SolidBurn

Philips/BenQs SolidBurn (SB).
A Revolution in Self Learning Writing Technology?

When launched this was to be the answer to those frequent f/w updates, that we all yearned for. In order to maintain our drives support of blank DVD media. Because optimal writing strategies for a drive is dependent on the character of the DVD (or MID). It's almost inevitable that the media support table written in a drives f/w will need periodical updates to include new media. Until the "advent " of SB. When drives attempted to write to new media with unkown MID (unsupported). A strategy lacking in the quality department would be used as a substitute. The results varied from poor to unusable.
SB has it's own default strategy which is described as a "self learning writing strategy *algorithm". This allows unkown DVD+/-R media to be written with increased quality. (Note does not function with DL or RW media).In principal this means your media's quality can be as good (in some cases maybe better than) the eventual f/w update.
*mathmatical term for formula involving steps/stages in order to solve a problem.

How does SolidBurn work?
SB performs a number of test writes on the media inserted to determine the best writing straegy. It uses the writer's jitter measurement capabilities to measure the results of the test write The resulting algorithm producing a writing strategy with optimal jitter value.
The test writes are performed in the leadin & just past the leadout areas (thanks to pinto2 @ cdf for his work in relation to this). There are upto three tests per disc, time taken upto 30 sec. The staring point is the SB strat default & not the strat for that MID included in the f/w. After the 1st Learning burn, SB then starts from that learned memory strat & so on.
Many say that their results are good enough without SB emabled. They also refer to lost discs (this apparently happens during the early stages of the learning process). Is this true? If so why? Whilst this overlaps does it work, I feel it 's best addressed here. As it is part of how it works, but also means comparing how things maybe with SB disabled.
Put simply & this is my turn on things & not a factual statement. When a f/w has a MID added to the media table. It's a bit like a three lane one way road. The centre lane being the ideal track to take for optimum results. However the left & right hand lanes produce respectable results. During the writing the path taken by the writer may vary across the three tracks (due to the quality of the media). i.e. the left or right tracks may give 90 > 95% quality score, centre track 95 > 100% quality score. The combination resulting in a average quality score of 96/97% quality score.
With SB enabled. It's a bit like a single track one way road. The fine tuning of SB may well (& certainly in theory) produce greater consistancy, with a modest increase in the quality score (98/99%). Particularly with top grade media. But with this single track, the SB strat is more discriminating with no left or right track for making allowances, it becomes a case of outright success or somewhat disappointing results even failures. Again this section is to try & luminate sometning of what maybe happening. Not fact.
Loss of discs whilst learning, should not happen. If it does this loss should be minimal. Say 1 disc per learning cycle (a cycle in this instant being a tub of 50, going on my experience). My losses are more related to test write discs using CD/DVDSpeed's create s data disc. Useful in the early stages of testing either drive or new f/w. The key to reducing, possibly eliminating any loss. May well be clearing Learned Memory with each change of media or f/w.

Does it work?
In my experience. Yes. However there are anomalies (perhaps to be expected in these relatively early days). On purchasing a drive with a f/w already installed. The user will quite often flash almost immediately, although some will try the drive first. Which is better? Is there an answer? Yes & no. Because of many other factors having an influence on the end result it is a very grey area.
1st should you stick with the drives current f/w. Why not. You have little to lose, if results are less than you feel you should be able to expect given the media you use. Then flash the drive with a different f/w & see if this helps. If it doesn't you can go back.
When flashing a new f/w, if SB has been enabled. Clearing Learned Memory can be advisable. Changing f/w with Learned Memory intact can in some cases have a fogging effect on any new learning.
BenQ owners - Should you enable SB for all media (the Philps equivilant drive will have SB enabled for all media) The choice is yours. If you buy media from various sources (particularly internet) then the answer is probably yes.
Using SB is an ongoing process. Learning takes place with each & every disc. Whislt in the early stages improvements may well be quite dramatic, further along the learning curve any change becomes more of a subtle adjustment. Fine tuning if you like.