for something, and sometimes it's been found in the unlikeliest of threads

[OT]
Was still around, but not posting much.. I'm terribly busy these days.. don't hesitate to report "bad" posts or threads - take care!
[/OT]

OT yeah hijacking my thread ay? /OT

Thanks, I think that link did the trick.

OK, a dumb question from someone who is seriously considering the purchase of his first DVD-RAM drive:

On that Panasonic link, the 4.7Gb RAM discs "for video recording" are a lot less expensive than the ones "for PC drives." Aside from the formatting, is there any difference between the two types of discs?

This could be something related to cartridge/non-cartridge types... Ask the retailer, usually the cheaper discs are without cartridge but in jewel case or cakebox and should work with PC drives as well.

Today most Cartridge type DVD-RAMs have a special Cardridge which can be opened so there should be no problem with using those. I myself use Cartridge DVD-RAM with my standalone recorder and take them out to use with my PC drive since I only have a Toshiba DVD-ROM drive there....

Both types of discs are without cartridge. I don't understand the price differential. I think Panasonic just has some illogical pricing. Notice the first two items in the link: a 10-pack and a 15-pack of the same product have identical prices.

http://www2.panasonic.com/webapp/wcs...00000000005702

I am suspecting that the discs meant "for PC drives" might be factory formatted differently. Perhaps that is the cause of the higher pricing. This idiotic footnote that accompanies the description for those discs doesn't really help :

It sort of makes sense till the last sentence. However, it makes one thing clear : you can use those "for video" discs on a PC. It isn't exactly correct about needing to reformat the discs though - I've used the discs with green packaging in the centre (LM-AF120MU) on an LG GSA-4167B without needing any formatting before use. On another drive, I did need to format the discs to UDF 1.5 in order to use them. The discs came factory formatted as UDF 2.0. I suspect it has to do with whether your writer can handle that file system format. I was using the same Panasonic DVD-RAM drivers on both systems.

Note also that those "for PC" discs have no speed rating. Are those 1x DVD-RAM discs??!

You want the LM-AF120LU15 discs. I use them in all my drives and they are UDF 2.0 formated. RAM drivers and utilities allow reformatting if there is some reason you don't want UDF. If you notice, the 10 pack are not available. Just sloppy web work. Don't forget to sign up for their free club to get free shipping and 10% off.

Thanks, chas & karangguni. I ordered the 15-pack and will be off to the races once the discs and the Pioneer DVR-111D arrive. Am also planning to pick up a Panny DMR-ES15S -- my first-ever DVD recorder. Wish me luck!

Don't forget you ned to crossflash to the 111 firmware at TDB's site to enable RAM writing.

Absolutely! Amazing what all might eventually be unlocked with crossflashing.

When you copy video off your DVD-RAM onto your PC, can you reuse the disk in your recorder? I can't.

I have an LG 4167B and a Panasonic DMR-E65S. Just opening the disk on my PC rendered the disk useless.

Some people blame the firmware, some the drivers, but I have tried every combination and I still can't reuse the disk in my recorder.

I have seen reports of this and I have a RAM disc I found would not work again on my Panasonic; I have to assume it was opened on one of my LGs before they went into external cases. Looks lime the only solution is a different drive. I can recommend the Pioneer 111D with TDB 111L firmware from Buffalo. Looks like the LGs are poison; mine could not be made Panasonic usable again either.

Cool. I've just ordered an Asus 1608P3S which is a rebadged Pioneer 111 drive. Does your Pioneer drive muck up your DVD-RAM disks at all?

Of my RAM drives, I have seen no problems with Pioneer, NEC or Liteon. I think my LG 4166 is OK as well given that it is not a "real" LG, but I don't want to lose another RAM disc. BTW, the disc I read on the LG works perfectly on all my optical drives. I use it all the time for data backup. It just won't work on the Panasonic recorder.

To be very clear, I just read about this problem and I have not tested all my drives. I have, however, been using these discs on my Panasonic and all three drives mentioned above interchangably for about 3 months on a weekly basis and I have not found any problems.