Free CD/DVD burning alternatives to Nero!

When it comes to CD or DVD burning, the software most people tend to use is Nero. But Nero isn't the be all and end all of CD burning solutions. There are other softwares as well that perform much better than Nero in terms of resource usage and speed. Here is a list of 15 free burning softwares that you can use in place of Nero.

1. ImgBurn: ImgBurn is probably the best free CD/DVD burning tool available. ImgBurn supports a wide range of image file formats - including BIN, DI, DVD, GI, IMG, ISO, MDS, NRG and PDI. It supports Unicode folder/file names, so you shouldn't run in to any problems if you're using an international character set. ImgBurn supports all the Windows OS's - Windows 95, 98, Me, NT, 2000, XP, 2003 and Vista (including all the 64-bit versions). If you use Wine, it should also run on Linux and other x86-based Unixes.

It's a very flexible application with several advanced features that are often lacking in other tools, especially when it comes to burning DVD Video discs. It supports all the latest drives without the need for updates (including booktype / bitsetting / advanced settings on many of the major ones - i.e. BenQ, LiteOn, LG, NEC, Plextor, Samsung, Sony).

Download size = 1.5MB

2. InfraRecorder: InfraRecorder is a free CD/DVD burning solution for Microsoft Windows. It offers a wide range of powerful features; all through an easy to use application interface and Windows Explorer integration.

Features
* Create custom data, audio and mixed-mode projects and record them to physical discs as well as disc images.
* Supports recording to dual-layer DVDs.
* Blank (erase) rewritable discs using four different methods.
* Record disc images (ISO and BIN/CUE).
* Fixate discs (write lead-out information to prevent further data from being added to the disc).
* Scan the SCSI/IDE bus for devices and collect information about their capabilities.
* Create disc copies, on the fly and using a temporary disc image.
* Import session data from multi-session discs and add more sessions to them.
* Display disc information.
* Save audio and data tracks to files (.wav, .wma, .ogg, .mp3 and .iso).

Download size = 2.56MB

3. CDBurnerXP: CDBurnerXP is a free application to burn CDs and DVDs, including Blu-Ray and HD-DVDs. It also includes the feature to burn and create ISOs, as well as a multilanguage interface. Everyone, even companies, can use it for free. It does not include adware or similar malicious components.

Key Features:
* burn all kinds of discs
* audio-CDs with or without gaps between tracks
* burn and create ISO files
* data verification after burning process
* create bootable discs
* multi-language interface
* bin/nrg → ISO converter, simple cover printing and much more.
* Operating Systems: Windows 2000/XP/2003 Server/Vista

Download size = 1.9MB

4. Ultimate CD/DVD Burner: Ultimate CD/DVD Burner is a simple and easy to use CD and DVD burning software package. It supports a very wide range of internal and external (USB 2.0 and FireWire) CD and DVD writers. Burn any data, copy any disc, make backups, create astonishing photo CD albums, make ISO CDs with this very easy to handle software!

The interface is intuitive and easy to use. Advanced options are available for those who want to take advantage of them, though they are completely optional, making Ultimate CD/DVD Burner the perfect CD/DVD burner software for users of any experience level.

Download size = 500KB

5. QuickBurn: QuickBurn is a free, easy and very useful burning software. Start this prorgram, Use drag and DROP for files and folders and click BURN CD. That´s all, very easy to use.

Features:
*Multisession support with import from an other session.
*CDRW erase normal or quickly.
*ISO create and Burn ISO. Bootable CD.
*Integrated Explorer.
*Support every CD/DVD Burner.
*Support ASPI or SPTI-Driver.
*No aspi required under W2K/XP.
*Session manager to manage your session.
*Verify files after burn.

Download size = 680KB

6. DeepBurner Free Portable: DeepBurner Free Portable is free, advanced, and extremely powerful CD and DVD burning package. It removes the hassle of making CDs, DVDs, and autoruns. DeepBurner Free Portable works straight from your removable media, whether it´s a USB flash drive, compact flash card, or even a good old floppy. Burn any data, copy any disc, make backups, make ISO CDs with this very easy to handle software!

