Storage and media vendor Verbatim has announced the industry’s first 6× Blu-ray recordable media, the 25 GB Verbatim/MKM BD-R LTH Type media. One of the principle differences between standard BD-R media and BD-R LTH (low-to-high in-groove recording) is the way the recording layer is applied: traditional BD-R media essentially sprays it on like paint, where LTH media is applies using the same dye-spin processed used to apply recording layers in CD-R and DVD-R media. The upshot is that Verbatim can leverage its CD-R and DVD-R production lines for BD-R LTH media with comparatively little effort.
Verbatim expects the 6× BD-R LTH media will enter mass production this summer (we’re assuming northern hemisphere seasons) to make sure the media is available to consumers when drives and recorders capable of supporting 6× speeds hit the market. In the Blu-ray world, 6× speed is roughly equivalent to 10× on a DVD-R drive.
The media uses an organic AZO dye recording material developed by MKM, similar to AZO dyes used in Verbatim’s CD-R and DVD±R media. The dye also features increased sensitivity to laser light and a wide power margin, both of which help guarantee good recording across the entire surface of the disc.
