Copnm

Hello LUK, Thanks for replying. Finally someone wants to help... My experiences when reading these values are different per program. Example, Opti Drive Control's PIE reading compared to DVDInfoPro's would be almost +50, as for the PIF, +1-2. Besides, DVDInfoPro tweaks their readings. (I've seen this via their changelog) This is why I'm asking which is/are the better program(s). I've googled PIE & PIF values, all which led me to forums, but couldn't find the answer I was looking for. I did also search the MyCE forums as well as made posts to no avail. I appreciate the response, but I'm still stuck with this questions. Maybe someone else can shed some light? Thanks for reading, Neil M

Thanks guys for your wonderful help.

Hello ImgBurn family, First off, I'd like to take the time to say that I love ImgBurn with a passion, and the new update that recently came out made burning even easier and more customizable. Keep up the good work! I'm here today because I'd like to know the best 2 programs I should use (or anyone that would like to check their burn quality) for checking the quality of my burns. What I use: Liteon iHas424 B DVD+/-RW burner with the latest firmware, GL1B DVDInfoPro, v7.1.0.8 Opti Drive Control, v1.70 What I know: DVDInfoPro is the only program with frequent updates. Nero is famous for their knowledge with media. Opti Drive Control is based off of Nero's DiscSpeed. KProbe is made for my drive's brand. What I don't know and would like to know is, out of all the available programs out there (Nero DiscSpeed, DVDInfoPro, Opti Drive Control, and KProbe), which are the best 2 programs with the most accurate readings? From what I see, each program reads differently, so I don't know which to base my readings off of. Also, what are the maximum PIE & PIF values for a good burn? Opti Drive Control has it listed in their manual as under 280 & under 4 respectively. How accurate is that? Thanks for reading, Neil M

Try burning at 4x speed with OPC on. That always works for me.

Thanks for your quick response, Lightning UK! Following up on your replies: 1) From your posts, I guess I'll determine which drive has the best overall burn for my media type. 2) Thanks. 3) I understand, thanks. 4) Maybe I should do a test using 2 different sizes of data (including overburn), using both DVD-R and DVD+R DL, and see which one gives me overall better burns. I've been using an Optiarc prior to this Lite-On and I've never had any issues with it. Of course, back then, I didn't check the quality of the burns. 5) I guess I should have said "implemented correctly". Maybe I am the only one who cares about this function. When I bought my burner, I saw that the Lite-On had this function and that it was in ImgBurn, which looked interesting, but it didn't work using ImgBurn. Thanks again for your responses, Lightning UK. I appreciate them. Hope to hear your responses soon. And oh! I think Adrianvdh looks up to you...in a weird, childish way. Maybe you can be his sensei/mentor? Lol. Thanks for reading, Neil M

Hello ImgBurn family, I've posted in another subforum about a week ago with no reply, so I'm copying it over to this subforum. Hopefully I'll get a reply this time... I'd like to know a few things: 1) Which DVD drive offers the best overall burns, meaning low PIEs and PIFs, as well as has Lightscribe technology? 2) Do drives without Lightscribe/LabelFlash technologies usually have better burn quality than those that do? 3) What role does cache play? Is that only for the firmware? 4) Is the Sony Optiarc 5280S-CB-PLUS any good? Does Lightning UK prefers Optiarc drives? If so, I could use the Sony as my main burner and use the LiteOn iHAS424 for a backup burner and for using Lightscribe. 5) Is SmartErase being worked on? For the record, I ALWAYS use Verbatim Media, MCC 03RG20 and MKM-003-00. I currently am using a LiteOn iHAS424 with B GL1B firmware. Thanks for reading, Neil M

Hello ImgBurn family, First off, I'd like to say that I love ImgBurn and use it for ALL my burns. EDIT: I'd like to know a few things: 1) Which DVD drive offers the best overall burns, meaning low PIEs and PIFs, as well as has Lightscribe technology? 2) Do drives without Lightscribe/LabelFlash technologies usually have better burn quality than those that do? 3) What role does cache play? Is that only for the firmware? 4) Is the Sony Optiarc 5280S-CB-PLUS any good? Does Lightning UK prefers Optiarc drives? If so, I could use the Sony as my main burner and use the LiteOn iHAS424 for a backup burner and for using Lightscribe. 5) Is SmartErase being worked on? For the record, I ALWAYS use Verbatim Media, MCC 03RG20 and MKM-003-00. I currently am using a LiteOn iHAS424 with B GL1B firmware. Thanks for reading, Neil M

Thanks for your quick reply, Lightning. I will reburn all the 'bad' discs.