Download size = 2.83MB

7. FinalBurner: FinalBurner is a freeware alternative to expensive CD and DVD recorders. It allows users to produce professional data, audio, video disks and ISO images. Many types of media are supported, including CD R/RW, DVD+R/RW, DVD-R/RW, DVD DL.

Features:
* Burn Data CD/DVD
* Burn Audio CD
* Burn Video DVD
* Burn ISO images

Download size = 8MB

8. Burnatonce: Burnatonce can master data and audio discs, read/write image files, and copy on-the-fly. It's drag-and-drop interface has multi-language support and is fully compatible with XP themes. Multisession and bootable disc mastering is supported as well as long filename support using Joliet, Long Joliet, and Rockridge. Extra long filename support is provided with the ISO9660:1999 and UDF filesystems. Audio discs can be compiled from WAV, MP3, MP2, OGG, and FLAC files as standard while support for other audio formats can be added optionally. CD-Text can be written from the built-in editor, imported from freedb, read from media tags, or extracted from filenames. Pauses between tracks can also be set as silence, pregap, or postgap of varying lengths.

Download size = 3.82MB

9. Free Easy CD DVD Burner: Free Easy CD DVD Burner is a complete free and easy CD & DVD burning solution. Burn data and audio (WAV, WMA, MP3, OGG, FLAC, AAC, M4A) to your CDs & DVDs is now very easy with Free Easy CD DVD Burner. Burn and save ISO files, copy your CDs DVDs. Save your favorite audio CDs to mp3 with the internal grabber (CDDB request to get information about the album).

Standard ISO9660 Joliet, buffer UnderRun protection, Support multisession.
Support for dual-layer DVD, CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-R, DVD+R, DVD-RW, DVD+RW.

Download size = 5.6MB

10. FairStars CD Ripper: FairStars CD Ripper is a free powerful software for ripping audio CD tracks to WMA, MP3, OGG, VQF, FLAC, APE and WAV formats files on-the-fly. Free CDDB is supported(Querying & Submiting). It supports normalization when ripping, and also support ID3 tag. FairStars CD Ripper also supports playback with its built-in player.

Main features
# Rips CD to WMA, MP3, OGG, VQF, FLAC, APE and WAV on-the-fly.
# Supports automatic volume adjustment(normalization) during ripping.
# Supports multiple CD/DVD drivers.
# ID3 tag support.
# Support automatic saving ID3 Tags when converting, and also support ID3 tags display and edit.
# Query and submit CD disc information from/to the freedb(the Internet Compact Disc Database).
# Audio Playback control function Support.

Download size: 2.8 MB

11. Express Burn: Express Burn is a program for Windows that lets you create and record audio or data CDs with any Windows PC with an installed CD recorder.

With Express Burn you can record a data or audio CD quickly and easily by dragging the files you want onto the Express Burn icon and clicking record. The software then does all the rest converting the files if required. It is also the fastest CD writing program in the world using proprietary optimizing systems.

Download size = 300KB

12. SilentNight Micro Burner: SilentNight Micro Burner is a standalone CD/DVD/ISO/AUDIO burner, and ISO creator that is quite easy to use, is small, no installation is needed, just one single file, and it has its own ASPI layer build in. It also has a powerful search tool. This burner is under constant developement and all users are invited to join in with suggestions, corrections and translations to new languages.

Download size = 1.1MB

13. Burn4Free: This is another free DVD and CD burner.

Features:
*Burn4Free burn data (CD and DVD) and audio from different files types (WAV, FLAC, WavPack, WMA, M3U (mp3 winamp compilation) , MP3, MP2, MP1 OGG and CDA (normal cd audio tracks))
*CD-R/CD-RW/DVD-R/DVD+R/DVD-RW/DVD+RW/DVD-RAM drives (SCSI - IDE/EIDE - USB) are supported
*Print Compilation, select layout, colors and items to print
4 way to burn your CD/DVD: you can choose the way you prefer to burn a CD/DVD (fly window, right click from explorer, internal add window, derag & drop
*1900 + COMPATIBLE RECORDERS

Download size = 4.2MB

14. EASY Burning: EASY Burning is the easiest way to backup your files in a cdr(w). Integrated to the shell (send to) or used as a normal application, EASY Burning works with any CD writer. Write a folder and files, pictures and what ever you want. Easy to use. Create Data CD from a folder. Backup your MP3 collection. Integrated into Shell. send to Integrated into Desktop.

