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Longevity of Recordable CDs, DVDs and Blu-Rays (2020)

— Canadian Conservation Institute (CCI) Notes 19/1 List of abbreviations - BIS - burst indication subcode - BLER - block error rate - DL - dual layer - LDC - long distance code - PI8 - parity inner error rate averaged over eight blocks Introduction The longevity of recordable compact discs (CD-Rs), recordable digital versatile discs (DVD±Rs)Endnote 1 and recordable Blu-rays (BD-Rs) is uncertain, leading to a widespread lack of trust by libraries and archives. Research studies, anecdotal information and manufacturers’ literature suggest that the lifetime of recordable optical discs can range from a couple of years to more than 200 years.

Satisfying the low error rate limits will ensure that discs are playable in a wide variety of players, even those with poor correction capability. Remove loose debris with a compressed air duster or a soft, non-abrasive tissue or cloth, wiping from the centre of the disc outward in a radial direction. Therefore, although the CD-R with phthalocyanine dye and a silver alloy metal layer shows good relative stability here, it may not be an appropriate choice for practical applications where longevity is important.

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