Banki
02-23-2009, 01:43 AM
DVD Recordable Formats (Guide)
C/P
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 junks 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.
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.
=================
Also I suggest you avoid Ebay and be VERY careful of other online suppliers. Always use suppliers that guarantee their sales, because what many people don't know is that there are many levels of quality main ones being A grade B grade and C grade.
Manufacturers create a batch of DVD blanks which are tested as part of the process, this is where the grading happens (A B or C or reject).
(Most big name brands will not suffer this problem as they will settle for not less than A grade)
A grade is the best quality that is used by most people and commercial producers
B grade is medium quality that is good for general use but you will get a few fualty DVD's in a batch. Mainly used for temporary storage (magazine covers etc)
C grade is not really used by anyone knowingly but unknowingly I think most of us have. This really is the lowest level before total reject. The emulsion used for the DVD is usually organic and will deteriorate over time (good quality A grade organic is OK). Ever noticed a DVD you have burned worked ok initially but after a couple of months it started to stop playback?
Unfortunatly SOME Wholesalers and mail order suppliers will buy a bulk batch of A B and C grade media mix them up and flog them off as A grade >>Not Good<<
Ebay is the worst place for this.
example would be Princo. Their A grade is excellent but the packs you get on Ebay are littered with the false A grade. Also some Ritek DVDs are sold this way on EBAY.
Please note that it is a few amongst the many that do this.
My advice is:
1. Buy from a well known "Ebay store" who guarantees their quality or avoid ebay and buy from a local supplier
2. Always seek out "guaranteed" A grade media.
3. Most media with "A grade" imprinted on the media itself is ok
4. (general burning advice) If you are doing many DVDs, pause after each one or do a few and wait 5 minutes. All burners get hot, they are lasers after all and non stop continued use will effect the burn quality eventually.
Finally Always check the manufacturers web site for a compatability list and keep your firmware up to date.
If you want to try out a brand of disk buy 1 - 5 and test them out yourself. Most incompatible media types will play up on first few burns. As norseman said AVOID cheap no name disks BUT if you are careful there are excellent cheap alternatives out there.
A lot of good information on:
http://www.cdr-zone.com/
http://www.cdfreaks.com/
Do not forget to look at DVD Media Reviews:
http://www.cdr-zone.com/reviews/dvd_media_reviews/
C/P
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 junks 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.
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.
=================
Also I suggest you avoid Ebay and be VERY careful of other online suppliers. Always use suppliers that guarantee their sales, because what many people don't know is that there are many levels of quality main ones being A grade B grade and C grade.
Manufacturers create a batch of DVD blanks which are tested as part of the process, this is where the grading happens (A B or C or reject).
(Most big name brands will not suffer this problem as they will settle for not less than A grade)
A grade is the best quality that is used by most people and commercial producers
B grade is medium quality that is good for general use but you will get a few fualty DVD's in a batch. Mainly used for temporary storage (magazine covers etc)
C grade is not really used by anyone knowingly but unknowingly I think most of us have. This really is the lowest level before total reject. The emulsion used for the DVD is usually organic and will deteriorate over time (good quality A grade organic is OK). Ever noticed a DVD you have burned worked ok initially but after a couple of months it started to stop playback?
Unfortunatly SOME Wholesalers and mail order suppliers will buy a bulk batch of A B and C grade media mix them up and flog them off as A grade >>Not Good<<
Ebay is the worst place for this.
example would be Princo. Their A grade is excellent but the packs you get on Ebay are littered with the false A grade. Also some Ritek DVDs are sold this way on EBAY.
Please note that it is a few amongst the many that do this.
My advice is:
1. Buy from a well known "Ebay store" who guarantees their quality or avoid ebay and buy from a local supplier
2. Always seek out "guaranteed" A grade media.
3. Most media with "A grade" imprinted on the media itself is ok
4. (general burning advice) If you are doing many DVDs, pause after each one or do a few and wait 5 minutes. All burners get hot, they are lasers after all and non stop continued use will effect the burn quality eventually.
Finally Always check the manufacturers web site for a compatability list and keep your firmware up to date.
If you want to try out a brand of disk buy 1 - 5 and test them out yourself. Most incompatible media types will play up on first few burns. As norseman said AVOID cheap no name disks BUT if you are careful there are excellent cheap alternatives out there.
A lot of good information on:
http://www.cdr-zone.com/
http://www.cdfreaks.com/
Do not forget to look at DVD Media Reviews:
http://www.cdr-zone.com/reviews/dvd_media_reviews/