Charlie
16-01-2002, 15:34
Thought you might like this as a reference post.
Many people think that burning at 1x or 2x is best; others report good results at higher speeds. Here is something fairly technical that I posted in the DVD-R Swap Forum. I hope you find it useful.
I'll use Verbatims as the CD-R example. They come in three subtypes within two types of photosensitive dye:
Cyanine
Datalife Plus
Metal AZO
Pthalocyanine
Datalife
Cyanine CDs have a Long Write Strategy and so burn best at 1x or 2x. They have a longer shelf life if exposed to light, especially AZOs.
Pthalocyanine CDs have a Short Write Strategy and so burn best at 4x or on the best burners 8x (Laser power matters at higher speed). They have a shorter shelf life if exposed to light - say 10 years.
With CDRs it's all about ensuring that the burned opaque bit doesn't splay so as to make it difficult to read; burn a Short Write Strategy CD-R for too long and that's what happens. Pressed CDs have clean pits and ridges and it's the transition from one to the other that counts as a 1 bit.
Bottom Line
If you were aware of the above and burned at the said speeds, then you would be satisfied with the results. PC World (UK) "unbranded" media are the same fabrication as Verbatim Datalife (except that Datalife have better surface protection), and these both are the ones I rate best.
As ever, my advice is taken at your own risk!!
Many people think that burning at 1x or 2x is best; others report good results at higher speeds. Here is something fairly technical that I posted in the DVD-R Swap Forum. I hope you find it useful.
I'll use Verbatims as the CD-R example. They come in three subtypes within two types of photosensitive dye:
Cyanine
Datalife Plus
Metal AZO
Pthalocyanine
Datalife
Cyanine CDs have a Long Write Strategy and so burn best at 1x or 2x. They have a longer shelf life if exposed to light, especially AZOs.
Pthalocyanine CDs have a Short Write Strategy and so burn best at 4x or on the best burners 8x (Laser power matters at higher speed). They have a shorter shelf life if exposed to light - say 10 years.
With CDRs it's all about ensuring that the burned opaque bit doesn't splay so as to make it difficult to read; burn a Short Write Strategy CD-R for too long and that's what happens. Pressed CDs have clean pits and ridges and it's the transition from one to the other that counts as a 1 bit.
Bottom Line
If you were aware of the above and burned at the said speeds, then you would be satisfied with the results. PC World (UK) "unbranded" media are the same fabrication as Verbatim Datalife (except that Datalife have better surface protection), and these both are the ones I rate best.
As ever, my advice is taken at your own risk!!