Is Mitsui Gold CD-R really any better than Silver?

[SF]

I prefer branded blanks (just because the printed lines are handy) but
it seems to be getting harder to find Mitsui branded gold discs.

As a result, I'm probably going to move to either unbranded gold discs
or to branded silver blanks. How much difference is there between
these media? Mitsui claims a 300-year lifespan for gold vs. 100 years
for silver, but since both use the same phthalocyanine base how are
they truly different? Is gold less susceptible to laser rot than
silver? Has anyone ever had a silver Mitsui disc go bad?

Please respond to the group instead of to my spam bucket e-mail
address.

[Charles Van Winkle]

At the Indiana University School of Music we probably go through about 5000
mitsui golds a year (about 1500 performances). They are our main format for
archives now. My understanding is that the gold is less succeptable to
breaking down due to sunlight. I'm sure there are other reasons. There are
many books out there that discuss CD construction. I haven't heard of any
problems from them, but its kinda too soon to tell. Check back in a century
or so :-)

www.cvanwinkle.com


"SF" > wrote in message
om...
> I prefer branded blanks (just because the printed lines are handy) but
> it seems to be getting harder to find Mitsui branded gold discs.
>
> As a result, I'm probably going to move to either unbranded gold discs
> or to branded silver blanks. How much difference is there between
> these media? Mitsui claims a 300-year lifespan for gold vs. 100 years
> for silver, but since both use the same phthalocyanine base how are
> they truly different? Is gold less susceptible to laser rot than
> silver? Has anyone ever had a silver Mitsui disc go bad?
>
> Please respond to the group instead of to my spam bucket e-mail
> address.

[Troy]

These measurments of time on a cd are under perfect conditions also.Meaning
its never touched or played.In the real world I don't think they will last
this long.But in 100 years it won't mater as there will be some new format
long before then.The silvers will be fine.



SF > wrote in message
om...
> I prefer branded blanks (just because the printed lines are handy) but
> it seems to be getting harder to find Mitsui branded gold discs.
>
> As a result, I'm probably going to move to either unbranded gold discs
> or to branded silver blanks. How much difference is there between
> these media? Mitsui claims a 300-year lifespan for gold vs. 100 years
> for silver, but since both use the same phthalocyanine base how are
> they truly different? Is gold less susceptible to laser rot than
> silver? Has anyone ever had a silver Mitsui disc go bad?
>
> Please respond to the group instead of to my spam bucket e-mail
> address.

[Garthrr]

In article >, "Charles Van Winkle"
> writes:

>At the Indiana University School of Music we probably go through about 5000
>mitsui golds a year (about 1500 performances). They are our main format for
>archives now. My understanding is that the gold is less succeptable to
>breaking down due to sunlight.

Sunlight? When does sunlight ever contact a CD?
Garth~


"I think the fact that music can come up a wire is a miracle."
Ed Cherney

[Mike Rivers]

In article > writes:

> At the Indiana University School of Music we probably go through about 5000
> mitsui golds a year (about 1500 performances). They are our main format for
> archives now. My understanding is that the gold is less succeptable to
> breaking down due to sunlight.

Too bad John Hartford isn't around any more to revise his song "Don't
Leave Your Records in the Sun." I'd think that anyone using CDs as an
archive wouldn't leave them on the dashboard of their car or on a
window ledge, at least not without putting them in a case.

> Check back in a century or so :-)

OK. I'll put it on my calendar.


--
I'm really Mike Rivers - )

[Charles Van Winkle]

I should have said ultraviolet light. Sunlight was too ambiguous. The golds
also resist the effects of oxygen, moisture and solvents when compared to
the silver.

But the silver has a higher reflectivity.


"Garthrr" > wrote in message
...
> In article >, "Charles Van Winkle"
> > writes:
>
> >At the Indiana University School of Music we probably go through about
5000
> >mitsui golds a year (about 1500 performances). They are our main format
for
> >archives now. My understanding is that the gold is less succeptable to
> >breaking down due to sunlight.
>
> Sunlight? When does sunlight ever contact a CD?
> Garth~
>
>
> "I think the fact that music can come up a wire is a miracle."
> Ed Cherney

[Carey Carlan]

"Troy" > wrote in
. ca:

> These measurments of time on a cd are under perfect conditions
> also.Meaning its never touched or played.In the real world I don't
> think they will last this long.But in 100 years it won't mater as
> there will be some new format long before then.The silvers will be
> fine.

On a different slant, I don't like the Mitsui golds because the label side
is not as smooth as it is on the silver CD's. I can't print as nice a
label on the golds.

