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  3. 1014831608

vaporware

Here is a new spin on "vaporware". I have discovered 2 cdr copies
that are no longer playable. One is a year old the other 4 years. I
use the best media and factories, when choosing blank media and
store all of my media in optimal temp away from UV light.

I have not gone through all of my CDRs to determind if others are
unreadable but this is a disturbing turn of events.

After recording on DAT for 13 years, I have had little to no
problems. Luckly, I have the master DAT for the 2 lost CDRs. But, if
I didn't, "vaporware"!

This is not good. Has anyone else had this problem? If so, I believe
as consumers we are being duped and have a legitament beef with the
industry.

Also, it may be a "real" reason for us not to leave behind magnetic
media. I know this was the complaint when people were jumping from
analog to digital and the catastrophic loss with DAT but at least
DAT last a lot longer than CDR's. At least that is what my
experience has been so far. I have DAT tapes that are 13 years old
and play back with 0 errors.

Other's feedback is appreciated. However, please remember that all my
media is optimally choosen and stored. I've been at this game for
too long to make a "rookie" mistake.

For more information on CDR's see www.cdmediaworld.com
ramstl
ramstl OP
342 posts
 
T.Y. is my main brand. Again, I use the best media and storage possible.

This problem is well spread and not limited to brand type.

Warning, "do not expect to use CDR as a media form". As for analog tape, well, there are many reports of shredding and baking to save the tape for one last pass."
aroc
760 posts
 
Hmm. You must be lucky with your DAT tape. At least with regards to computer backups. occasionally we'll encounter trouble with older media (+5 years).
slartibartfast
100 posts
 
The shredding/baking was a result of a defective tape manufacturing process from the 70s. The problem was that the polyeurethane in the binder hydrolized causing sticky tape syndrome. Any magnetic tape medium with ployeurethane in it could exhibit the same problem if the tape was imporperly manufactured and/or stored.

An analog tape that is stored under proper conditions (low humidity and temp controlled) and is not from this time period has been determined to have the longest archival shelf life for these purposes. Even tapes that do exhibit sticky tape syndrome can be baked and played with complete recovery of all information on the tape, something that will not happen when CD-Rs and DATs start to die.

Also keep in mind that the technology to play back an analog tape has remained consistently available since the format's introduction. I am not sure in 50 years you will be able to say the same about digital based technology...
sean
6,229 posts
 
My partner at work is very much into digital technology. He told me a LONG time ago that CDR's and especially CDRW's should not be counted on for long term archiving as they are far from "flawless". He also told me that i was speeding up their death rate by "trimming" the edges of CDR's with my Audio Desk Systeme.

Oh well.... Sean
>
pe3046
120 posts
 
I always use mitsui media, it is more expensive but I have burnt cd's going back 7-8 years (can't say the same thing about my stack of DAT's, none of them work) that are working perfectly. Most ad agencies have the same thing, to much info to fit on tapes (are new tape drive is going to cost $100,000 to just backup new work each day). We are archiving to DVD now as blank media is only $3.75 a disc now. Have not tried to burn any audio tracks yet, will do that soon.
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