Download size = 1.1MB

15. Disc Master: Disc Master is a solution for data burning and backup for CD and DVD recordable and rewritable discs, from Corel. Fast copy CD to CD or DVD to DVD, backup files, create mixed mode, or enhanced multi-session CDs. Supports CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD+R, DVD+RW, and DVD-RAM.

Download size = 12.3MB

16. StarBurn: StarBurn is a powerful tool for grabbing, burning and mastering CD, DVD, Blu-Ray and HD-DVD media. StarBurn supports all types of optical storage media (including CD-R/RW, DVD-R/RW, DVD+R/RW, BD-R/RE, HD-DVD-R/RW and DVD-RAM) as well as a wide variety of burning hardware.

With StarBurn you can perform grabbing, copying and burning operations as well as advanced DVD authoring and mastering. These advanced features enable you to create DVD-Video content from custom video files, or compilations from other DVDs. Additionally with the DVD Splitting Wizard you can split DVD-Video discs into smaller parts and burn them to DVD writable discs or share them with the StarPort DVD-ROM emulator and watch DVD video directly on your PC. This enables you to create copies of 8.5 GB dual layer DVDs with just a few mouse clicks.

StarBurn has a Quick Start Wizard that provides to simplify frequently used operations such as disc copying, grabbing and splitting DVDs.

StarBurn is compatible with 32-bit and 64-bit Microsoft Windows 2000/XP/2003 and Vista

Download size = 10.6 MB

News via - http://www.instantfundas.com/

Easy and Fast x264 .MKV to PS3 and Xbox 360 compatible MP4 conversion, it does not reconvert the video. Requires Haali Media Splitter and AC3 Filter

Easy and Fast x264 .MKV to PS3 and Xbox 360 compatible MP4 conversion, it does not reconvert the video. Requires Haali Media Splitter and AC3 Filter installed. Uses ffmpeg, mkvtoolnix and mp4box.

HOMEPAGE

http://sentry23.googlepages.com/

Latest version:

0.23 Beta 12 (Mar 07, 2008)

Author site and mirror download site:
Download from authors tool site - 13.1MB

Download from mirror download - 13.1MB

Guides for this tool:

Simple MKV to MP4 Conversion Guide (Xbox360) - Read

View all guides with guide description here

Download old versions

Tool section(s):
Media Center/HTPC/PS3/360

Great for converting HD .mkv files for use on the Xbox 360. Used it on 6 files, all play flawlessly. Takes about 30min per movie and only re-encodes the audio. Movie image is not altered at all. LOVE IT!

I was looking for a way to get all those super high quality HD 300 MegaByte .MKV movies to play on a standalone. My current standalone only plays AVI files at best DVD quality and usually 700 MegaBytes. Nice to put 5 or 6 movies on 1 DVD. This way I can play them in the xbox360 and put 12 movies of HD content on 1 DVD! WOW! I recently watched The Bank Job at 300 Megabytes and the quality beat the hell out of avi files. The main thing for me is Now I can put approx 12 MOVIES at HD quality on one 1 Dvd 5 and 24 HD movies per 1 DVD9!!! Double the capacity and double the quality means WORTH the work! 30 mins per movie!

Best quality DVD media Guide 2008!

DVD Media Quality Varies Greatly:

Not all media is good. In fact, with the high influx of cheap media from Taiwan and Hong Kong, most media is bad. This guide is meant to shed some light on the how and why of DVD media quality.

This guide also gives examples of what generally works as the best media, but your mileage may very, depending on the burner and how that batch of media chooses to cooperate. While some cheap media may work for you, it’s a gamble that often loses.

Who makes the disc: Brand vs. Media ID

Most blank DVD media is produced by a relative small number of factories, located in several different places. These factories are present in Taiwan, Japan, Singapore, Mexico, Hong Kong, India, and Ireland… maybe a few more, but not many. The best media generally comes from Japan and Singapore. The worst typically comes from Taiwan (in stores) and Hong Kong (online).

The media brands means nothing. Apple is a great brand, but they do not make their own discs, instead outsourcing to MXL (Hitachi/Maxell), MCC (Mitsubishi Chemicals), and PVC (Pioneer). Verbatim became infamous by switching from high-quality MCC to ultra-cheap CMC (CMC Magnetics) media, although they have since returned to using MCC. Companies like Memorex, Fuji and Imation all outsource to media vendors.

