Recommend 9.4g DVD Ram available in Canada.

[X-Nemesis]

Currently I've found just this at Blankmedia

DVD-RAM 2X 9.4G OPTODISC ACRO CIRCLE

Is this good or are there better options available to me.

[dolphinius_rex]

Currently I've found just this at Blankmedia

DVD-RAM 2X 9.4G OPTODISC ACRO CIRCLE

Is this good or are there better options available to me.

Well, Optodisc *IS* a good manufacturer of DVD-RAM, but their best stuff is done for Maxell only.

For double sided DVD-RAM, your options are:
Maxell 3X DVD-RAM 9.4GB (w/Cartridge) item#636045

Verbatim 3x DVD-RAM 9.4GB (w/cartridge) item#95003
Verbatim 3x DVD-RAM 9.4GB w/Hardcoating (bulk 50pk) item#62026

AcroCircle / Optodisc 3x DVD-RAM 9.4GB (w/cartridge or jewel case) (their part numbers are harder to find )

Personally, I recommend the Maxell or Verbatim, but if you don't want/need a cartridge you might be better off with the AcroCircle/Optodisc.

NCIX.com and Blankmedia.ca are able to bring in all 3 types

Just do a search at www.ncix.com for dvd-ram and you'll find a bunch of options (including IBM and Panasonic it looks like)

[frank1]

Thanks a lot dolphin !
Could we also have some explanations
about single sided DVD-RAM's of 4,7 GB without cartridge ?

[dolphinius_rex]

Thanks a lot dolphin !
Could we also have some explanations
about single sided DVD-RAM's of 4,7 GB without cartridge ?

Hrm, what do you want to know?

Single Sided DVD-RAM without cartridge gives you more options. The same 3 big players basically though.

Maxell, Verbatim, and AcroCircle/Optodisc.

Maxell sells 3x and 5x DVD-RAM in single sided non cartridge variety (unless you live in Japan, then you can also get 12x DVD-RAM2).

I believe Verbatim has single sided DVD-RAM in a jewel case as well, but only 3x for the moment. I checked with them today however, and 5x is finally on the way.

AcroCircle/Optodisc makes both 3x and 5x DVD-RAM in single sided non-cartridge... but for some reason they only sell 3x. Some of my friends and I believe Optodisc might be contractually obligated to only product 5x DVD-RAM for Maxell, but it's remarkably hard to nail either company down on this. Although we do have this:
http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20040929B3094.html

sorry for the lack of part numbers... I keep all that info at my desk at work.

As for where to buy all of the above, I recommend sticking with the Maxell DVD-RAM. Both NCIX and Blankmedia carry it, and they have a pretty good price on the 5x. And interestingly enough, Maxell DVD-RAM prices tend to be the cheapest of the above 3 (lending more credability to my belief that Optodisc is making them).

[frank1]

Hrm, what do you want to know?

I should have been more precise ... and thanks again for answering !

In fact I like to know if the DVD-RAM's that I am able to get over here in Europe are of good quality
and which are the best ? (if it it possible to claim such a thing for DVD-RAM)
I use them mainly with a LG GSA 4163B for a safe DATA storage (FAT 32)



DVD-RAM's 3x certified (without cartidge)


Media code MXL8 : Maxell certified 3x
Made in Japan



Media code MO1 J3002
Made in Japan

Media code MO1 J3003 & hard coating 2~3x
LF-AF120LSDE Made in Japan (Matsushita Osaka)




Media code MO1 J3003 or 4
So under Verbatim brand the MID codes are the same as for Panasonic.


Reorder 43449 - Made in Japan

[frank1]

DVD-RAM's 5x certified (without cartidge)



Media code M01-J5006 : Panasonic DVD-RAM 2~5x
LM-HC47ME - Made in Japan (Matsushita Osaka)
UPC for America: 3798801376
LM-HC47ME



Media code MXL16 : Maxell certified 5x
with BCM (Bismuth Coupling Material) recording layer technology
MXL16: Made in ??

[dolphinius_rex]

Panasonic is an interesting one... they're BIG supporters of DVD-RAM, but they don't make a lot. Also, where Panasonic's media comes from has always been an interesting question. I've seen things leading me to believe Verbatim makes it for them, and other things that point to Panasonic making it themselves. I'm PRETTY sure it's a combination in reality. Obviously Verbatim's own DVD-RAM manufacturing is tied quite closely with Panasonic's as Verbatim is using their MID code, and I'm sure it's safe to say it's with permission.

