Community Newsletter: Q&A: 1/20/06 Demystifying those confusing DVD formats
- 1/19/06 4:38 PM
Dvd Ram is old , yes, still most reliable
by JohnWiddifield - 1/20/06 5:33 AM In reply to: 1/20/06 Demystifying those confusing DVD formats by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Dvd Ram has been proven stable after thousands of re_writes. DVD +/- Rw stable for maybe a couple dozen re-writes. I use Dvd Ram for all my backups. LG Multi drives support Dvd Ram , disc prices are coming down (sloowwly) and they are easy to use. If they are good enough for Panasonic (their consumer Dvd Recorders use it) they must logically have value.
I'm old technology too (ask my wife)but still hard to ignore.
No wonder this is the winning answer!!!
by ALAS3K - 1/20/06 6:07 AM In reply to: 1/20/06 Demystifying those confusing DVD formats by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Barry:
I really thank you for your explanation in reference to buying a new "DVD" driver!!! I've been searching for answers on those "demystifying" "DVD" formats for a week now, since I discovered how fun it is to burn camcorder video, digital photos, and even original movies or hard to find concerts...
I ventured to buy "DVD+R DL" discs at $8.00 per disc just to find out that my current Pioneer DVR-106D that came with my "ALIENWARE" PC three years ago does not support "Dual Layer" format. Before I purchase the "DL-DVD's", I called "ALIENWARE" technical support so they could explain me what was the "D" meaning of the "DVR-106D", and they told me that it stood for "Dual Layer"... Guess what, I found out the hard way, that "D" means dual format "R+" and "R-" NOT "DL" format!!!!!
At the moment I am focus on deciding which DVD External driver I should purchase. I am between the "LG Electronics Super-Multi GSA-2166D" and the "Plextor PX-716UF"... There are not many differences between the two but: The LG has a 2 for Buffer (MB) and the Plextor an 8 for Buffer (MB). The former has "DVD RAM" capabilities (According to your article you could pretty much ignore) and "LightScribe" features... The later NOT!!!
Now, the big question (s): Shall I decide for a DVD-Driver with higher Buffer (MB) numbers? What does Buffer (MB) means???
Once more, thank you very much for your input!!!
Here,
Al Avila - West Palm Beach, Florida!!!
Well I see what you mean
by krazyken44 - 1/20/06 10:42 AM In reply to: No wonder this is the winning answer!!! by ALAS3KThe answer posted doesn't explain Buffer memory, so I'll try. He should have answered this too although, his answer was good.
1. The numbers 2 and 8 megabytes mean hardware memory (on the drive memory) much like system ram, the higher the number the better.
DVD drives all come with some amount of RAM, 2,4,8,or 16 megs of ram. The 2 or 8 megs are the common ones. I seen some odd numbers in the older DVD drives. This memory is used to hold data during the burning process.
2. Burning software has the a software process where system ram is used and hard drive space as buffer memory to aid in the burning process of a disk.
Lightscribe and DVD-ram well those are personal choices and expense media to use. LightScribe is a nice option, but if you don't mind paper labels on your discs leave or buy that option. It's your choice.
Now I understand Buffering...
by ALAS3K - 1/20/06 8:12 PM In reply to: Well I see what you mean by krazyken44Thanks 4 D help pal!!! I believe that the buffering capacity when is higher, is better; but definitively, is not a deciding factor between one-player or the other one... I'll go with the "LG" instead of the "PLEXTOR"....
Here,
Al Avila - West Palm Beach - Florida
DVD-RAM
by rlegro - 1/20/06 6:34 AM In reply to: 1/20/06 Demystifying those confusing DVD formats by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I wouldn't necessarily ignore the DVD-RAM format. It is the least common format availabile on burners for PCs and doesn't always show up in standalone burners for use with TVs, either. But it's very good for a couple of reasons: One, it's the most reliable format, rated at over 100,000 uses (re-recordings and deletions) per disc. Since it's re-recordable, and very reliable, it's an excellent choice for use burning time-shifted TV programs, because you can use the disc over and over (whereas, a DVD-RW or DVD+RW can fail rather easily, by comparison). Indeed, DVD-RAM was developed for this purpose and it's the format you often find used with disc-based camcorders. But note something: If it's that rugged, then it makes an excellent format for incremental back-up of PC-based documents and files, as well.
And there's another reason to consider DVD-RAM. Unlike the other formats, it's an asynchronous recording medium. That is, you can record something on the disc while simultaneously retrieving data from another portion of the disc, without harming your ongoing recording session. That's a huge benefit in TV-based uses where, as with a hard-drive based TIVO, you want to watch one part of a show while you're still recording it, or watch an entirely different show you've previously recorded, while the disc burns another program.
Drawbacks? DVD-RAM is more expensive, around three bucks a disc, typically. Also, not a lot of ordinary DVD players or even recordable DVD drives will handle the format (Panasonic, LG and Iomega are among makers that do offer the format in some models). Over the long haul, that could be a problem as you upgrade your hardware.
Finally, there are several types of DVD-RAM discs. One type comes in a caddy and can only be used in certain set-top burners. The other type is a naked disc you can use like a typical DVD+-R. Then there are the equivalent of double-layer DVD-RAM discs.
That's it.
Copying between formats
by Ervin Tomas - 1/20/06 7:01 AM In reply to: 1/20/06 Demystifying those confusing DVD formats by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
If I choose DVD-R to record family videos, and one of my relatives needs DVD+R, Do I have to reburn from the original material, or can I copy from one format to the other?
