Best DVD burning hardware?

[BocaTide]

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I'm looking to buy a DVD burner. Any of you guys that have been transferring the tapes to DVD have any lessons learned to pass on?

Has anyone used Sony’s Internal DVD±RW Drive DRU500AX?


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UA 1984
Roll Tide

[sbott]

I'll pass your e-mail on to our experts!

s

[ElkmontRollTider]

BocaTide-

I've had the Sony DRU500A for about 3 months. I haven't made a coaster yet. I've converted several of the old Bama games to DVD myself, although I am not one of those currently offering copies on this board. I'd like to get better at it and have more time to do it first.

Simon - I'd also be very interested in getting some information from your "experts" regarding how they are converting these games. I've had pretty good success so far, but most of my conversions have been of the same games the others are already offering. I guess we all want the same ones on DVD first.

I do have a few on DVD that are not on the list. I have the 1979 & 1980 Sugar Bowl taken from ESPN Classic in January during the tribute to Coach Bryant. These were recorded directly to digital tape and converted to DVD. I also got the 1977 USC game, but it was recorded first on VHS. I remember this is one you and I discussed and you didn't have a decent original broadcast tape. Of course, these are edited down by ESPN, but the quality is much better than the originals of the whole games. If I ever get ambitious, I'll dub in the plays from the original that ESPN has edited out. This would provide some continuity to the games. Naturally, I am also cutting out all commercials.

Didn't mean to go on and on, but I would like to compare notes with those that are making the DVDs right now. One quick question that you can probably confirm for me, but are all of the games offered now compressed to one DVD? Early on, I thought I was going to have to use 2 per game, but I finally learned to accept the quality of the games compressed to one disc. It's just too costly otherwise, although the quality is a little better.

Thanks in advance for your help. RTR!

[BocaTide]

Simon, thanks.

Elkmont, have you used the +/- capability with the Sony yet? Or, do you find that you use one of the formats more than the other (less expensive disks, compatible with more players, etc.)? Thanks

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UA 1984
Roll Tide

[ElkmontRollTider]

I have used DVD-R and DVD-RW almost exclusively. I use the RWs to make test copies to test the quality before I make a permanent copy. I use the -R discs to make the final copies. I have 3 DVD standalone players, a new Panasonic, a 2-year old Sony, and a cheap $39 Apex from Wal-Mart, and they all will play the DVD-R's I have burned. The only + format disc I have tried is the DVD+RW that came with the drive, and it burned correctly. I have used -R/RW format exclusively so far because they are much cheaper than +R/RW discs. Opinions on which one are the most compatible with standalones vary based on the source of the information. Some say minus is the most compatible, others say plus. However, when they break it down to percentages, they are usually nearly the same percent compatible. I think most reasonably new players can play both formats, so it shouldn't matter. I bought this drive to ensure I could produce either type. It's a pricey drive, but it has been worth it so far.

www.dvdrhelp.com is a great resource for information on how to do all sorts of work with DVD+/-R,RW as well as video CD formats. They also have a lot of information about media and standalone player compatibility, as well as burner information. Hope this helps. It's a lot of work, but the finished product is worth it.

[Streyeder]

I just got the sony 510A DVD R+-/RW+- and it's been working like a charm! I love this thing!

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--Streyeder
"Stupidity should be painful."

Mallet Über Alles!