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Understanding DVD Recordable Formats

Currently, DVDs are most well knowned for offering vastly superior video quality over VHS movies, but DVDs are much more than a movie disc. They are truly versatile (DVD after all does stand for 'Digital Versatile Disc'), and the world of home computing is now part of the DVD's playground. Recordable DVDs will soon replace CD-Rs and CD-RWs as the top choice for consumer based audio, video and data burning purposes. Why? Read On.

Price and Size

Recordable DVD drives and discs are rapidly dropping in price. Some first generation recordable DVD drives sold for more than $15,000 USD. Now, just a few years later, newer, more capable drives are hovering around the $500 mark and are expected to continue to drop in price as worldwide demand continues to grow. Similarly, DVD recordable media have significantly dropped in price and will continue to do so in the near future. Recordable DVDs that were originally selling for more than $30 USD each are now available for less than $10.

We live in a world fascinated with doing more with less. Current technology has pushed recordable CDs to a limit of 700 MB. Most recordable DVDs can hold 4.7 GB, or more than six times the amount of data than a standard CD. Plus, DVDs have the potential to hold much more. Just as obvious as DVD Movies are superior to VHS, it is clear that recordable DVDs are superior to their CD counterparts and they will soon rule the land of recordable media.

Is There Just one Kind of DVD Recordable Disc?
Unfortunately not. The world of DVD Recordable discs and drives currently has several competing formats (DVD-R/RW, DVD+R/RW and DVD-RAM). At this time there is no outright leader, though DVD-R/RW and DVD+R/RW have taken a commanding lead due to their ability to playback on most current DVD drives and players. DVD-RAM is only compatible with DVD-RAM drives and players.

Here is a brief run down of the major DVD recordable formats:

DVD Recordable Format

Brief Format Summary

DVD-R
  • A single-write format, similar to CD-R
  • Currently the most compatible of all DVD Recordable formats with existing DVD ROM drives and DVD Players
  • DVD-R discs are currently the cheapest recordable DVD discs to purchase

DVD+R
  • A new single-write format, based on DVD+RW technology
  • Offers a defect management system
  • Compatible with most newer DVD ROM drives and DVD Players

DVD-RW
  • Allows you to write, erase and re-write on the same disc up to 1,000 times
  • Before re-writing you must first erase the entire disc
  • DVD-RW drives can also write to DVD-R discs
  • Compatibility problems with some DVD Players and DVD ROM drives

DVD+RW
  • Designed to allow you to write and rewrite without first having to erase the entire disc
  • Can be re-written up to 1,000 times
  • Offers a defect management system
  • Compatibility problems with some existing DVD Players and DVD ROM drives.
  • Faster writing speed than "minus" formats (2.4x vs. 1x)
  • Newer drives can write to DVD+RW and DVD+R discs

DVD-RAM
  • Some DVD-RAM discs come in a sealed protective cartridge, some do not
  • Almost without exception are NOT compatible with existing DVD ROMs and DVD Players
  • New "DVD-Multi" drives can read/write DVD-RAM, DVD-R and DVD-RW discs
  • Has error correction properties and is excellent for long-term data storage
  • Current capacity up to 9.4 GB, can be written on up to 100,000 times

Can One DVD Recordable Drive Write to All DVD Recordable Discs?

Unfortunately not at the moment. Regardless of format, most DVD recordable drives can read most DVD recordable discs, with DVD-RAM being a notable exception. Yet there is no "one" recordable drive that can write DVD-R/RW, DVD+R/RW, and DVD-RAM. Many Matsushita Corporation companies, such as Panasonic and Hitachi, have been producing DVD-R/RAM drives and players, but because DVD+R/RW is not supported by the DVD Forum they have not included this format. Sony, as well as some other manufacturers, are planning to launch DVD-R/RW & DVD+R/RW drives in the near future to make consumers feel more comfortable in their purchasing decision.

So, which DVD recordable format should you buy?

 

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