DVD+R and DVD-R

[acroyear]

There really shouldn't be a difference in a player that says it "supports" both, but DAMN there's a difference.  My particular VCR->DVD recorder definitely prefers +R.  -R hung it twice after the recording was done just trying to get to the state where it could finalize it.  So from now on I record the master in +R and then make -R copies on my dvd-burner that handles that format better.

Speaking of which, dashrippington : which format does your stuff prefer?  I've cut a master of that video we talked about and it looks fine so I'm ready to make a copy to bring this weekend.

Comments

[dashrippington.livejournal.com]

unfortunately... I don't know a whole lot about these sorts of things. I would love to be able to watch it on my DVD player hooked up to my TV... but if I can only get it to play on my computer... I'll be happy with that as well.

[acroyear70.livejournal.com]

fine, i'll cut both. lemme know which one works and give me back the other, m'kay?

[dashrippington.livejournal.com]

cool... works for me.

You have my undying gratitude for this. I have truly missed mine.

[javasaurus.livejournal.com]

OK, I know that +R is newer and generally considered better than -R, and I know that the main reason for using -R is compatibility with computer equipment more than, oh, two or three years old. But that's for computer DVD data drives. I have no idea whether either format can be used on a simple television-connected DVD player. Is there a record mode specifically for generating DVD video discs (as opposed to data discs)?

[acroyear70.livejournal.com]

it's not a mode so much as a specific set of files, "VOB" and "INF", that tell the system how to read it. I'm not sure of the formatting is different for video vs data - I think they're the same, that the dvd file system is consistent. This is unlike a cdrom which really is putting the data into a single music "track" - a cd doesn't have a file system inherent in it, just a table of contents (number of tracks and the starting location of each, and possible cd-text info).

Whether or not a normal dvd player can read it depends on the laser. The format is the same, but the color of the disc may reflect the laser poorly and cause it to not be readable. My players on my main TV can read pretty much everything, my first dvd player now in the craft room can't read +R, my portable has difficulty with -R, and the brand new dvd/vcr combo in the bedroom can't read *either*.

I don't have any +RW or -RW discs so i don't know how they manage with any of my hardware.

[javasaurus.livejournal.com]

Trivia!

The "minus" R wasn't originally meant as "minus," but as "dash." The "minus" nomenclature became more popular as a comparison to the newer "plus" technology. So if you are burning to a -R DVD, you could call it Dash Ripping...

[acroyear70.livejournal.com]

oh, go away.

[dashrippington.livejournal.com]

Java... that was just silly!!!

[saxbabe.livejournal.com]

Speaking of DVD burning troubles...my parents bought one of those DVD player/recorder combos and for some reason, anything we record on it cannot be read in any other player or computer! It kinda makes recording pointless if we can only watch it at home! Any idea what would cause something like that to happen?

[acroyear70.livejournal.com]

have you tried other companies' discs? sometimes its the disc (i have TDK cdroms that work fine everywhere but my car), sometimes its the format.

as mentioned, there are still players on the market that can read any dvdrom format. some are picky on +R or -R, some can't handle either "RW" format.

[giddysinger.livejournal.com]

In addition, many DVD Players (especially older ones) cannot play *either* DVD-Rs or DVD+Rs. They can only play pre-manufactured, store-bought DVDs. If you look on the front of any DVD Player that was made in the last 3 years or so, it will tell you straight out which formats it is actually capable of playing.