A DVD+ -based burner has to engage some kind of emulation for DVD- media (character-based vs block-based), and the emulation in the burner firmware can't be trusted.This is the first time i read about a technical reason for those patches.
You've merely heard an echo of quasi-technical rumor.
I wonder wether Andy and Joerg are aware of a need for such extra treatment. (Listening for an echo now ...)
Speaking for myself I can personally assure you that there is *no* magic that "DVD-patched cdrecord" performs or does something growisofs doesn't or is not capable of. Even if there is something that can be perceived as "some kind of emulation for DVD- media," it's *beyond* application control, be it growisofs, "DVD-patched cdrecord" or any other program.
My -RWs leave me after a few months but that does not look like a subtle format problem. Rather like the dye changing its photochemical properties within a year after production.
It might as well indicate your particular firmware deficiency: it simply fails to pick optimal power for particular media manufacturer[s] or DVD-RW media in general. Or a component in circuitry engaged during DVD-RW recording being X% too much off its nominal value can cause the trouble. In other words I find it hard to believe it's inherent -RW problem and I bet that a whole lot of people would refute your experience. But one way or another, *no* application would do some magic and make DVD-RW suddenly work reliably for you or anybody else in similar situation. Unless of course one knows how to compose OPC tables in vendor-specific format which would override firmware values [and/or compensate for deficient circuitry] and transfer them to LUN [and get LUN actually respect them]. But vendors won't tell any independent software developer if such possibility even exists...
The loss rate is reduced if they are in growisofs state "restricted overwrite"
On a side note, phrases like this last one is like soil for quasi-technical rumors and other controversies. There is no such thing as "growisofs state "restricted overwrite""! Restricted Overwrite is DVD-RW media format specified by official DVD-dash standardization body, a.k.a. DVD Forum. The only thing that is "growisofs" about it is that dvd+rw-tools allow you to utilize it. Unlike other applications they give you the freedom to test *all* DVD-R[W] recording strategies [well, except for DVD-R Dual Layer Jump, but I'm ready to discuss it] and pick one that suits your application [or unit?] best. But please, don't mix together applications and recording modes in terminology. A.