Difference between DVD-R/DVD-RW, DVD+R/DVD+RW and DVD RAM
Ode to Phyfutima.
It's lengthy, but if you are interested and do not know here is some info. Trust me this is not all there is to know either.
DVD-R and DVD-RW
These 2 disc types were created by the DVD Forum ( see it at DVD Forum
Site ).
Both DVD-R and DVD-RW types generally come in the single-sided, single
layer 4.7 GB capacity, which is roughly equal to 120-minutes of
standard playing time.
You can also now find 9.4 GB double-sided discs entering the market,
although there are no players which will automatically play both sides of
the disc without ejecting it and turning it over. Eventually, there
will be DVD-R discs available that will hold around 20 GB of data,
recorded into two layers on each side of the disc. At this time, these 20gb
discs are not yet available.
The most common DVD-R is a write-once 4.7gb disc that comes in two
sub-types -- "general purpose" and "authoring". The general purpose discs
are part of the industry's copy-protection scheme, which employ CES
scrambling to protect movies and music and game discs from being copied.
These discs can only be burned by general purpose type DVD writers such
as the Pioneer DVR-A04/104/A03/103 machines, the Panasonic LF-D311 and
D321, Apple Superdrive, etc. Such machines cannot copy the playback
descrambling codes on DVD movies or game discs, so they cannot be easily
copied. Authoring DVD-Rs must be burned by the Pioneer DVR-S201 DVD
Writer, which produces non-copy protected discs for use in the industry for
professional, retail DVD duplicators and distributors. Once recorded,
either a general or authoring DVD-R can be played on most DVD players
(if the player is DVD-R compatible).
By contrast to the write-once DVD-R types, the DVD-RW is fully
re-writable or eraseable up to 1,000 times. However, unlike the older DVD-RAM
format, these particular erasables are NOT "random access", meaning that
you cannot erase bits and pieces of them. Instead, you have to
completely erase the whole disc to reuse it. The DVD-RW can be played on many
DVD players, but not quite as many as the DVD-Rs. Of course, DVD-RAM
discs are playable on only a few types of DVD players.
Most DVD-R burners like the Pioneer DVR-104s and compatibles, can also
burn DVD-RW discs. An exception is the popular Panasonic DVD burners,
which burn only DVD-R and DVD-RAM. This drive is great for users who
want both data storage and editing features from DVD-RAM, and DVD-R
production capabilities for disc copying and distribution.
DVD-R is the most popular format for most Windows users, and is almost
universally accepted by Mac users as their standard DVD recordable
format.
DVD+R and DVD+RW
These two types were created and are backed by the DVD+RW Alliance (
see it at DVD+RW Alliance Site ). A few companies who back the DVD Forum
(above) are also active in the DVD+RW Alliance, but the two standards
are not compatible.
The oldest "plus type" DVD is the DVD+RW. It, like DVD-RW, is a
rewriteable 4.7 GB DVD kind of disc. DVD+RW, does have a couple of technical
advantages -- (1) lossless linking (which enables some editing after
recording without a full erasure that DVD-RW requires), (2) up to 2.4X
recording speeds on some burners, and (3) a special drag-and-drop file
support on the desktop (otherwise known as DVD+MRW). Unfortunately, the
DVD+R disc type does NOT even begin to compare with DVD-R as far as DVD
playback compatibility. However, the actual level of DVD workability on
players of DVD+RW is claimed to be about equal to DVD-RW. Of course,
even so, neither the DVD+R nor the older DVD+RW discs are as popular as
DVD-R and DVD-RW are.
The newer DVD+R write-once type disc is aimed at becoming more
compatible with DVD players. However, the fact is that so far it is only about
as compatible as DVD-R discs are. Also, the DVD+R discs are more
expensive in today's market, and not burnable by "1st generation" plus-type
burners, which were designed only for the DVD+RW rewritable discs. If
you want to create +R discs, you'll need the newer "2nd generation" type
burners, such as the Sony 120A, the Ricoh 5125A, and so on.
DVD-RAM
DVD-RAM is used for data backups and storage, and for editing of video
or audio content prior to the production of a final distribution DVD.
The DVD-RAM disc type is made to act a lot like a hard drive, where the
disc can be formatted for HFS+ Macintosh or Windows type computers, and
so on. It can handle 100,000 or more erasures, and should last for many
years. Of course it is not playable on many DVD players. Type 2.0
DVD-RAM discs can be removed from their cases to enable playback on the few
players in which they are compatible. The newer DVD-RAM drives can
handle any sized such disc, including 2.6, 5.2, 4.7 or 9.4 GB discs.
HOW ABOUT AN "EVERY DVD" TYPE BURNER?
Nope. Unfortunately you can't get a burner that will handle both
"general type" and "plus type" DVD recordables.
The Panasonic LF-D321/311 machines (and OEM versions packaged by other
companies using the same mechanism) offers a drive that some users
prefer. It lets you do backups, editing and temporary storage on DVD-RAM
discs, and then lets you switch to DVD-R's popular format when you want
to make discs for distribution. For editing, the DVD-RAM is very fast
and offers a drag-and-drop type ease of use like a hard drive.
However, the popular Pioneer DVR-104 and its OEM compatibles such as
the Apple Superdrive also offer a combination of features -- you can burn
both CD-R and CD-RW discs, as well as DVD-R and DVD-RW discs. While you
can use DVD-RW for erasable backups, you don't have the easy file
access that DVD-RAM offers. As far as editing goes, most users simply buy
bigger hard drives to have the room for video and music edits. Hard drive
prices and speed advantages make that an attractive option. Altogether,
these drives are by far the most popular machines for most users.