Always be aware of fake media too. Fake media is normally sold in flea markets, on eBay and online. This fake media normally has no brand markings and the company being faked normally only sells branded discs.

It is the Media ID that is important, as it reveals the disc maker.

Media ID Quality Guide

The following list is in preference order. The best discs are near the top of the list. The discs at the bottom of the list are suitable only for a landfill. PVC is the best of all, LONGTEN is the worst of all, etc. Note: Some codes may be listed twice, done because a -R, -RW, +RW and +R by the same company may not be the same quality. The format is listed because of this.

1ST CLASS MEDIA
Almost flawless burns with 95-100% reliable results:
TAIYOYUDEN, YUDEN, TYG01, TYG02 = Taiyo Yuden = (-R)(+R) … be aware of fakes
MXLRG01, MXLRG02 = Maxell = (-R)(-RW) … be aware of fakes
MCC = Mitsubishi Chemicals = (-R)(-RW)(+R)(+RW)
TDKG02, TTG01 = TDK Corp = (-R)(-RW) … be aware of fakes

2ND CLASS MEDIA
Decent discs, though not perfect, about 80-95% success rate:
PRODISC = Prodisc Media = (-R)(+R)
INFODISC = Infodisc Media = (+RW)
SONYD04 = Sony = (-R) … be aware of fakes
RICOHJPN = Ritek or Ricoh = (+R)(+RW)
RITEK = Ritek = (+R)(-R)(-RW)(+RW)
OPTODISC = Optodisc = (-R)
FUJIFILM = Fuji = (-R)(+R)

3RD CLASS MEDIA
Quality can be very questionable, about 50-80% success rate:
LEADDATA, LD01, LD, LEDA = Lead Data = (-R)(-RW)
BEALL = Samsung BeAll = (-R)(+R)
MBI = Moser Beaur (India) = (-R)(+R)(+RW)
PRINCO, fake TDK = Princo = (-R)(-RW)
ONIDTECH = Unknown OEM = (-R)
MUST = Unknown OEM = (-R)
GSC001, GSC002 = Unknown OEM = (-R)(+R)

4TH CLASS MEDIA
Pathetic garbage media, landfill material, about 0-50% success rate:
RITEKG01, RITEKG02 = Ritek = (-R)
CMC, CMCMAG = CMC Magnetics = (+R)(-R)
PIODATA, PIO = LeadData, Ritek = (-R) … once sold as “Pioneer” but that’s false
Fake SONY, MXL = Fake Sony/Maxell from Hong Kong OEM (Infosmart?) = (-R)
OPTODISC = Optodisc = (+R)(+RW)
AN31, AN32, ANWELL, AN30 = Hong Kong OEM (Infosmart?) = (-R)
INFOSMART = Hong Kong OEM = (-R)(+R)
VANGUARD = Unknown OEM = (-R)
YIJHAN = Hong Kong OEM = (-R)
MATRIX = Hong Kong OEM = (-R)
VDSPMS = Unknown OEM = (-R)(+R)
LONGTEN = Hong Kong OEM = (-R)

ANYTHING ELSE = Unknown OEM or NEW
New medias to watch for: MXLRG03

Download this free utility that can tell you the media id to make sure the blank DVD you purchase is what you ordered.

1. Find and download the free version web. They keep changing the URL so we have to direct you to their web site and you need to browse around to find this. Otherwize, purchase the pro version. It’s worth it..
2. Once installed, put a blank DVD in your DVD Writer/Burner click the “Media/Info” icon (top toolbar) to see something like the image below:

Are there exceptions to this list? Sure, but not many. LD01 inkjet media and RITEKG04 inkjet media has proven to be almost flawless media for many users. But those are the only two we’ve seen as consistent exceptions. Use this list as a guide. This list is a “sure bets” kind of list, and is pretty reflective of the media market as a whole.

