DVD-RW Problems !

[CaptainGoffy]

I have been burning DVDs on my Mac for years using Toast 11. Recently I have had regular problems burning video to DVD-RWs. I had always used Verbatim, sometimes Maxell, DVD-RW, with no issues. Always a useful process to check the contents, picture quality, editing etc beforehand, is my thinking.

In the past 12 months or so, I get regular refusal to burn to the DVD-RW. I get error messages but both the Superdrive and my external player refuse to use DVD-RWs Do they have a shelf life? My initial though was they were getting old, repeated erasing etc etc. But even newer DVD-RW s are rejected. I also note recently I have problems re-using CD-RWs as after 'erasing' them the contents is still there (even if I select option to erase fully). HOWEVER if I take the risk of burning direct to disc DVD-R invariably I have no problem (except I find I might have wasted a disc in the process!) 

Could the issue be that I am using a more recent Mac OS (High Sierra) ? Or is Toast 11 the problem ?

Or is it simply DVD-RWs wear out quickly?

 

 

[cdanteek]

This is the General Chat area and your post will be moved to the Toast 11 forum.

Your problem sounds like the laser in your burner can't handle the RW media anymore?

Take your RW's and try burning them in another burner and see.

RW's have always been if-eeeee I quit using them and burn ro -R or +R $0.25 -$0.30 and don't have RW frustration anymore.

[CaptainGoffy]

Appreciate the reply.

It's a coincidence though that neither my Mac Superdrive (built in) nor my ASUS external burner seem to like DVD-RWs any more, but you could be right. I could try erasing them on a DVD recorder, though whether a disc formatted on that is the same on a computer I'm not sure...

 

[CaptainGoffy]

On 2/10/2020 at 4:24 PM, cdanteek said:

This is the General Chat area and your post will be moved to the Toast 11 forum.

Your problem sounds like the laser in your burner can't handle the RW media anymore?

Take your RW's and try burning them in another burner and see.

RW's have always been if-eeeee I quit using them and burn ro -R or +R $0.25 -$0.30 and don't have RW frustration anymore.

(Belated) Thanks for this but my drives still burn CDs without a problem.

I followed the advice and bought some Verbatim DVD-Rs. I also got into the habit of burning an image first.

After an initial success, I have just hit another brick wall.

My attempt today to burn a 50 min compilation of 4 film clips which I checked were OK by viewing the Toast image I had made has failed twice using brand new DVD-R discs. I know the drives are OK burning CDs at least. I know the image is OK. I know Verbatim DVD-Rs are most compatible. I had a successful first attempt a couple of weeks back on a different project.

What on earth can be wrong? I am trying a different route now, burning direct from the disc file I made straight to DVD-R. So the encoding process is under way - will keep you posted.