In the long and the short of it though, we don't have any real way of testing DVD-RAM beyond a transfer rate test. Some LiteON's will return K-Probe results for DVD-RAM, but we don't really know what any of the results mean, considering DVD-RAM is such a different format from regular DVD or DVDR. So I can't really say that Verbatim, or Maxell, or Panasonic are any better then each other. What I *CAN* say is I've never seen any of those three fail a transfer rate test. I *HAVE* seen an Optodisc DVD-RAM fail a transfer rate test (well, it had a slow down... *I* count that as failing). I've also never heard anything bad about Panasonic, Maxell or Verbatim DVD-RAM.... so at this point I'd say go with the cheapest 5x disc in your area (unless you REALLY don't care about speed).

[frank1]

A member has bought this JVC branded DVD-RAM (and he is unable to read the MID code in a Pionner 111)
Do yo have any idea where this JVC (Ver. 2.1 /3x certified) DVD-RAM comes from ?



According to this link:
http://www.jvc-victor.co.jp/press/2005/vd-m120np5.html
it probably has the media code: VD-M120NP5
I have never seen this code before for a DVD-RAM !

[[buck]]

Panasonic is an interesting one... they're BIG supporters of DVD-RAM, but they don't make a lot. Also, where Panasonic's media comes from has always been an interesting question. I've seen things leading me to believe Verbatim makes it for them, and other things that point to Panasonic making it themselves. I'm PRETTY sure it's a combination in reality. Obviously Verbatim's own DVD-RAM manufacturing is tied quite closely with Panasonic's as Verbatim is using their MID code, and I'm sure it's safe to say it's with permission.

http://peripherals.consumerelectronicsn ... p?id=28710

All the Panasonic DVD-RAM I've seen has been made in USA

[RJW]

Panasonic is an interesting one... they're BIG supporters of DVD-RAM, but they don't make a lot.

Funny to say this if you checked the market you should know that Matushita codes are probably even more spread as Optodisc.
Also Matushita/Panasonic has quite some sites themselves.

All the Panasonic DVD-RAM I've seen has been made in USA

Not suprising it's supposed to be cheaper to use produced in USA as to ship from Japan.

In europe we can find both if we can find RAM.

[frank1]

So:
except for an old DVD-RAM TDK branded 2x certified [with the MID code MXL7] that had Made in Taïwan written on the package
all the DVD-RAM's that I bought here in France & Germany were Made in Japan

[frank1]

I like also to know if there is something special
about the reliabilty and thelifespan of data ("shelf life")
with these Maxell certified 5x
made with BCM (Bismuth Coupling Material) recording layer technology
as Maxell claims it in a news from May 2004:
http://www.cdfreaks.com/news/9764
« BCM recording layer technology, together with an error correction system, and unrivaled shelf life ensures high reliability for data storage and recovery »




Does anybody know if all the MXL .. MID codes on the market 5x certified and up:
MXL16 and now MXL22 [DVD-RAM2 12x certified]
are made using this special "Bismuth .." phase change material ?

Media code MXL16: Made in ??


Media code MXL22

[dolphinius_rex]

I can put a request in to Maxell for the info... probably I can find out for you on that one

[frank1]

I asked that question because in the new system for recommandation of medias
that Plextor has now on their US site:
http://www.plextor.com/english/support/ ... VD-RAM.htm

Plextor recommends only one DVD-RAM for their PX-750 burner:
Maxell of MID code MXL16

[RJW]

So:
except for an old DVD-RAM TDK branded 2x certified [with the MID code MXL7] that had Made in Taïwan written on the package

Is That one in a cartridge ?
If not could you please post stamper and serial codes. We finally might be able to find out how optodisc with mxl code looks.
THen again Maxell has a reputation about screwing up there locations.

[frank1]

It is a NON CARTRIDGE DISC
"Certified up to 2x"

The jewel case looks like that with "NON CARTRIDGE DISC"
printed in the 2 white areas:

I bought it at Mediamarkt in Germany
At the back of the jewel case:
you have the usual 3 adresses of TDK: Luxembourg, Australia & Singapore
but also: MADE IN TAÏWAN - - - ITEM CODE: DVDR-AM47EA


In the clear plastic of the inner hub (readable from the label side)
you can read printed in black: UEC23045500705



Do you need also the complete media code ?

