DVD Format Guide

R = Write Once. Data can only be written to the disc once. Data recorded on the disc cannot be erased or overwritten. Depending on the CD burning software used, data can be added in multiple sessions to the disc until the disc is full. Playable on most current DVD players if recorded as a DVD-Video disc.

RW – Rewritable. Data written on the disc can be erased or over-written multiple times. It can be used the same way as an R disc. However with packet writing software the disc can be formatted so that it can be used in the same way as a floppy disc. Playable on most current DVD players if recorded as a DVD-Video disc.

Format

DVDs come in three formats: +(Plus), - (Dash) and RAM and these formats must be compatible to the drive.

DVD-RAM is a recordable DVD format which offers some additional features that allow the user to be more flexible in the viewing and playback of the DVD. These discs are specifically used for DVD-RAM drives.

+(Plus) and - (Dash) can be recordable (R) or re-recordable (RW) and the format of the disc must be matched to the drive you are using it with. Older models of drives are compatible with one format only for example a DVD+R/RW drive can’t write a DVD-R or DVD-RW disc and vice versa. However most drives released in the Australian market since mid 2004 are compatible with both – (dash) R and + (plus) R formats. To find out which format is compatible with your equipment, simply check the product specifications of your drive.

Write Speed

All DVD writers and discs are given a rating which indicates how fast the data is written to the disc. Obviously, the more advanced the technology, the higher the speed the disc or disc writer can achieve. Current DVDs range between 1x and 16x. The products specifications for your DVD writer will give you a write speed for R discs and RW discs. It is recommended you purchase a disc which performs at the highest speed your writer can achieve. If you use a disc which has a higher write speed than the writer, the disc will perform at the lower speed. Please note that when recording from the live broadcast television, the speed can only be at 1x (real time).

Storage Capacity

A basic DVD holds 4.7 gigabyte of raw data which is about 2 hours of DVD quality video. This is usually not big enough for a full movie at DVD quality. For higher storage capacity there is a dual-layer or double layer disc which can hold up to 8.5 gigabytes of data, or higher still, Blu-Ray and HD-DVD