|
which disc?
|
|
|
sodit
Newbie
|
15. September 2006 @ 07:09 |
Link to this message
|
hi, i realize this will sound like a stupid question, but i'm fairly new with computers and with burning dvd's [trying to, anyway!].
how do i know which type of disc to buy, the DVD+RW, or the DVD-RW? do different machines use a particular disc?
thanks.
|
|
Advertisement
|
|
|
|
Senior Member
1 product review
|
15. September 2006 @ 17:20 |
Link to this message
|
whoa man.
ok DVD-RW are discs that can be written over and over again. but DVD-/+R are discs that can be writen only once.
peace
|
Senior Member
|
15. September 2006 @ 18:22 |
Link to this message
|
sodit, DVD+RW and DVD-RW are rewritable DVDs. Did you want to be able to record over over a single DVD multiple times or did you want to record on it just once? Because DVD+Rs and DVD-Rs you record only once on and they are cheaper than RWs. What brand and model burner do you have? It is important to know becaue if ou have the ability to Bitset/booktype you would want to use DVD+Rs so you can change their book type from DVD+R to DVD-ROM making your burns more compatable in you DVD players and consoles. If you do not have the ability to bitset/booktype then you might want to try DVD-Rs. Again it all relates back to your burner. some burners are incompatable with DVD+Rs and some are incompatable with DVD-Rs which would make you choice much easier. Give us more info about your hardware and we can find a solution for you.
|
|
spiked222
Newbie
|
17. September 2006 @ 20:11 |
Link to this message
|
|
for information us dvd-rws becasue there rewriteable. for movies or one time uses go with dvd +/- theres not much of a difference in the different brands best bet is go for the cheap ones.
|
|
JoeRyan
Senior Member
|
19. September 2006 @ 07:29 |
Link to this message
|
DVD-RW is designed for sequential video recording. Erasing files will not free up any space on the disc. DVD+RW is designed for BOTH data and video and will free up space and allow more editing than DVD-RW. If you are using the discs for video, it makes no difference. If you want to use the discs for both video and data, the DVD+RW is the better choice.
|
|
mackdl
Senior Member
|
19. September 2006 @ 08:41 |
Link to this message
|
|
JoeRyan,
Please clarify what "formatting" RW discs means. Is this the same as erasing?
I use +RW discs for my stand alone LiteOn recorder. Why do you not have to finalize the +RW's but do the -RW's? Is this why on some PC burners (ie. LiteOns using their bitsetting utility) you can change the booktype on the +RW's AFTER recording?
|
|
JoeRyan
Senior Member
|
19. September 2006 @ 12:05 |
Link to this message
|
Formatting is writing the file structure and address system on any rewritable medium. This includes floppy disks (IBM and Apple formats), CD-RWs (multiple incompatible formats that make these discs difficult to work with), DVD-RW,+RW,-RAM, and flash cards. Formatting allows information to be stored, retrieved, and erased and/or replaced. CD-RWs do not need to be formatted unless one wants to use them like flash devices or floppy disks. In fact, since they were originally intended to be treated as CD-Rs that could be finalized and fully erased to be reused, they work best that way. That completely avoids the problem of incompatible formatting, packet-writing software.
DVD-RW discs need to have a format written to them to identify their use. Usually this is a video format, but data can be written as if they were bits of video. This means that erasing the data only erases their address, not the sectors they inhabit. That's why erasing files on DVD-RW discs does not buy back any capacity. The discs have to be finalized by having the end of the disc identified and written to the beginning section. This is standard for video; and because DVD-RW are designed for video, they require finalization.
These restrictions bothered HP, Philips, and Sony enough to break away from the DVD Forum and introduce the DVD+RW format that is suitable for both video and data. When inserted into a drive, the system begins to format the discs in the background, taking less than a minute to write the basics, then continuing while the user does other things. The table of contents is continually refreshed, and that's why the disc does not need finalization. Quick erasure simply wipes out the addresses. Erasing a file opens up the entire are where the file existed, just as in a hard drive, floppy disk, or flash card. (Erasing a DVD-RW used to mean waiting an hour and a half as it went over the entire disc, wiping out all the information in every sector.) The freedom to change not only addresses and sectors, but also labels and bit type on a DVD+RW even after the disc is recorded. (DVD-R/-RW conforms to the DVD Forum bit definition and "legally" cannot be changed. The DVD+R/+RW is outside the law of the DVD Forum and allows itself to lie to the player about its DVD Forum identity by changing its bit setting to that of a pressed DVD (DVD-ROM).
|
|
mackdl
Senior Member
|
19. September 2006 @ 12:44 |
Link to this message
|
|
Oh, boy. Now that explaination is wayyy over my head.
Does it still take that long to format a -RW disc? I have never used one, but that alone would stop me from using one.
Also, if -RW sectors are not erased, then can you only reuse the discs so many times?
This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 19. September 2006 @ 12:51
|
|
JoeRyan
Senior Member
|
19. September 2006 @ 14:02 |
Link to this message
|
It now only takes a few minutes to format a DVD-RW, still longer than a DVD+RW. You can now quick erase a DVD-RW (just eliminating addresses) or fully erase one. You can keep adding data to it until it's full; then you have to erase it if you want to make any changes. Both DVD-RW and DVD+RW are supposed to be able to be erased and reused 1,000 times. I think you would be better off with DVD+RW if your drive/recorder can record to those media.
|
|
Advertisement
|
|
|
|
mackdl
Senior Member
|
19. September 2006 @ 15:13 |
Link to this message
|
Thanks JoeRyan, that clears it up a lot.
Sodit,
When you look at media for the first time, it is very confusing as you will see a "rw" symbol on both the non-rewrites and the rewrites. What you have to look for is what is beside the "DVD". DVD+R and DVD-R can be used only once. If you mess up, you have to start over with a new disc. DVD+RW and DVD-RW are rewrites.
If you want to use RW discs (good for practicing until you get the gist of things) you first have to know what your burner is capable of. As Joshewah indicated, we can help you if you give some information about the make and model number/firmware of your burner.
Many members use bitsetting/booktyping as we have compatibility issues with our stand alone players. You may have one that plays everything and not have to worry about it. Be aware that some burners do not support bitsetting on the +RW's even though they do on the non-rewritables. On what do you plan to play it on? The link below will give you a "general" idea of what has worked for other people:
http://www.videohelp.com/dvdplayers
You will have to input your stand alone Dvd player's Make and Model.
I will put in my main DvdPlayer:
http://www.videohelp.com/dvdplayers?DVDn...by=Name&hits=50
It basically says it plays nothing, it was never designed to. I happen to know that some of these Toshibas were not able to play the -R's without a firmware update to the player. It depends on what month the player was made as to what firmware it had. Firmware to players and burners make all the difference. If you scroll down you will see some people have been able to get the + media to play by bitsetting. I know it works, as I have been doing it for over 2 1/2 years. I have not tried a DL, but know it is possible.
I know it is a lot to absorb, there is a wealth of information on these forums. Don't be afraid to ask questions. I learn new things every day!
Welcome and good luck!
This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 19. September 2006 @ 15:16
|