It's lengthy, but if you are interested and do not know here is some info. Trust me this is not all there is to know either.
DVD-R and DVD-RW
These 2 disc types were created by the DVD Forum ( see it at DVD Forum
Site ).
Both DVD-R and DVD-RW types generally come in the single-sided, single
layer 4.7 GB capacity, which is roughly equal to 120-minutes of
standard playing time.
You can also now find 9.4 GB double-sided discs entering the market,
although there are no players which will automatically play both sides of
the disc without ejecting it and turning it over. Eventually, there
will be DVD-R discs available that will hold around 20 GB of data,
recorded into two layers on each side of the disc. At this time, these 20gb
discs are not yet available.
The most common DVD-R is a write-once 4.7gb disc that comes in two
sub-types -- "general purpose" and "authoring". The general purpose discs
are part of the industry's copy-protection scheme, which employ CES
scrambling to protect movies and music and game discs from being copied.
These discs can only be burned by general purpose type DVD writers such
as the Pioneer DVR-A04/104/A03/103 machines, the Panasonic LF-D311 and
D321, Apple Superdrive, etc. Such machines cannot copy the playback
descrambling codes on DVD movies or game discs, so they cannot be easily
copied. Authoring DVD-Rs must be burned by the Pioneer DVR-S201 DVD
Writer, which produces non-copy protected discs for use in the industry for
professional, retail DVD duplicators and distributors. Once recorded,
either a general or authoring DVD-R can be played on most DVD players
(if the player is DVD-R compatible).
By contrast to the write-once DVD-R types, the DVD-RW is fully
re-writable or eraseable up to 1,000 times. However, unlike the older DVD-RAM
format, these particular erasables are NOT "random access", meaning that
you cannot erase bits and pieces of them. Instead, you have to
completely erase the whole disc to reuse it. The DVD-RW can be played on many
DVD players, but not quite as many as the DVD-Rs. Of course, DVD-RAM
discs are playable on only a few types of DVD players.
Most DVD-R burners like the Pioneer DVR-104s and compatibles, can also
burn DVD-RW discs. An exception is the popular Panasonic DVD burners,
which burn only DVD-R and DVD-RAM. This drive is great for users who
want both data storage and editing features from DVD-RAM, and DVD-R
production capabilities for disc copying and distribution.
DVD-R is the most popular format for most Windows users, and is almost
universally accepted by Mac users as their standard DVD recordable
format.
DVD+R and DVD+RW
These two types were created and are backed by the DVD+RW Alliance (
see it at DVD+RW Alliance Site ). A few companies who back the DVD Forum
(above) are also active in the DVD+RW Alliance, but the two standards
are not compatible.
The oldest "plus type" DVD is the DVD+RW. It, like DVD-RW, is a
rewriteable 4.7 GB DVD kind of disc. DVD+RW, does have a couple of technical
advantages -- (1) lossless linking (which enables some editing after
recording without a full erasure that DVD-RW requires), (2) up to 2.4X
recording speeds on some burners, and (3) a special drag-and-drop file
support on the desktop (otherwise known as DVD+MRW). Unfortunately, the
DVD+R disc type does NOT even begin to compare with DVD-R as far as DVD
playback compatibility. However, the actual level of DVD workability on
players of DVD+RW is claimed to be about equal to DVD-RW. Of course,
even so, neither the DVD+R nor the older DVD+RW discs are as popular as
DVD-R and DVD-RW are.
The newer DVD+R write-once type disc is aimed at becoming more
compatible with DVD players. However, the fact is that so far it is only about
as compatible as DVD-R discs are. Also, the DVD+R discs are more
expensive in today's market, and not burnable by "1st generation" plus-type
burners, which were designed only for the DVD+RW rewritable discs. If
you want to create +R discs, you'll need the newer "2nd generation" type
burners, such as the Sony 120A, the Ricoh 5125A, and so on.
DVD-RAM
DVD-RAM is used for data backups and storage, and for editing of video
or audio content prior to the production of a final distribution DVD.
The DVD-RAM disc type is made to act a lot like a hard drive, where the
disc can be formatted for HFS+ Macintosh or Windows type computers, and
so on. It can handle 100,000 or more erasures, and should last for many
years. Of course it is not playable on many DVD players. Type 2.0
DVD-RAM discs can be removed from their cases to enable playback on the few
players in which they are compatible. The newer DVD-RAM drives can
handle any sized such disc, including 2.6, 5.2, 4.7 or 9.4 GB discs.
HOW ABOUT AN "EVERY DVD" TYPE BURNER?
Nope. Unfortunately you can't get a burner that will handle both
"general type" and "plus type" DVD recordables.
The Panasonic LF-D321/311 machines (and OEM versions packaged by other
companies using the same mechanism) offers a drive that some users
prefer. It lets you do backups, editing and temporary storage on DVD-RAM
discs, and then lets you switch to DVD-R's popular format when you want
to make discs for distribution. For editing, the DVD-RAM is very fast
and offers a drag-and-drop type ease of use like a hard drive.
However, the popular Pioneer DVR-104 and its OEM compatibles such as
the Apple Superdrive also offer a combination of features -- you can burn
both CD-R and CD-RW discs, as well as DVD-R and DVD-RW discs. While you
can use DVD-RW for erasable backups, you don't have the easy file
access that DVD-RAM offers. As far as editing goes, most users simply buy
bigger hard drives to have the room for video and music edits. Hard drive
prices and speed advantages make that an attractive option. Altogether,
these drives are by far the most popular machines for most users.