Recommendations of the Editorial team
For many years, DVDs’ sales only stagnated until less and less were produced. The reasons are obvious: Blu-rays with better image and sound quality and especially Netflix and Co. But quickly spoke around that films and series can also disappear in the streaming portals or that many cinema treasures are simply never ready to stream.
That is why physical media are more important than ever. However, many find that their DVDs suddenly no longer work when they are inserted into the player. The reason: Disc red. That means something like a dismantling of the data carrier and is a serious problem. A kind of putrefaction is formed between the protective lacquer and the reflective layer.
The causes of damage to partly unused DVDs are:
- Material fatigue: The reflective aluminum layer can corrode, especially if the disc is not properly sealed.
- Temperature fluctuations: Strong heat or cold can forgive the material or damage the adhesive layer between the layers.
- Moisture: penetrating moisture can have the aluminum layer oxidized.
- Bad glue: With some DVDs, the glue loosens between the polycar bonachets, which leads to reading errors.
- Chemical decomposition: particularly cheap or poorly produced DVDs can be chemically unstable and decompose.
How does disc red make itself noticeable at DVDs?
Visible spots or discoloration on the disc (golden or bronze spots), the bleaching of the imprint or the reflective layer as well as reading errors or dropouts When playing, there are secure indications that it is disc red.
The DVD producers also share their share. It was just known that hundreds of DVDs, which were made between 2006 and 2008 by Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, are affected by disc red. In an explanation, the company’s home video department admitted the problem and explained that they had already worked with the customers to replace the affected discs.
Warner Bros. said in a message: “As far as possible, the defective discs were replaced by the same title. However, since some of the titles concerned are no longer produced or the rights have expired, consumers were offered an exchange for an equivalent title. ”
The last sentence alone has many cineastes groan. DVDs were a gold pit for a long time because the cheap production promised the opportunity to make many films accessible that have not or never ran in the cinema. Not to mention the B and C category, which will probably never run in streaming channels.
After all, there are some ways to counter the “DISC rot” something:
- Store DVDS standing to avoid pressure.
- Store cool, dry and dark (ideally at 15–20 ° C and low air humidity).
- Avoid direct sunlight and heat.