[RJW]

Hmm not completely sure.
Don't need the mid code but if possible I'm really interested in the following.

1 The exact look of the code. (If possible scan/or take picture) so I can see the style. (I don't have a very good match so far it is possible but als not possible. But with printing style I probably could id it.)
2 The stamper code. (It should be there !)

[frank1]

I am not an expert with scanners, but I hope this can help you

thumbail





I cannot see anything stamped in the clear plastic around the inner part of the hub

[frank1]

The DVD-RAM's used by the japanese YYS:
http://homepage2.nifty.com/yss/dvd/ram/ram.htm

An other list of DVD-RAM's used in Japan:
http://dvd-r.jpn.org/ram.html

[RJW]

I am not an expert with scanners, but I hope this can help you

These are more then good.

Thanks

This might be the post of the year !

Slowly getting the pieces together.

[frank1]

The post of the year ? Thanks for the flowers RJW !
I made this scans with an old AGFA SnapScan 600 under Windows 98 and transfered them on a floppy


I am also interested about the findings on this japanese link:
http://dvd-r.jpn.org/ram.html

TDK selling in Japan a DVD-RAM with MID code RitekM02 : how is that possible ?
http://dvd-r.jpn.org/media/TDK_RAM3x.html

An « All-ways » branded DVD-RAM 2~3x
Made in Taïwan by Optodisc :
http://dvd-r.jpn.org/media/All-ways_RAM3x.html
Unfortunaly this disc shows no MID code with the drive and the soft used

[RJW]

The post of the year ? Thanks for the flowers RJW !
I made this scans with an old AGFA SnapScan 600 under Windows 98 and transfered them on a floppy


I am also interested about the findings on this japanese link:
http://dvd-r.jpn.org/ram.html

TDK selling in Japan a DVD-RAM with MID code RitekM02 : how is that possible ?
http://dvd-r.jpn.org/media/TDK_RAM3x.html

Well TDK doesn't make RAM media so they have to buy it from someone else. So far we do know that they bought from Ritek and Maxell (probably made by optodisc )

Unfortunaly this disc shows no MID code with the drive and the soft used

It's there. Click on the pages you posted. The following.
Raw Data: click to display.

For the TDK made by Ritek disc you will end up here.
http://dvd-r.jpn.org/media/RAW/TDK_RAM3x.htm
For the other optodisc disc you will end up.
http://dvd-r.jpn.org/SHM-165P6S/All-ways_RAM3x.html

[dolphinius_rex]

Hey Frank1, I got some answers for you!!

Maxell 12x DVD-RAM is using improved BCN recording layer.

and

Maxell is currently not buying DVD-RAM media from Optodisc.

My local contacts got this direct from Maxell Japan.

[frank1]

Thanks a lot dolphinius !
So both MXL16 (RAM1) and MXL22 (RAM2) are manufactured with this BCM phase change material
I hope that this BCM material is realy something better to look for among the DVD-RAM's



I say this because I am getting this strange phenomena:
When I buy
in the same shop (Mediamarkt in Germany)
these 2 Panasonic branded DVD-RAM's
both 2~5x certified
- the first is a Non-cartrige disc
- the second included in a cartridge
I get 2 different MID codes !

So I realy do'nt know if it worth paying more for the second one and then extract it from it's cartridge ?
just to get a MXL16 code ...



Media code M01-J5006 : Panasonic DVD-RAM 2~5x
LM-HC47ME - Made in Japan (Matsushita Osaka)
UPC for America: 3798801376
LM-HC47ME --- M01-J5006



Media code MXL16: Panasonic DVD-RAM 2~5x
LM-HB47ME - Made in Japan (Matsushita Osaka)
UPC for America: 3798801377
LM-HB47ME --- MXL16





In one word:
is this Bismuth material related only to a MXL16 or MXL22 code and
is it worth looking for MXL16 & MXL22 MID codes ?

[dolphinius_rex]

Frank1, your posts are always so colourful

Hrm... I'll speak to my Verbatim contact about the BCM thing. He's pretty RAM savvy, so he SHOULD know... but he's also on vacation for a while, so it may be a couple weeks before I get an answer.