Go Back    Forum > Digital Video > Blank Media

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools
  #1  
10-01-2009, 03:55 AM
admin's Avatar
admin admin is offline
Site Staff | Web Development
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 4,310
Thanked 654 Times in 457 Posts
from e-mail...
Quote:
Is it not a good idea to use the "shiny silver" Taiyo Yuden DVD-Rs or something? I've heard that around (not sure if it was on your site). I always buy authentic TY from supermediastore.com, so at least I know they are legit. Are the printable label ones better for some reason?
This really comes down to personal choice, as it's primarily an issue of aesthetics (appearance).

Optical discs are best protected (from light AND mild surface handling) by a covering. Professionally, this is done with
  • manufacturer or OEM re-badge screening ("branded" discs),
  • end-user/customer silkscreening,
  • or by use of inkjet or thermal surface (and more recently, LightScribe surfaces), laid by manufacturer and printed by end-user.
Inexperience home users often apply "sticky labels" made for CD media, with disastrous consequences. This is NOT AT ALL suggested. Never use sticky labels on DVDs, period, for any reason.

Shiny silver discs are manufactured with the expectation that they will be used in a duplication scenario, where the discs will have a silkscreen printing job added to the surface, thus giving it the desired/expected level of "protection".

Protection from what?

Well, mostly fingerprints. Shiny silver media are often magnets for the oils in your hands -- even the cleanest of hands -- and it makes for dirty discs. The oils can attract dirt, lint and other junk, which can fling off in the drive when the disc is rotating at those high rotational velocities. Admittedly, the idea that something will stick to a fingerprint and then clog up a DVD player is a bit far-fetched. Gravity and air particulates are already forcing dust into your player. What little extra may stick to a disc and come off in the equipment is probably inconsequential. It mostly just looks nasty.

Albeit thin, the top surface of a disc can provide a small amount of extra protection from force that may damage the media. For example, dropping a pen on a disc. In theory, the pen could damage the plastic upper layer, which may alter the foil or dye inside just enough to render bad sectors on the media. Not very realistic either, but theoretical. (It might explain some of the "my data disappeared" whining you find online, too -- as many of those complaints come from less-than-ideal circumstances, be it testing, storage or handling!)

A realistic issue, however, is that light more easily passes through the shiny silver "topless" media. Light is a primary enemy of optical media, along with moisture and oxygen, so a disc left in the sun (or indoor lights for a much longer duration), even with the dye-side face down, can be damaged more quickly. Realism aside, that is poor handling and care of media, discs should be put up anyway, not left in window sills or coffee tables.

The science is there, just not necessarily practical reasoning.

The only actual issue is that fingerprints look unclean/unsanitary.

- Did this site help you? Then upgrade to Premium Member and show your support!
- Also: Like Us on Facebook for special DVD/Blu-ray news and deals!
Reply With Quote
The following users thank admin for this useful post: mlongue1 (01-17-2011)
Someday, 12:01 PM
admin's Avatar
Ads / Sponsors
 
Join Date: ∞
Posts: 42
Thanks: ∞
Thanked 42 Times in 42 Posts
Reply




Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Liteon 5005 failed - DVD tray won't open anymore Digitaldvdman Blank Media 5 09-28-2009 03:34 AM
Blu-ray to allow "managed copies", new hardware required admin Videography: Cameras, TVs and Players 0 06-19-2009 11:23 AM
Third-party/generic/compatible camera accessories? admin Photo Cameras: Buying & Shooting 0 03-17-2009 03:04 AM
Sound Forge restoration of overblown sounds jeremym Restore, Filter, Improve Quality 3 02-14-2006 03:02 AM
Acutal size with "record cropped video" ? jlietz Capture, Record, Transfer 3 03-03-2005 11:41 PM

Thread Tools



 
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:30 AM