Hi all, I have a few DVD recorders that actually prefer the slower media 1-4x. Been getting disc errors with the faster media.
Lately Ive found it hard to find DVDs at this speed. Checked a few local retailers and see all 16X on the shelf. Even on shopping sites they show pics of the media showing "up to 4X", and then the item description SAYS 16X!!!!

are these now sold at a premium in some underground market?
what gives?

The only way is firmware upgrades and/or replacing the recorders.
You could try some high quality 8x media too (TYG02, YUDEN000 T02, MAXELL 002...) which are still in production. MCC 003 and MCC 02RG20 are out of production but still available in some areas if you look hard enough

Incase of helping it might be nice to now your location.
Withouth it would be hard to point you to the media.

Meritline has 4x DVD+R Prodisc for 19.99 for 100 shipped, the ones I got from them were MCC02. They also have Verbatim 4x DVD-R if you prefer those.

I knew someone who was in a similar situation not too long ago, and the best deal I could come up with was these Verbatim 4X DVD-Rs for $0.22. They also have the printable variety, should you require them

I have some Verbatim DIGITAL MOVIE disks that are 4x. I use them for important backups of key movies that I own. Not only do they look cool, but they seem to perform flawlessly.

Perhaps you can find some of those?

Good Luck

edit: Did a GOOGLE search and it looks like they are still out the for sale. Here's one place:

http://www.buy.com/retail/product.as...mp&dcaid=17379

Enjoy!

I managed to find some Maxell branded YUDEN000 T01 (4x +R) in Curry's here in the UK awhile back.

Of course we won't know if we're helping til you state your location...

Maybe this won't help you, but I use this workaround to the same problem:

1. Record on RW
2. Rip and burn on PC.

It's longer, but this way I can have my stuff on the discs I want, and burnt the way I want them to be.

yep, great idea!! that's what I am doing for the time.. (RW at 4X, then PC burn copy). Seems to be working, but takes alot longer.

Couple sidenotes:

The media is used for a stand alone DVD recorder (Philips DVDR72). I also have a Liteon PC DVD Burner that works fine at higher speeds.
Ive looked at replacing the component recorder but the newer models dont have the features I want (ohh technology isnt it great?).

Until now, I had used Maxell002 media (MIJ) that was rated "up to 8x": and all was fine, till halfway through the spindle. Either the media was bad or the recorder decided to act up with the higher speed. (Philips doesnt not recommend over 4X for this model). Then tried SONY 1-8X and it wouldnt record longer than 10 seconds. Then got the crap memorex (up to 8X, CMC) just for giggles, and same problem (disc error). So its either the player or the media, still figuring that out. For further testing I was looking for some true 4x stuff. That will rule out player problems. And get this - I just bought a new/used recorder (the same model). So perhaps I will be stuck with 2 recorders that both screw up on the newer media. Will see....

My location is Michigan, USA.

So you didn't try Verbatim MCC004? It's supposed to be genuine multispeed media. It gives excellent burns @4X, though I haven't tried @2.4X yet.. you could give them a go, who knows.

I get good results with the following media in my Sony RDR-HX910 recorder even when burning in "real time" instead of doing a quick transfer. The drive officially supports up to 16x media.

Verbatim 16x DVD+R (MCC 004) Made in Taiwan by CMC
Verbatim 16x DVD-R (MCC 03RG20)
Verbatim branded Taiyo Yuden 8x DVD-R (TYG02)
Verbatim branded Taiyo Yuden 16x DVD-R (TYG03)
HP branded CMC 16x DVD-R (CMC MAG. AM3)
Sony 16x DVD-R (Sony 16D1)

So if your recorder has firmware recent enough to support any of those 8x/16x media (even if it cannot burn them faster than 4x) there's a good chance they may work in your recorder.

No guarantees, however.

yo-

You may want to look into the Ricoh 4x +R - R01's from www.allmediaoutlet.com

I have used over 200 in the past few months and for the $.22 each for 200 - they are a real bargain-eh!

Yeah! Ricoh R01 rocks! No kidding, if I could get more here ( ), I think I'd use these exclusively. Top-notch stuff. - and I can burn them up to 12X with great results.

[off topic]
Unfortunately not all RICOHJPNR01 is good, especially the stuff produced later on. I've got a couple hundred pcs of Imation RICOHJPNR01 that suck

...and I don't mean suck as in the PIF count is too high (), I mean bad scans + bad TRTs
[/off topic]

Yo-

The Ricoh 4x +R - R01's I got from allmedia was the unbranded 'real' Ricoh stuff - however - one whole spindle of 100 were bad - so I netted 300 good out of 400 bought - I seem to remember that chas0039 got some bad spindles too - so anyone who gets them should immediately test a few out of all the spindles to insure that they are good-eh!

That's possible, I was referring to the Ricoh-branded ones actually, the only ones I ever used.*LOL*

whats the best way to test them? kprobe2?
that wastes a disc when you do a burn test doesnt it?
just curious....

got some Verbatim up to 16X and they are WORKING!!!

not sure the manufacture code yet

thanks for the tip on the Verbs!

That's good news!