Verbatim Announces Archival Grade DVD-R Media

[Ian]

More and more companies seem to be offering archive grade media.

http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/060309/20060309005642.html?.v=1

I found this interesting:

Tim Clatterbuck, Verbatim Optical Storage Manager, emphasized that when it comes to archiving valuable data, users need both longevity and broad playback compatibility. "Archival-grade DVD media that only uses gold for the reflective layer provides a longer disc life, but it also has lower reflectivity and different read/write characteristics than standard silver DVD-Rs. This can cause drive compatibility issues," he noted. "By adding the Dual Reflective Layer, Verbatim archival-grade DVD-R media will look like the traditional discs to DVD drives and recorders and can attain the same drive read/write compatibility."

To overcome compatibility issues, the first layer of Verbatim's new Dual Reflective Layer is highly reflective and this, when combined with the Metal AZO dye recording layer, provides excellent read/write performance. As a result, DVD recordable drives can apply optimized recording conditions without requiring any firmware upgrades. The second reflective layer prevents oxygen from coming through the DVD bonding material. Oxidation, one of the primary causes of degradation, limits the lifetime of DVD media.

And yes Dolph.. I'll try to get you some of these.

[Justin42]

"Gee, remember when we told you DVDs would last forever? We didn't mean that crap you've been burning since 1999, we mean THIS stuff. That costs $10 a disc."

Seriously-- where do you find this archival grade stuff for sale? The normal places, and I just haven't looked hard enough? (Rima, Supermediastore, etc)?

[Boba_Fett]

Sure is great to know that everything else I've bought isn't "archival" quality. Bleh... and I remember when Pioneer brought out their A03 people were claiming that DVD-Rs will last 100 years

[MonsterMan]

I miss TDKs Armor Plated discs

Maybe these'll be almost as good...

[dodecahedron]

i wonder why no archival quality DVD+R ???

[dodecahedron]

1. it's unclear if this "Dual Reflective Layer technology" has Gold reflective layer or not.

2. "To overcome compatibility issues, the first layer of Verbatim's new Dual Reflective Layer is highly reflective."
if that's true why need a second reflective layer ?

3. "The second reflective layer prevents oxygen from coming through the DVD bonding material."
how can a second reflective layer prevent oxygen from coming through the DVD bonding material? i would suspect that the weakest areas (oxygen penetration wise) are gaps between the two polycarbonate discs, both at the rim and at the hub.

[dolphinius_rex]

i wonder why no archival quality DVD+R ???

MAM-A has them (but only *JUST* recently).

[MonsterMan]

i wonder why no archival quality DVD+R ???

MAM-A has them (but only *JUST* recently).

MAM-A? Got a link to order? I'm in the US...

Thanks!

And yeah...no DVD+R!?!

[dolphinius_rex]

i wonder why no archival quality DVD+R ???

MAM-A has them (but only *JUST* recently).

MAM-A? Got a link to order? I'm in the US...

Thanks!

And yeah...no DVD+R!?!

I only get them from MAM-A directly

And they have both Gold Archival DVD-R and Gold Archival DVD+R Hardend coating is an option as well.

[MonsterMan]

Sounds nice...they burn good? Any plans for retail sale to us poor end users ?

Edit:
These?
http://www.datamediastore.com/goardv.html

They have gold Kodak media too...hmm...

Edit #2:

$90 for 50!?!?! WTF? That better be some damn good media!
And $114 for 100 CD-Rs...ouch ouch ouch ouch!
Oh, and look! Medical DVD-Rs, 50 pack for $200

[dolphinius_rex]

Government organizations and hospitals pay BIG bucks for guarenteed media.

[MonsterMan]

Government organizations and hospitals pay BIG bucks for guarenteed media.

I guess! Too rich for my blood.

The TDK stuff looks like it's the Armor Plated media...wish you could still order that stuff. Oh well.

[frank1]

The TDK stuff looks like it's the Armor Plated media...wish you could still order that stuff. Oh well.

Armor Plated media from TDK is now sold under the name DURABIS
see:
http://www.tdk.com.au/product_Durabis.asp




--> (2,12 MB download in wmv)
http://www.tdk.com.au/products/multimed ... Armour.wmv

[frank1]

MAM-E [Europe] sells DVD-R / GOLD / 4,7GB / 4x certified

for 1,45 € a piece in their on-line shop:
http://www.mam-e.fr/web/onlineshop.php

[dolphinius_rex]

MAM-E [Europe] sells DVD-R / GOLD / 4,7GB / 4x certified

for 1,45 € a piece in their on-line shop:
http://www.mam-e.fr/web/onlineshop.php

True.... but from what I've heard, I suspect MAM-A may have better quality control. I *HAVE* seen some excellent test scores on MAM-E 4x DVD-R product, but I also know MAM-E has no regard for for MID code abuse, whereas MAM-A won't abide it.

Weird company

[frank1]

I posted that info about MAM-E because the factory is located at about only 30 km from my home.
I still try (hard !) to get invited there for a visist and see how they work.

So I hope to get one day some samples of these "DVD-R 4x GOLD"
just hoping that they are not manufactured somewhere else ...

[dolphinius_rex]

I posted that info about MAM-E because the factory is located at about only 30 km from my home.
I still try (hard !) to get invited there for a visist and see how they work.

So I hope to get one day some samples of these "DVD-R 4x GOLD"
just hoping that they are not manufactured somewhere else ...

Well, I know they have the MAM 4x code on them. I'm wondering about the 4x DVD+Rs though, since I've never seen MAM-A 4x DVD+Rs with a MAM code before (DDDessau previously though).

[MacClipper]

i wonder why no archival quality DVD+R ???

Here, here... just S$12/25 pc spindle, lol.

eye2eye Archival Quality 8x DVD+R

This is the 1st time I'm seeing the MID, MICRON 001-000, there's so little info on the www. Media is claimed by the vendor to be made in Thailand using MCC based dye, good for 30 years so goes the sales pitch.

btw, eye2eye is the local distributor for Plextor and Pioneer burners, seems they had this media tailor made and packaged for them.

[frank1]

In the announcement made by Verbatim, I noticed the two following things:

"Archival-grade DVD media that only uses gold for the reflective layer provides a longer disc life, but it also has lower reflectivity and different read/write characteristics than standard silver DVD-Rs.
This can cause drive compatibility issues"

To overcome compatibility issues, the first layer of Verbatim's new Dual Reflective Layer is highly reflective and this, when combined with the Metal AZO dye recording layer, provides excellent read/write performance.
As a result, DVD recordable drives can apply optimized recording conditions without requiring any firmware upgrades.

Does this mean that if you use a DVD with a single gold reflective layer you need a firmware upgrade to wrtite them properly ?

I would even say:
must a blank DVD with A Metal Azo dye but having a GOLD reflective layer
have a different MID code from a blank with the same Metal Azo dye but using a SILVER reflective layer ?
so both DVD's get different write strategies with the same burner/firmware ...
They almost say that it may be a problem putting a proper write stategy for a gold reflective layer blank in a firmware or not ??