Korean Job Discussion Forums

SuperHero · Joined: 10 Dec 2003 Location: Superhero Hideout

I'm considering buying a DVD burner in the next couple of weeks and would like some advice on which brand/model to buy.

Derrek · Joined: 15 Jan 2003

I have been burning DVDs for a year. My burner is a 4x Memorex (single-layer 4.7) which has performed admirably, but doesn't read very fast.

The important things to consider:

1. Software. Make sure it comes with something like Roxio or Nero to burn DVDs. Some versions of these programs have this option disabled, so if you have an older version you got with a CD Burner, they may not work on your DVD Burner.

2. Does it burn 4.7 Gig disks (rental disks are dual-layert 8.5 Gig, so you have to compress with a free program like DVD Shrink) or the newer dual-layer disks.

3. Do you want + or -? My opinion is that you buy either a + burner or one that does both. I have had better luck with + media myself. I buy the REX brand disks, which are cheap and cost about 700 won each at Technomart these days. They are the cheapest disks I've found which consistently perform well. They have a white face with REX in blue and/or black on the side of the face.

Also, keep in mind that the speed of the burner isn't as big of a deal if you are buying one of the older and cheaper 4.7 gig burners, because compressing the DVD takes 1 to 1 1/2 hours anyway. My 4x Burner will burn a 4.7 gig disk in maybe 16 minutes.

Try the new NEC player (sometimes they go under the "HOOKS" label.. or is it "HOOX?" in Korea):

NEC ND3500 / 16x4x16x DVD��RW / 4x DVD+R DL / 48x24x48x CD-RW / Dual Format /

(Make sure your NEC has Nero or Roxio for burning DVDs!!!!!!!!!! Some are sold without!)

Plextor, Lite-On (a Korean brand) and Sony are all decent.

Personally, I'd get the NEC if you have to buy now. Burning a dual-layer 8.5 gig disk at 2.4 would take like 25 minutes on my Pentium 4 2.4mhz machine. That's why I'd want the 4x NEC burner, because it would burn a full one in about 15 minutes or so.

I downloaded and use DVD Shrink, which is a great program and is free off the web. You can throw out stuff you don't need from the disk, like Thai language, DTS or extra out-takes and advertising crap they include (I often keep DTS , but will throw that out of I need to achieve a better compression).

I always shoot for a 70% compression if I can. I don't like it go to below 65, and never below 60, or the video looks poor to me.

Another good free program I use is DVD Decrypter. That one will copy the entire disk to your computer without compressing, and will remove the Macrovision and Region coding (DVD Shrink removes that stuff too). I'd use DVD Decrypter if I bought a Dual-Layer burner, I'd imagine. You wouldn't need to compress a disk then.

On another note, my TV is a 29" . I don't plan to upgrade to the dual-layer burner anytime soon because I get by fine for now. Quality is still excellent enough, even if compressed to 65%, in my view. The 8.5 gig media is still too high-priced as well, at maybe 5000 won per disk, I think. Personally, I will wait until the Dual-layer burner speeds go up, or until I find out what happens in the HDTV wars. But for you, I'd buy a Dual-layer burner just to have the capability.

Sage Monkey · Joined: 01 Nov 2004

I would highly recommend getting a dual layer burner. Check out this burner buy LG. You can just slot it into your desktop pc or into a usb enclosure.

If you are not going the way a dual layer, Nutech has some ace burners. Take a look at their site here for internal drives, here for externals, and here for a really sweet ultra slim external with Mt. Ranier support. These can all be found on the same page but I just thought that I would save you some time.

These two companies really do great work with DVD+rw/-rw drives.

MixtecaMike · Posted: Thu Dec 16, 2004 5:24 pm Post subject:

If you know almost nothing about different formats this page should be of use.
http://www.videohelp.com/dvd.htm

Derrek · Joined: 15 Jan 2003

Wow, I was way off guessing on the DL write speeds.

Dual/Double Layer(8.5GB) write speeds
1x CLV = about 105 minutes
2.4x CLV = about 44 minutes
4x CLV = about 27 minutes

I'd definately not bother getting a 2.4x dual-layer burner when there's a 4x available. Heck, I'd probably wait for at least 8x or 16x, but that's just me. At least you won't have to go through the 1 1/2 hour Analyzation/Compression thing like I do now with a single-layer burner.

SuperHero · Joined: 10 Dec 2003 Location: Superhero Hideout

thanks everyone for your help, especially Derrek.

Derrek · Joined: 15 Jan 2003

Please let us know what you do and how it works out........

Derrek · Joined: 15 Jan 2003

I want to add that when you're doing the actual burning of the DVD, I find it best to not do anything more than web surf on your computer, or you might end up creating a coaster. It's often best just to leave it alone while it burns.

Also, I tried to copy Alamo today, and DVD Shrink couldn't understand the decryption. The movie theaters must be catching on. I looked for an updated version fo DVD Shrink, but it appears to have been taken off?? Maybe some other sites have it. I was able to use DVD Decrypter to figure out the decryption and make a disk image, then DVD Shrink shrunk it and burned it fine, though.

Sage Monkey · Joined: 01 Nov 2004

eamo · Joined: 08 Mar 2003 Location: Shepherd's Bush, 1964.

I bought that LG one linked above for 120,000 at Technomart.

It works!

Derrek · Joined: 15 Jan 2003

Actually, some of the recent research paints your LG as a really great burner -- best for the money from what I see. Excellent error-checking and you can copy a lot of the games that other players won't allow you to do.

I was going to upgrade to Nero 6 anyway, so I might as well buy this burner with it, since it's only another 40,000 won more than getting the full nero online! I might as well get a new drive, too!

The Samsung rates as one of the best -- if not the best -- at the moment, but it's pricey.

Interesting to see that the new SONY drive is listed as a virtual piece of crap. Terrible error problems and lots of coaster-making problems. They used to have the top drive a while back. Pioneer is good, but they block out a lot of hacks and things to make the player better.

I have been messing around with the software out there, too, and Nero 6 Reloaded is the best thing going (as long as you download the recent update).

The .mpg compression quality runs circles around my Roxio program, so it looks like I'll be buying Nero.

SuperHero · Joined: 10 Dec 2003 Location: Superhero Hideout

I'll probably go with the LG model discussed above. I'm just waiting for a small windfall to arrive in my bank account and then I'm going shopping. item 1 is a flat screen monitor, item 2 is the DVD writer.

Thanks for all your advice guys.

SuperHero · Joined: 10 Dec 2003 Location: Superhero Hideout

Well I spent a little more than I expected to on my 19" LCD monitor and other stuff so I have decided to wait a while longer on the burner purchase. I may even wait for the blue-ray technology to settle down on formatting and then buy that.

Bulsajo · Joined: 16 Jan 2003

Derrek · Joined: 15 Jan 2003

Guys, I want to add a note about NERO.

I loved the program, but the new version 6 has a lot of bugs in it. The recent December updates don't solve everything, either. I'm sure the CD burning is fine, but for authoring your own DVDs, it's got major issues. The video and audio loses sync. It's too bad, because the video quality is really nice.

I hope they work that out.

I like using Roxio a lot, but not for authoring DVDs. Roxio does a nice job burning copies of DVDs when used with DVDShrink. I'm sure Nero does fine with that, too, but Nero is far from ready to call their DVD authoring software bug-free.