What do the % numbers mean? This list is constructed from many tests on many burners from a handful of experienced people that use a lot of media. These numbers reflect the number of discs in a spindle that will give good results. For example, out of a 100 spindle of media, 1st class discs may kick out a few bad discs (0% to 5% of the media may have playback imperfections or be outright bad burns). The 2nd class media may have a dozen or so bad discs. The 3rd class discs could give you a half-spindle of duds. And the 4th class stuff can be pure trash. These are mean averages too, simple statistics math, meaning best tests and worst tests are discarded, and the middle range of tests is the basis for these numbers. You may sometimes find the rare instance where a CMC spindle will be perfect and a Taiyo Yuden spindle will be completely flawed, but those times are the exception rather than the rule (and are not part of a mean average).

Testing procedures: Burns are subject to playability/reflectivity tests (usage tests), as well as software verification. Test equipment is under controlled hardware/software environments to eliminate user variables. Burns are at least 4GB or more to test the entire length of the media.

Branding Guide

Although this will change on a regular basis, the following brands are known to use the following media makers for their outsourced discs.

Be careful for CMC and PRINCO discs, as those are becoming more common in those “special sales” seen almost every week since early 2004. Some companies prefer dollars over quality, so be careful. Also be especially careful of “house brands” or no-names. Stores like Fry’s and CompUSA have horrible return policies too, so if you end up with an unfavorable media ID, do not burn a test, just take it back for a refund and take your business elsewhere.

Accu = LEADDATA
Americal = RITEKG01, PRINCO, LEADDATA
Apple = MXL, MCC
Arita = RITEKG03, RICOHJPN
Bulkpaq = PRINCO, PRODISC
CompUSA = PRINCO, OPTODISC, LD
Datawrite = PRINCO, PRODISC, AN31, RITEKG03
DupEZ = PIODATA, LEADDATA
Esbuy = RITEK, LEADDATA, other budget IDs
Fuji = TAIYOYUDEN, MCC, RICOHJPN, PRODISC, FUJIFILM
GQ = PIODATA, PRINCO, RITEKG03, RITEKG02, LEADDATA, LD
HP = CMC, RICOHJPN, MCC
Imation = RITEKG03, CMC
KHypermedia = CMC, TTG01
LiquidVideo = OPTODISC
Matrix = MATRIX, LONGTEN, YIJHAN, MUST
Maxell = MXL, RITEK, RICOHJPN, TYG01
Memorex = CMC, RICOHJPN, PRODISC, INFODISC
Meritline = Various budget IDs
Mirror = AN31, ONIDTECH, PRINCO
Optodisc = OPTODISC
Philips = CMC
Pioneer = PVC
Princo = PRINCO, Fake TDK
Prodisc = PRODISCS03, MCC
Ritek = RITEKG01-04, RICOHJPN
Samsung = TYG01, BEALL, RITEK
Sonic, Shop4tech = LONGTEN, MATRIX, MUST, YIJHAN, various budget IDs
Sony = SONYD04, RICOHJPN, MCC
Supermedia, Linkyo = Various budget IDs
TDK = TDK, RITEKG04, RICOHJPN, MXL, CMC, MCC
Verbatim = MCC, CMC, YUDEN, RICOHJPN, RITEKG03

For unusual brands and media IDs, check out the www.videohelp.com media section. In most cases, unknown media IDs would be re-branded or ID-hidden discs, often of dubious quality. Some unknown brands are overstock from other media companies. This is often the mark of very cheap media. Buyer beware .

Where do I buy the best quality dvd blank media?

Trusted USA companies, suggested by digitalFAQ

Rated #1. Supermediastore.com. Favorite from 1/1/2004 to present (as of this writing, 1/17/2005). In recent months, this store has begun to stock many great items, especially when it comes to blank media. And the prices are among the best around. Shipping is lightning fast, and real people answer the phone if you need to call for anything. Not one single “out of stock” problem to date! A division of Linkyo.

Rated #2. RIMA.com. Cheap and somewhat fast. Great prices, and the discs arrive within mere days. They have a large inventory, and have some of the best deals for 100-, 200- and 500-disc spindles. Excellent return policy on defective media. Has been known to send samples on request, free of charge.

Rated #3. AllMediaOutlet.com. Another favorite place to shop.Cheap and fast. Great prices, and the discs arrive fairly quickly, in about a week or so. They have many deals that include free shipping, have been an authorized seller of Ritek (may have changed at some point), and are rarely out of stock on their media.

