Understanding DVD Formats
What's the difference between DVD+RW and DVD-RW? Can
you read DVD-RAM discs in your DVD-ROM drive? Which format would be best for you to use for
your project?
If you are like us here at DV Wizards, you spend a lot of time
talking about formats. In the area of DVD alone the list of
commercially in-use formats has increased dramatically (and we thank
our lucky bytes that a few formats have already commercially gone by
the way-side!). The information below is a reasonable attempt
at a solid summary of the popular formats that we discuss and deal
with during the course of sales and business around here. Due
to space limitations only those products sold by Digital Video Direct
are actually listed. For more information on any one product just
click on the product and the link will take you to that product in the
shop. Please see our other charts on DVD
authoring software and DVD
recorders if you would like additional information.
Any errors or omissions are unintentional.
Quick format jump: DVD-ROM
| DVD-R | DVD-RAM
| DVD-RW | DVD+RW
Charts and more: Pros & Cons Chart
| Popular
Drives & Supported Formats
DVD-ROM
(Digital Versatile Disc - Read Only Memory)
A disc that is physically the same size as the CD-ROM, or Compact
Disc, but can store information at much higher densities giving a
greater capacity. DVD-ROMs can currently be made in four physical
formats named DVD-5, DVD-9, DVD-10 and DVD-18. DVD-5 has a 4.7GB
storage capacity (versus the 650MB standard for a CD-ROM) and stores
the data on one side of the disc in a single layer. This data can be
in the form of software, video (DVD-Video) or audio (DVD-Audio). The
DVD-9 format stores data in dual layers on a single side of the disc
while the DVD-10 and DVD-18 formats use both sides of the disc to
store data in single and dual layers respectively. DVD-ROM discs can
be accessed in set top DVD players and computers equipped with DVD-ROM
drives. These discs cannot be written to by
the user.
More information on these types of drives can be
found at:
Toshiba Website 
DVD
Forum
DVD-R
(Digital Versatile Disc - Recordable)
A
disc that is equivalent to the DVD-ROM but it can also be recorded to.
The Pioneer DVR-A05U drive can record
on 4.7GB single-sided and 9.4GB double-sided DVD-R discs. DVD-R discs can be accessed in set top DVD
players and computers equipped with DVD-ROM drives. These discs can
only be written to once by the user. There are two types of DVD-R
drives and media. DVD-R for Authoring is supported by the
DVR-S201 and is appropriate for someone who wants to create a disc
that can be used as a master at a duplication house. This is
called the Cutting Master Format (aka CMF). It supports
setting region codes and using copy protection. DVD-R for
General is supported by the DVR-A05U and is appropriate for someone who
only wants to create a few copies of a disc and doesn't need to send
the disc to a duplication house or set region codes. The correct media
must be used with the appropriate drive (i.e. DVD-R for Authoring
discs with a DVD-R for Authoring compatible drive).
More information on these types of drives can be
found at:
DVD
Forum
Pioneer Electronics Website
DVD-RAM
(Digital Versatile Disc - Random Access Memory)
Differs from the DVD-R in that it is re-writable many times. Discs
are available in capacities of 2.6GB or 4.7GB for single sided discs
and 5.2GB or 9.4GB for double sided discs. The Panasonic LF-D521U
drive can record to and read from these media. DVD-RAM discs
can only be accessed in a DVD-RAM drive. They cannot be used in set
top DVD players or computers equipped with DVD-ROM drives.
More information on these types of drives can be
found at:
DVD
Forum
Panasonic
Website
DVD-RW
(Digital Versatile Disc - Re-recordable)
A
version of the write-once DVD-R format that can be written to up to
1,000 times. The Pioneer DVR-A05U
drives can record on single-sided 4.7GB
DVD-RW discs. DVD-RW discs can be accessed in set top DVD players and
computers equipped with DVD-ROM drives.
More information on these types of drives can be
found at:
DVD
Forum
Pioneer
Electronics Website
DVD+R
(Digital Versatile Disc + Recordable)
A specification put forward by the DVD+RW Alliance to complement
the DVD+RW format. DVD+R discs can be recorded in 4.7GB capacities. These discs can
only be written to once by the user. DVD+R discs can be accessed in set top DVD players and computers
equipped with DVD-ROM drives.
More information on these types of drives can be
found at:
DVDRW.com
SonyStyle USA
Hewlett-Packard
DVD Writers Home Page
DVD+RW
(Digital Versatile Disc + Rewritable)
A
different version of a re-writable DVD-R format that is designed to be
more suitable for both real-time video recording and random data
recording. DVD+RW discs can be recorded in 4.7GB capacities.
DVD+RW discs can be accessed in set top DVD players and computers
equipped with DVD-ROM drives.
More information on these types of drives can be
found at:
DVDRW.com
SonyStyle USA
Philips Electronics Website
Hewlett-Packard
DVD Writers Home Page
Pros &
Cons of the different DVD formats:
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