Hello Imgburn family, I have been burning discs for a long time and have recently adjusted the way I burn. I now use Opti Drive Control to check the best burn speed for each disc prior to burning. I have a few discs I've burned prior to knowing this and have checked the quality of them using both Nero DiscSpeed and Opti Drive Control. These discs have high PIF (4+). I'm wondering if I can rip from the bad discs and re-burn them or should I just burn another copy straight from the source?

Thanks for the reply, LIGHTNING UK! The recent burn I spoke of was set to 8x speed because I left it on AWS. I'll still attach the log. I've installed and tested with Opti Drive Control at 8x speed, since that's the speed that was used for the burn. I also have DVDInfoPro. I only use MKM-003-00 media when I need to use a dual-layer disc. I looked at the post you referred me to in the 'Drive' section, but I'm not knowledgeable with how to read it and determine what to avoid, and what an ideal burn looks like. I'm guessing low PIE and low PIF is ideal? Also, when the program prompts to place the layer break, what role does padding play? I've seen ones with a high value, and some with a low value. EDIT: Was this a good burn? If not, why? ImgBurn.log

Thanks for the quick reply, LIGHTNING UK! I reverted back to the stock firmware to get the best results, and tried again. In the prompt to choose where to set the layer break, I only see AVERAGE ones. I picked the best one after previewing all that the program suggests, then burned it. After burning it, I notice verifying the DVD fails, as well as when I try to play it on a DVD player where the layer break was, the player cannot read it. I hear a noise like the laser is straining itself to read the DVD. I've even reduced the max file size of the project thinking I'd get a better layer break position option. By the way, I've wasted a lot of blanks testing and hoping to get a very good burned copy. These DVD's are very expensive. EDIT: I just finished burning, verifying and testing a new copy. Although I only was given the choice of 3 AVERAGE points to place the layer break, this copy verifies 100%, and the test result was pretty good. At the point of the layer break, it did not play on my portable DVD player (probably because the software doesn't get updated), but it played flawlessly on my Xbox 360, which I prefer to watch movies on anyways. Is there a better way to achieve an EXCELLENT layer break? Will turning OPC on and burning at half speed burn a more accurate copy? What does the % mean when choosing a point for layer break? And does the burner or the burning software determine where to place the layer break? Sorry for all the questions. I just want to know so that I can get the best results.

Hello ImgBurn family, I'm new to the ImgBurn forum, but not new to the ImgBurn program. I've been using it for a very long time now and I'm very pleased with how effectively and efficiently it works. I just one problem with it. I use the program ConvertXtoDVD to convert multiple video files into a video compilation. The program allows you to set the desired file size of the project, in which the default is 8100 MB for DVD-9's. When using the default file size and trying to burn the files onto my Verbatim DVD+R DL using ImgBurn, I run into a couple of prompts. The first says the video folder is too big, which I don't think it is, but maybe I'm wrong? It falls below the desired file size every time. Secondly, if I choose to ignore that prompt, it says something like the layer break is positioned improperly which will result in a bad burn, and it shows a list of file positioning with a legend (ranging from Excellent to Average). My Disc ID is MKM-003-00. Before using ImgBurn, I've been using Nero Burning ROM and never had an issue burning movies. Is there a set file size for burning movies onto that disc type? If so, what's the size I should use instead of 8100 MB? Or should I do something else? By the way, the folder says it occupies 96-97% of the disc. (Changes after reconverting using a different file size) Thanks, Copnm ImgBurn.log