Rated #4. DVD-RWmedia.com. Was always a great to place to buy media. Came fast, had great deals. Used them for Princo and Ritek media for thousands of discs. A division of Linkyo.

Warning! Be careful dealing with these companies:

Americal.com. Expensive and not always honest about their products. They exaggerate about the quality of their discs, cases, and stickers, and I was disappointed several times before I quit using them. They are also known to pull a bait-n-switch and send you products different than what was ordered.

Meritline.com. Although this seemed to be a good company a year ago ,we’ve recently had complaints that they have Consistent delays, deliver the wrong Items, and have nearly “non-existent” Customer Service.

Shop4tech.com. This review is only about their blank media, not hardware or other products: Their in-house discs may be cheap (Matrix, Sonic, etc), but the quality has historically been some of the worst media around. You have to dig through the site to find mainstream media, and it often has high pricing. Individuals claiming to be shop4tech employees have been banned from online video sites more than once for immature behavior.

Yesbuy.net. Terrible customer service, not great prices, and the discs are normally fake. This company has sold TDK, Maxell and Pioneer fakes. Many of the “2x” and “4x” discs were actually 1x discs with forged media codes.

Esbuy.com. The products pictured are not what they have available. The discs were completely different when received, and getting a refund took weeks. Prices are extremely high. Most of the media was LeadData, Princo and Ritek. Customer service reps were quite clueless.

CompUSA.com. This store (both online and brick-n-mortar) has one of the worst return policies on the face of the planet. Avoid them at all costs, no matter what you plan to buy. Even if the media is bad, you’re stuck with it.

QtcCDR.com. Extremely high prices. Site difficult to manage. Most of the media is low grade. Has been known to sell fake MXL and TDK media.

Naked-Geek.net. Never in all my days shopping online have I come across such a vile, filthy-mouthed individual. Not much is known about this company except that it’s owner, Alexander Hanff, has been banned from video forums numerous times due to his unsavory behavior. His “magic” DVD-R are simply cheap AN32 media, well-known coaster material.

Offline USA stores that carry media

Rated #1. Walmart, walmart.com. A store that is open 24 hours a day and carries Maxell (MXL/TY) and SONY media at low prices. What more could you ask for?

Rated #2. Fry’s Electronics, outpost.com. Huge selection of media, and often the best prices you can find in stores. Excellent selection of DVD-RW and DVD+RW. Sells lots of video hardware too.

1. Office Depot, officedepot.com. Carries most brand-name media using first/second-class Media ID codes, typically at very good prices, especially when on sale. Has had many good sales on Maxell media.

2. Staples, staples.com. Carries most brand-name media using first/second-class Media ID codes, typically at very good prices, especially when on sale.

3. Best Buy, bestbuy.com. Carries most brand-name media using first/second-class Media ID codes, typically at very good prices, especially when on sale. Watch for CMC products made in Taiwan. Has had good sales on TDK and Verbatim (MCC) in the past.

4. OfficeMax, officemax.com. Carries most brand-name media using first/second-class Media ID codes, typically at very good prices, especially when on sale. Carries FUJI brand media. Avoid the Arita/Ritek deals.

5. Walgreens, walgreens.com. Carries Maxell (MXL/TY) and TDK (TDK) media, often with decent prices and sales.

6. Circuit City, circuitcity.com. Mostly sells LiquidVideo (OPTODISC) media. Has a few other brands.

7. RadioShack, radioshack.com. Has a little bit of media, has been known to have nice sales in the past.

8. Target, target.com. Always has a nice selection of major brands like TDK (TDK).

9. K-mart, kmart.com. Blah. Mostly carries Memorex (CMC) media. Cheap store with cheap stuff.

What makes a blank DVD good or bad?

Why discs are “bad” or “go bad”

Background: DVD media is somewhat new, and methods for creating faster and better discs are always being perfected. Discs are created in an interesting manner (note that this is a basic description). Plastic is laid down, then metal reflective foil, then dyes are poured onto the foil. Another plastic is laid on top, then the disc is spun at high speed to spread out the dye, hopefully evenly. It even sounds like an unstable method!

