DVD Symbol things!...

[cheater123]

I want to burn a couple of dvds but would like to know what these symbols mean please before buying the discs:

DVD+R
DVD-R
DVD-RAM

Also do they all have the same memory sizes? Eg What lenght of movie could you fit onto a disc? Also if you ran out of disc space for a long movie could you put the rest onto a second DVD?

Thanks in advace.

[Buenchico]

All 3 types of disc will store 2 hours of 'DVD quality' video. If you want to record a longer movie you can either reduce the quality of the recording or use file-splitting software to create two separate DVDs.

That statement assumes that the DVDs are 'single side, single layer'. You can now get DVDs which can record two layers on one side and/or be turned over to record on both sides. However, you need to have a compatible DVD writer for these types of DVD and only some of the latest DVD players recognize them.

DVD-RAM recording offers the greatest flexibility for video editing but the least compatibilty with different DVD players.

DVD+R is a format used by certain DVD recorders but not all DVD players recognize it.

DVD-R offers the greatest compatibility and is probably what you should go for. (If you want to be able to wipe the disk and use it again, you'll need DVD-RW, instead of DVD-R. However, re-writeable disks are generally regarded as being less reliable than 'record once' disks. Also, older DVD players don't accept rewriteable disks).

If you plan to use your DVDs in a DVD player (rather than just on your PC), take a look at the labels on the player which will tell you which formats it accepts. (If you want to share the DVD with others, opt for DVD-R because it's the format which most DVD players accept).

Further information is here:
http://www.learningcenter.sony.us/HomeAudioand Video/DVDPlayer/Research1/DVDTypesandFormats
(Scroll towards the bottom).

Chris

[Ethel]

My Philips dvd recorder burns only to DVD+, although it will play DVD-, so as Buenchico advises it is important to check before buying.

I would like to point out that the DVD+ disks I have burned have successfully played on all pcs, and every dvd player they have been played on - at least 15 different ones.

[boobesque]

dvd-r and dvd+r or cd-r/cd+r or even now HDDVD/BluRay are just 2 different formats. like the old betamax vs vhs. fact is a lot of dvd players and recorders will be compatible with both because the manufacturers of the players dont care who wins out as long as they dont have to throw away all of their equipment because it suddenly becomes obsolete.

Though like buenchico