Verbatim DVD-R are the best disc you could be using, both for a master copy, and for copies given to customers.
The Mitsubishi-manufactured Verbatim-branded discs have excellent quality control. And then the reflective quality of a Verbatim DVD-R consistently tests as the best among DVD-R, both in our tests, and in quite a few others we've read.
I almost feel like a Verbatim salesman.
The best "archival" solution, however, would include not just one burn to a Verbatim DVD-R, but possibly a copy on Taiyo Yuden DVD+R, and maybe even Verbatim DVD+R. And at least one set of discs stored at another location. And then beyond that, keep ISO copies on a backup hard drive -- maybe even two copies, one on each of two hard drives.
To some folks that may sound like overkill -- until you've lost your only copy.
We constantly track the best prices on Verbatim discs, posting them in
the daily deals forum ... as well as on the main
blank DVD review pages that discuss the best blank discs, and where to buy them.
Don't be conned by ads that use "Grade A", "Archival Gold" and other BS marketing terms to make their subpar media sound better than it really is. Gold is NOT better than silvery metals, when it comes to optical media. In fact, gold is worse, as it's less reflective.
Yes, Verbatim makes an "archival" disc with a gold upper platter, but those appear to be made simply for people that are foolish enough to buy them. The reflective layer is still a non-gold metal. There's really no point in the gold being in the disc, aside from fuzzy feelings for the buyers, and extra profit for the manufacturer. It's not much different than "DVD safe" markers or DVD sticky labels, other products that are unnecessary.