Dye imperfections. Bad foils and dyes, as well as bad dye spread are the most common issue that causes bad media. If the dye is uneven or does not reach to the edge of the disc, it is often bad. CMC is known for bad inner-disc spread (dye thinning) and Princo is known for not reaching the edge (short spread).

User error. A common “error” with “bad media” is actually user error. Even I’m guilty of this. For best quality burns, leave your computer alone while burning. Using your computer while burning takes CPU from the burner and can cause the burn to fail. You should also test your copies and keep the source DVD in a safe, dust free place if possible.
Balancing is also a side effect caused by faulty plastic, foils or dye spread. A disc spins faster on the outside than it does on the inside (ask any college physics professor). And round objects tend to be most unsteady at the outside. While DVD media allows for some degree of error (data is written in a “wobble groove”), exaggerated wobble will caused the laser to spew data in areas not meant for writing. It thus disappears, and the data comes up as missing on the disc, resulting in freezing, blockiness and other odd visual errors (caused from the decoder attempting to compensate for material that is missing).

Fake media.Fake media is often bad. If you ever acquire good media like TDK, RITEK or MXL, and the results are bad, check to see if the media is legitimate. Many of these top-tier media companies only have branded discs, not plain white-top or silver-top ones. TDK, MXL, and RITEK have been spoofed before. These discs often are cheaply-made unbranded 1x media with fake 2x or 4x Media ID speeds and maker ID codes.

Dye melting from excess burn speed. Some discs simply cave in under high speed burns. Optodisc 4x DVD-R media is known to corrupt on 4x burns. Some recent April 2004 RITEKG04 media are reported as doing this too. The dye simply cannot handle the write speed. Poor production is to blame. This happens mostly on bad discs, but can also happen on good discs due to user error. Many hacked firmwares and poorly-written firmwares will allow a user to burn a disc faster than it’s write strategy and media ID speed. The side-effect of these illegitimate burns is ruined dye. The dye appears discolored or otherwise unusual.

Not a media error. This is another very frequent “problem” with discs. The simple fact is not every player or DVD-ROM will read a burned DVD media. Some players were not made to play anything other than official to-spec pressed metal discs. Non-media errors may also include players that have a weak laser or a dirty laser. A non-playing disc is not a sign of a “bad” disc, but rather just means that particular player/ROM cannot play it. Run real tests to see if the disc is truly a coaster. Also be aware that some formats are more compatible than others (with DVD-R being most compatible of them all for DVD-Video content). This is often call a reflectivity error. This is not necessarily the media’s fault.

Will poor quality media really break down in as little as six months?

Life of a backup made on poor quality disc is questionable. We’ve been told that data, music and video backups on CD’s and DVD’s will last forever. Wrong. Don’t throw the originals away, you may very well need them. Your video camera tapes and family picture CD’s and DVD’s, may not be there the next time you want to look at them. “Point of fact,” inferior discs have a tendency to “Break down” in time. In a very short time, we’re talking disc can breakdown in less than a single year, in as little as 6 to 8 months.

This article was written about CD discs but DVD discs are produced nearly the same way, and if anything, are more complicated and more likely to fail. Perhaps you’ll find it as important as I did.
http://news.independent.co.uk/world/science_technology/story.jsp?story=513486

My personal observations on this subject -
I have had about 40 backups that have refused to play after being stored for a year or more. I test all of my backups when they are burnt to be very sure that there are no problems. “In the Golden, Olden times,” before I knew any better, the Memorex, Maxell and professional “Store Brand” discs (and any thing that was on sale) was what used before I switched to Taiyo Yuden and Maxell. It is the poor quality stuff that I have been experiencing my trouble with. I noticed that backup DVD’s I had refused to play in my standalone player and on my PC. VOB files wouldn’t play either and other discs that I backed up about the same time would “Freeze” part way through the movie. After switching to Taiyo Yuden and Maxell , I’ve not had 1 go “Flat” in over 1 ½ years. I still have some backups about 90 of them done on the “cheap stuff” and, as time wears on I lose a few more as I attempt to check them. I say to you, why did a backup play fine in “01″and “02″ then “fail” in “03 ?? Some that were done in “01″ never made it till “02″ (it took me some time to learn, lol) and others done about the same time and “Failed” time, we’re talking disc can breakdown in less than a single year,

More information about blank media here:

http://club.cdfreaks.com/f33/