[Guide] DVD Recordable Formats

By Liquid
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Grand Master

Liquid

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Buying or bought a new DVD Burner and now you see DVD+R, DVD-R, DVD+RW, DVD-RW, DVD-RAM?, DVD+R DL? What are all these? AHH Im confuzled? Well I will tell you what this is about and other junk too :)

DVD-R

DVD-R is the most compatible of the formats. This format will play in about 90% of DVD Players, DVD-Roms etc. It was the first recordable format out. This format supports up to 4.37GB of data on a disk. You can also get this disc double sided* and expand its space to 8.75GB of data. This disc can be written on once and only once. Basically if it screws up, you get a nice, shiny coaster.

DVD-RW

This format is the same as DVD-R but can be rewritten several times. This format is compatible with about 80% of DVD Players, drives, etc.

DVD+R

DVD+R is very simlar to DVD-R but supports a few more features, thus sacrificing compatiblity. It supports lossless linking and both CAV and CLV writing. Newbies dont worry about these features ;). This format is compatible on about 80% of DVD Players, drives, etc. This disc can be written on once and only once. Basically if it screws up, you get a nice, shiny coaster. Supports the same amount of data DVD-R does. 4.37GB and 8.75 GB Double Sided

DVD+RW

DVD+RW is the same as DVD+R but can be written on more several times. It is compatible with about 70% of DVD Players, drives, etc.

DVD+R Dual-Layer

DVD+R is the same as DVD+R but supports 7.95GB on one disc. This disc achieves this by having two seperate recordable layers. This disc is the most expesive of the formats. This disc is also available in double sided* format supporting up to 15.9GB of data. It is compatible in about 75% of DVD Players, drives, etc.

DVD-RAM

DVD-RAM is the least supported format. many DVD Burners do not support this. DVD-RAM usually comes in a catridge and will not fit in most DVD-ROM drive, Player, etc. It is compatible with about 20% of DVD Players. To my knowlage, no DVD-ROM drives support this format. Think of this format as a slow harddrive. This format is not recommended.

Which is Right for Me?

Okay so now you know about all the formats but which is right for you? Well that is up to your DVD-Player. It is best to buy 1 or 2 of each format and try them out. Sometimes a DVD-Player will read DVD+R but not DVD-R. Same goes for other formats. Some DVD-Players will not read any recordable format and that just is no fun now is it.

Speeds

There are several speeds for discs. 2.4x, 4x, 8x, 16x. What do I get?

Well you should get the same speed as your DVD Burner supports. If you get slower than what it supports do note try to burn with a higher speed than what the disc says on it or you will probably end up with a coaster. EG: burner a 2.4x Disc at 4x. Same goes for burning a 4x disc at 2.4x. That stragely could still cause you to get a coaster.

Cheap Media

When CD-Writers came out blank discs were about $5 each. But then cheap $2 blanks came out and people decided to save money and buy those. Big mistake, back then. Those people ended up with alot of coasters and ended up losing money. Now times have changed, you can buy any brand blank CD discs and you will probably get a quality burn. Well that old expensive versus cheap media has started all over again, this time for Recordable DVD media. Do not buy cheap no name DVD Recordable discs. Stick with known brands. I recommend:

-- TDK

-- Kodak

-- Verbatim

-- Ritek

Definitions

Double Sided: Both sides of the disc have a recordable surface.

Coaster: An object you use to place cups on or beverages on to. :laugh:

Dual-Layer: A disc with two recordable layers. Almost doubling the discs capacity.

Sizes: The disc size may say 4.7GB on the Label but infact is 4.37GB.

Edited by Liquid
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Grand Master

Veedems Veteran

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DVD-RAM is great for set top devices. It allows you to watch something at the beginning of the disc while recording to the second half of the disc. Pretty cool.

As far as support for DVD+ and DVD-, Phillips Magnavox is really the only mainstream company that ONLY supports DVD+ and not DVD-. Sony, JVC, Zenith (LG) and many smaller companies like Cyberhome support both formats. Toshiba and Samsung only support minus. Panasonic supports DVD-R and DVD-RAM. JVC and LG also tend to support RAM. This is all for set top DVD Players, so you know.

Grand Master

nekrosoft13

Posted
Posted
Thanks man, been looking for something like this. Looks like DVD-R is the way I'll go. Can I do multisessions on DVD-R like on a CD-R?

yes you can

but some old dvd-rom won't read them

and i would like to correct one problem

its NOT 4.7gb, its 4.35gb

Proficient

noll3095

Posted
Posted
I can burn 4.5gb. So that is incorrect.

DVD-R is 4,707,000,000 bytes OR 4489 MB OR 4.38 GB

DVD+R is 4,700,000,000 bytes OR 4483 MB OR 4.38 GB

Personally I like to go with +R. I've never had any problems with compatability.

The guides I've seen give a higher compatability percentage than here.

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