Media for DRU500ax

jako · #1 11-03-2003, 07:48

I see most people seem to use Ritek DVD-R media ? When looking at compatability of media on different sites I never see My Sony Drive listed. I have a Sony DRU500AX . So can anyone with this Drive please post what media they have used and the results . I want to order some media so when my PS2 arrives from IGW and can try it . I will also be backing up My DVD collection . Thanks

lugesm · #2 06-04-2003, 10:36

I have a Sony DRU500AX and have found that Maxell and Sony DVD-R media work. They are both expensive, however.

I have ordered a "cake box" of Ritek (much less expensive) and will be trying it tomorrow. I'll post results here.

LGS

lugesm · #3 07-04-2003, 19:29

jako -

OK, as promised, here is the answer. NOT A GOOD REPORT.

To qualify all this:

Recorder: Sony DRU500AX, almost new.
Player: Panasonic DVD player.
Software: DVD X Copy, version 1.3.1

I have previously copied several movies with this combination using both Sony and Maxell DVD-R media. No problems.

Received my 25 "Ritek silver/purple DVD-R" discs today and tried to copy a movie. It required two discs, of course; and both discs were badly flawed. The first disc played about 30 minutes, then started erupting with stray pixels which finally degraded into bursts of distortion in both sound and video. On two occasions the player froze completely. The second disc was even worse.

The discs were purchased from an Internet company called "cdrdvdrmedia" and were shipped from California. When received they were shrink wrapped with ZERO identification. One side is silver and the other side is dark purple, but there is NOTHING on the disc or the wrapper which idenitfies it as Ritek. So, I don't know if these are genuine or if someone has copied Ritek's purple color.

Anyone else done business with "cdrdvdrmedia" or had experience with their "Ritek" discs?

LGS

bighap · #4 07-04-2003, 20:14

There were some bugs in 1.3.1. Try 1.4.1 I use dvdxcopy with Ritek media no problem.

lugesm · #5 08-04-2003, 09:48

bighap -

Thank you for the prompt response to my inquiry. I have since downloaded v 1.4.1 and installed it.

I think I may have found a problem worth sharing, however.
When I was running the movie with those two Ritek discs I noticed that the picture didn't start to break up until I was about 30 to 45 minutes into the first disc. Then, when I tried the second disc after the first one finished playing, the 2nd one immediately malfunctioned. I turned the Panasonic DVD player off and allowed it to cool overnight. This morning I inserted the 2nd disc which had failed immediately last night and found that it appeared to function properly. This leads me to suspect that the Panasonic DVD player, which is about 4 years old, might have a problem with Ritek after the player heats up. I did not encounter this problem with the Panasonic DVD player when playing copies of a movie made on Sony or Maxell DVD-R media.

LGS

lugesm · #6 08-04-2003, 09:51

bighap -

Very important question: Do the Ritek discs you use have ANY identification printed on them? These that I bought are silver on the top side and dark purple on the bottom, but there is not a single word printed on them anywhere. In addition, they came in a plain, clear shrink-wrap package.

Appreciate your help.

Regards,
LGS

bighap · #7 08-04-2003, 10:40

It probably is your dvd player. Try playing it in your pc and see how it goes. Your discs sound like Riteks but here is how to tell if you got real Riteks. Download this tool. Insert one of your Riteks into your dvd burner. Then scroll to the option 0E- Pre-Recorded Information in Lead-in. Then click the read dvd-rom structure button. If you have real Riteks then the second line should end with this: RITEKG..03. If you get an error trying to run this program, try installing ASPI32 layer 4.60 here then try the prog again.

lugesm · #8 08-04-2003, 17:27

bighap -

That's great! The "ADVInfo" file worked exactly as you said it would and produced the "RITEKG..03" line, as predicted.

From this I presume that I have proof that these are genuine Ritek discs.

I am pretty new at burning DVD media, so this is all a real eye opener. I don't have any other types of media at this time to test with the "ADVInfo" utility, but I assume that different media would produce a different line.

Is it a general rule then that the Ritek discs will have no markings on the disc ? ? ? ?

Again, thanks for your generous help.

Regards,
LGS

bighap · #9 08-04-2003, 17:57

Yes, you will get a different result for a different brand. Riteks do not have any markings at all.

lugesm · #10 08-04-2003, 18:21

bighap-

OK. Thanks. Here's what I found.

Maxell Branded DVD-R responded "MXL RG..01"
Sony Branded DVD-R responded "VX TDKG02..000"

That second one was a surprise. This implies that the Sony DVD-R discs are actually manufactured by TDK and branded by Sony.

At the risk of becoming a nuisance, could you please direct me to any documentation on this utility, "ADVDInfo," so that I might understand all of its functions ? ? ? ?

Again, at the risk of becoming redundant, very grateful for your support.

Regards,
LGS

bighap · #11 08-04-2003, 18:41

Here is a post by the creator. If you need more info than that, try messaging him.

lugesm · #12 08-04-2003, 19:09

bighap -

Thanks again.

LGS

bighap · #13 08-04-2003, 23:09

You bet