Blank Media

One of the most important keys to success when backing up DVDs is to use good quality blanks. If you are playback problems such as blocky screens or skipping then chances are you are using poor quality blanks. This can be tricky since even well known name brands like Memorex aren't necessarily good.

One thing you can look at is the color of the disc after it is burned. In general high quality discs will be a darker purple where as the cheap ones will be lighter.

TDK is known to be one of the best and most compatible brands. You will save a lot of frustration by using good media when you first start making backups. After you find initial success with good media, you could consider trying other brands. I buy TDK blanks at buy.com for about $39 in lots of 100. This price includes shipping so my cost per DVD is only 39 cents.

Also, be sure to get the right format (dvd-r vs dvd+r). Some burners will accept both types but other burners (such as the one on my Dell system) only accept 1 format. If your burner supports both formats then you will probably find dvd-r to be slightly more compatible during playback on standalone DVD players.

The Basics CSS Explained Rippers Macrovision Regions Dual Layer Blank Media
System Requirements