Dual Layer DVD +R
by Charles Williams - 1/20/06 7:10 AM In reply to: 1/20/06 Demystifying those confusing DVD formats by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I my admittedly limited experience and using two different recorders to record standard video to DVD+R Dual Layer disks, they would not play in any of my Sony Vaio laptop, my intergrated RCA DVD player, my Apex, my Samsung, my Toshiba or my Panasonic DVD players...so what good are they?
Also, in your response where you advise against using DVD+RW disks...they are both affordable (see Verbatim spindle @ Sam's Club) and oddly, I have fond on numerous occasions that I must first burn my video to a DVD+RW to get nearly universal playability and then I can copy the ISO file to a DVD-R to achieve a more permanent but playable disk. Do not ask me why this odd annomaly exists but in my experience or trashing DVD-R's that would not play...this was the solution and it has always worked!
blue morning, blue ray
by rkstamm - 1/20/06 7:17 AM In reply to: 1/20/06 Demystifying those confusing DVD formats by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
While attending CES in Las Vegas this month, I spoke with engineers talking about disk repair technology. There are several different technologies, from polishers, to sanders. One technology does not remove any plastic media, but uses heat and polishing. The engineers I talked with said that the TDK technology is fibre based, and makes the blue-ray disc hard to scratch, which is critical, BUT, one little tiny scratch, and bye-bye data. So far, they have not been able to figure out how to repair them.
My Favorite burner
by ludedude25 - 1/20/06 7:29 AM In reply to: 1/20/06 Demystifying those confusing DVD formats by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I would like to recommend the NEC brand DVD burners from newegg.com. I have two of them and I think they are good quality DVD burners. My first one is approaching the 3 yr old mark and second one about a year. My friend also purchased his the same time as my second one and loves his.
With my second burner i have never had a coaster yet no matter what media I have used in it. Most of the time I just buy the cheapo DVDr's. There are a few things I actually care about I put on quality DVDr's tho.
I have several people that I have ordered them for too mainly because there not comfortable doing internet buying. I have yet to hear a complaint.
They are also under $50 shipped which is a plus.
Whatever you choose good luck and happy burning.
Few additions to this:
by wbowblis - 1/20/06 7:33 AM In reply to: 1/20/06 Demystifying those confusing DVD formats by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I use DVR RW disks for test recordings, mostly to see how they look on a TV (I don't know if they are + or -... I don't have them here). I wouldn't archive anything on them either. My old set-top DVD player would usually not play DVD+R or DVD-R disks (it played a few), but it had no trouble with RW disks. I replaced it and all play fine now.
Yes, but....
by abardai - 1/20/06 7:33 AM In reply to: 1/20/06 Demystifying those confusing DVD formats by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Can I backup data onto a CD that is marked MUSIC? I saw a CD marked DATA very long time ago but cannot find those nowadays.
How about backing data onto DVD media that has in its label "for your videos"?
Amin Bardai
Yes
by deirdrew - 1/20/06 8:15 AM In reply to: Yes, but.... by abardai'Course now you are talking CDs not DVDs (the topic here), but yes, I burn data projects to Maxwell CDs labeled "Music" all the time. That's what I buy for my kids to record music, as they are cheap at Sam's Club, so I just grab them when I need to burn a data CD to bring on a service call.
DVD RAM format is not "Old Hat"
by calcnet - 1/20/06 7:54 AM In reply to: 1/20/06 Demystifying those confusing DVD formats by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Yes, Random Access DVD RAM- (Random Access) is an early format. It is the best Read/Write format. It is rated for thousands of times of reliable Read/Write usage. It is a professional format used in the most expensive professional DVD Recorders for data that is critical to an enterprise. It is my preference to record a VHS tape, or DV Tape to DVD RAM in VR format. That provides the best way to get to a reliable, easily Editable MPEG 2 form, for later Authoring to a DVD-R for retention, and playback on a standard DVD player. Remember, DV is easily, and preferably edited on a PC from and back to DV Tape. However, eventually one must transfer the final product to an universally playable format- MPEG2 in DVD-Video format, on DVD-R (my preference), playable on all DVD Players.
DVD RAM is the media for ability to Time Slip record in real time, where you may review, anywhere in the recorded stream what has been recorded while continuing to record. The media allows instantaneous Stop/Start of Recording. Yes, a DVD-RAM Recorder/Player is not a run of the mill product. I have all DVD-RAM, DVD-R Recording Players for Home Theater, and PC's that were competitively priced, and have performed quite well. By careful shopping, I have accumulated inexpensively, 15 DVD RAM disks for interim usage as in process media for Recording/Editing projects. None have ever failed. I am always on the lookout for DVD-RAM disk deals.
briefly on Lightscribe
by rock_star - 1/20/06 7:54 AM In reply to: 1/20/06 Demystifying those confusing DVD formats by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I was completely seduced by the concept of Lightscribe, but before you buy, be sure to price the media.
RW format has it's use
by coachbb94 - 1/20/06 8:15 AM In reply to: 1/20/06 Demystifying those confusing DVD formats by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I disagree with the following statement:
One comment here, however, I’d recommend that you avoid “RW” media for permanent projects. It is not as stable as “R” media, and many, many people have found that a recorded “RW” disc “faded” over time and that the data (their recording) was lost. RW media is also both slower and more expensive (a LOT more expensive) the “R” media, so I think that the best advice is probably just to avoid it.
While RW should not be used for long-term storage it is great for short-term use especially for data that changes or is no longer needed. When the data on a DVD/CD is out-of-date quite often the DVD/CD is tossed and a new DVD/CD is created. With RW the DVD/CD could be erased and reused saving the user money. Again use it for short-term data storage.
As you noticed I included CD in my reply because my statement applies to both types of media.
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