[Roger W. Norman]

Hey, I just had that come up with a client. She had the only existing CD-Rs
of her festival recordings (I don't archive them all) and the one she
supplied me wasn't but 6 months old but the Silver top (I know, it's not the
substrate, but bare with me) had turned gold from sitting on a window ledge
that only got marginal direct sunlight. The thing is, the stupid "pits" had
deformed enough to cause crackling just like vinyl and made that disc,
although transferrable, unusable for the live CD we were compiling.

So, regardless, they do see some sunlight sometimes. Remember, with clients
anything is possible, from extraordinary performances to some of the
stupidest things you can think of. Putting your only master reference CD-R
in harm's way is one of the stupid things.

--


Roger W. Norman
SirMusic Studio

301-585-4681




"Garthrr" > wrote in message
...
> In article >, "Charles Van Winkle"
> > writes:
>
> >At the Indiana University School of Music we probably go through about
5000
> >mitsui golds a year (about 1500 performances). They are our main format
for
> >archives now. My understanding is that the gold is less succeptable to
> >breaking down due to sunlight.
>
> Sunlight? When does sunlight ever contact a CD?
> Garth~
>
>
> "I think the fact that music can come up a wire is a miracle."
> Ed Cherney

[Garthrr]

In article >, "Roger W. Norman"
> writes:

>So, regardless, they do see some sunlight sometimes. Remember, with clients
>anything is possible, from extraordinary performances to some of the
>stupidest things you can think of.

Yeah now that you mention it I suppose that does happen. I had a client bring
in a CDR of a mix we had done and it looked like he had been sanding it with
coarse sandpaper. I cant even imagine how it got that scratched. Needless to
say, it didnt play well.

Garth~



"I think the fact that music can come up a wire is a miracle."
Ed Cherney

[Jim Williams]

(SF) wrote in message >...
> I prefer branded blanks (just because the printed lines are handy) but
> it seems to be getting harder to find Mitsui branded gold discs.
>
> As a result, I'm probably going to move to either unbranded gold discs
> or to branded silver blanks. How much difference is there between
> these media? Mitsui claims a 300-year lifespan for gold vs. 100 years
> for silver, but since both use the same phthalocyanine base how are
> they truly different? Is gold less susceptible to laser rot than
> silver? Has anyone ever had a silver Mitsui disc go bad?
>
> Please respond to the group instead of to my spam bucket e-mail
> address.

You can get blank Mitsui gold cd-r's from CD-R Planet for $.77 each in
100 piece bindles.
BTW, does anyone hear a sonic difference between the silver and gold
blanks?
Jim Williams Audio Upgrades

[Mike Rivers]

In article > writes:

> BTW, does anyone hear a sonic difference between the silver and gold
> blanks?

Not me, but maybe the drum sticks I've been hitting them with have
been too light, or too heavy.



--
I'm really Mike Rivers - )

[EggHd]

<< Try using a thumbpick. >>

They make a nice washboard for smooth jazz.




---------------------------------------
"I know enough to know I don't know enough"

[LeBaron & Alrich]

EggHd > wrote:

> << Try using a thumbpick. >>

> They make a nice washboard for smooth jazz.

Man, now you've invented a whole new genre: Jacuzzi Jugband Jazz.

Let's call Bill Bored!

--
ha

[EggHd]

<< Man, now you've invented a whole new genre: Jacuzzi Jugband Jazz. >>

If that combo can't put you to sleep, nothing will.



---------------------------------------
"I know enough to know I don't know enough"

[LeBaron & Alrich]

EggHd > wrote:

> << Man, now you've invented a whole new genre: Jacuzzi Jugband Jazz. >>

> If that combo can't put you to sleep, nothing will.

But it's all in the marketing, right? With their first few selections
they get a free minidonut neckwrap lifepreserver, so they don't wind up
like the "too many martinis in the 105 degree tub" club members.

--
ha

[EggHd]

<< But it's all in the marketing, right? With their first few selections
they get a free minidonut neckwrap lifepreserver, so they don't wind up
like the "too many martinis in the 105 degree tub" club members. >>

Free? This is upper demo.



---------------------------------------
"I know enough to know I don't know enough"

[LeBaron & Alrich]

EggHd > wrote:

> << But it's all in the marketing, right? With their first few selections
> they get a free minidonut neckwrap lifepreserver, so they don't wind up
> like the "too many martinis in the 105 degree tub" club members. >>

> Free? This is upper demo.

We will need a theme for the repubs, too. And not free...

--
ha