I recently bought a spindle of 50 DVD+R DLs made by Memorex.  I recall no prior problems burning to Memorex media.

When I try to "burn from a prior disc image," I first set up the instructions and select the 8.5 GB media type, then insert the blank DVD+R DL, let the drive identify the disc, then select the 7.5 GB VTS folder I want to burn.  Windows seems to recognize the discs as blank.

Repeatedly, Studio replies that the burn fails, then tells me to insert a blank or erasable disc.  I tried using additional discs.  I tried rebooting.  The same problem recurs.

Then I inserted a Staples DVD+R DL, which had been sitting around some time and which I took for granted might be corrupted.  But Studio accepted it and burned the disc image fine.

Might the problem be:

1. Studio does not like Memorex DVD+R DL.
2. Studio will accept Memorex DVD+R DL, but first one must format or prime the disc in Vista.
3. My Matshita DVD-BD driver-burner is allergic to Memorex DVD+R DL, and maybe Studio will accept such discs if another burner is used, or maybe the Mashita drive will love Memorex if I find the right firmware update.
4. I got a bum stock of Memorex: quality control was asleep that day, the bad stock slipped through the usual statistical audit sample, or someone cut a corner or took a bribe to slip in some faulty stock from a pirate Goodfellas “Plant B."
5. Pure luck: maybe if I insert a 4th Memorex, it will burn OK, especially if I first shake it over my head and repeat a magical incantation. 

Has anyone notice any problems specific to Memorex DVD+R DL?  Is the problem in the discs, the driver, or Studio?   Is there any workaround?

Surely, some folks will swear by the virtues of some favorite brand, whether Verbatim or the pricey Sony DVD media.  What I don't understand is how the Memorex discs, if inferior by nature, could sell at all.  The fact that a Staples DVD+R DL worked, and that diversified Staples fate or reputation might be less blemished if it happened to err merely in its blank DVD sourcing, makes it counter-intuitive that Verbatim could somehow flourish as a "dirty king of junk blank DVDs."  There is lots of "Yeah, Dude, brand X sux" hearsay about media, but are there any solid quality reports or comparisons?  Memorex is, after all, supposed to have a leading market share.

I have read that Memorex outsources its media from CMC Magnetics and this is the alleged reason for problems.  However, at least three  sources (1, 2, 3) report that CMC supplies discs that Verbatim, TDK, Philips, HP, Philips, and Staples sell under their own labels.  In other words, one could by "Verbatim" and still get discs made by CMC.  How could the company simultaneously have a bad reputation, yet also be the underlying supplier of the "premium" brands? And, if CMC has recently been certified to manufacture BDs, that would suggest at least some adherence to quality.

Tomorrow I will find out if another burner lets me use any of my three Memorex DVD+R DL "coasters" to burn good discs from the Stables "master" using Vista or a Roxio application.  If successful, that will be some consolation, but obviously it would be nicer to learn what went wrong or how to burn directly to the Memorex discs in Studio. 

Thanks for any comments.

 

Let us know if the magical incantation works on the 4th and the rest of your blanks. Sorry can't comment about memorex, I only used CDrs from that brand and have not used one for Studio 12.

Yesterday, I visited two office supply stores, both of them outlets of the biggest of the Big Three.  Neither offered any brand of DVD+R DL other than Memorex.  Neither had any of the store brand in stock either.  No one had any idea why there were no Verbatim, Ricoh, TDK, Sony, Philips, or Panasonic versions.  Whether or not they are for sale on line, I am not about to buy again (no matter the brand) without assurance of return of defective wares.

Knowing one stores reasonable return policies, I bought a spindle of 25 Memorex DVD+R DLs.  Perhaps my prior spindle of 50 was a freak case of junk.  However, when I tested them on the same project, the same one which had already burnt to a Staples DVD+R DL, not a single one worked.  All prompted a "burn failed" message.  None would even work to create a data DVD.

Hunting though a spool of old DVDs, I found a Memorex DVD+R DL from a late 2007 period when I had found some luck with the discs.  When I tried to burn, the results appeared good--at first.  Then, when the burn was just about complete, the process stopped and a "burn fail" message popped up.  I vaguely recall that several of the discs from that pack did work, but that some had given me problems, which I assumed at the time to be my fault.

I've already tried manual re-set of the write speed at "low" instead of "auto."  No difference.  The burns still fail.  To make sure the problem is not with my burner, I then tried to burn a smaller image to a DVD+R SL (a Memorex!).  Results: OK.  FYI: my burner has created numerous DL discs using Staples DVD+R DL, which regrettably Staples appears not to restock, and that chain's two troubled competitors do not seem to offer DL discs at all on their shelves.

I am baffled that Memorex blank disc wares dominate retail shelves and are often the only DL product sold.  Worse, there are no DVD+RE DL discs sold anywhere, so there is no way to be sure that a 1-hour AVCHD-DVD project is "right" before the "write."

Next steps:

1. Scour the snowy streets for a store that sells DLs from some source other than Memorex.
2. Find out if the Memorex discs will accept ISO images easier than VTS, of if that is no more different than 6 from a half-dozen.
3. Create a new master disc with another brand (the project has been revised since burning my existing "master") and learn if I can create duplicates on Memorex DLs on a separate PC and external drive.

I've checked the cdrinfo site for references on DVD media quality, and the entries are rather anecdotal.  The site reviews hardware, but the reviews on disc media appear rather inconsistent.

The quest for reliable DVD+R DL media is rather perplexing, since SL discs are a tad to small for a typical 6.5 GB 50-60 minute HD project, and 25 GB BD+R discs cost too much.

I  wonder if the Memorex discs don't quite hold as much data as the Staples discs and your 7.5Gb project is borderline for size (despite the supposed 8.5Gb size of DL discs), maybe you could try copying the Staples disc to the Memorex disc using the DVD Copy function of Nero (or similar) to see if it fits.

I actually use Aone dvd+r dl discs that work very well  http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/10pcs-Cakebox-Aone-Plusplus-DL-8X-FF-10C-85GB-DVDplusR-DL-8x-Dual-Layer-Full-Face-Printable-240min

A second spindle of Memorex DVD+R DL discs worked no better than the first, so I returned it. 

I tried to burn a 4.1 GB ISO image to a Memorex DVD+R DL, but that did not work either.

I bought a spindle of 25 Sony DVD+R DL discs (twice as expensive), and they accepted the 7.7 GB disc image.

Some stores sell no DL at all or sell Memorex only.  Staples in NY-NJ is presently "out of stock" of its own brand, which the CDRINFO site suggests may be made by the same firm that supplies what Memores or even (sometimes) Verbatim sell.

Tentative conclusions: 1) buy only with assurance of a cash-back return policy for flawed goods, 2) avoid the brand that yielded nothing but 18 "coasters."

Very unfortunate, am big Memorex fan since the CDr days. But I'll put this to the test with my LG DVD burner, but i'll sure to get a stack from a store that offer cash-back return policy.